Your electrical panel is where all of the electrical power entering your house is split off to handle different demands. It's usually in an out-of-the-way spot in your home, like a hallway, garage, or closet.
If you open your electrical panel, you'll see rows of switches known as circuit breakers. Some switches are doubled or tripled up to handle larger loads, like appliances, while single switches usually run a single room or series of outlets or lights within a room.
Overload on a circuit causes the switch to flip, shutting down electrical flow and preventing wires, fixtures, or outlets from catching fire. A repeatedly flipping breaker is a warning that the circuit is being routinely overloaded.
If your breaker box is old or your home has undergone a lot of renovations, you might need to upgrade your electrical panel to ensure all electrical demands are being met adequately and safely.
The Electrical Panel Upgrade Process
When you contact Mr. Electric, we immediately connect you with a local electrician in your area who can meet with you and inspect your electrical panel. If you've been having issues, make sure you tell the electrician when and where these problems occur.
Your electrician will note how electricity is being distributed through your current breaker box and let you know if they can fix your issues with a tune-up, which usually involves adding one or more new switches in empty spaces in your panel and redistributing the load.
If your breaker box is at full switch capacity, your electrician can offer a complete electrical panel upgrade. This typically involves installing a bigger panel, making sure that each major appliance has its switch, and dividing the drain from light fixtures, ceiling fans, electrical outlets, and other demands across the other switches.
When You Should Upgrade Your Electrical Panel Immediately
If your home was built after 1990, you probably have a modern electrical panel, which you can upgrade as needed. However, older homes may have systems that have since been found to be hazardous or that are no longer able to be serviced.
Outdated Fuse Boxes
Homes built prior to the 1960s often had fuses instead of circuit breakers. These are now considered out of date, and most fuses aren't available for sale anymore. There's no safe way to continue to use such electrical panels, so an immediate upgrade is recommended.
Unsafe Panel Brands
Many electrical panels manufactured and installed in homes between the 1950s and the 1980s were later found to be faulty and unsafe. These brands include Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) and Zinsco (often sold under the GTE-Sylvania name.)
Why Choose Mr. Electric of Murfreesboro for Electrical Panel Upgrades?
Schedule a home electrical safety inspection with Mr. Electric today. We'll quickly arrange for a local electrician who will evaluate your electrical panel, measure circuit power usage, and perform a home electrical safety inspection. If your panel is outdated or requires expansion, your local licensed electrician will install a new one that meets all state and local regulations.
We stand behind our work with the Neighborly Done Right Promise®, guaranteeing quality results. Protect your family and maintain your home's electrical system with a professional panel upgrade from Mr. Electric.
