When you contact Mr. Electric of Murfreesboro, we connect you with a licensed local electrician who will come to your home, evaluate your current panel, and take a close look at how your electrical load is being distributed. Before the visit, make note of when and where you’ve been experiencing problems. This information helps your electrician diagnose the issue faster.
In some cases, the solution is a tune-up rather than a full replacement. A tune-up may involve adding circuit breakers to empty slots in your existing panel and redistributing circuits to reduce the load on overloaded breakers. This is a cost-effective fix when your panel has room to grow and is otherwise in good condition.
If your panel is already at full capacity, or if it’s too outdated or undersized to be safely expanded, your electrician will recommend a complete panel upgrade. This involves removing the old panel and installing a new, larger one, typically moving from a 100-amp service to a 200-amp service. The new panel is wired so that each major appliance has its own dedicated circuit, while lighting, outlets, and other loads are balanced evenly across the remaining breakers.
The entire process usually takes less than a day. Our electricians will also ensure that all work is permitted and code-compliant, and that your power company is notified before any work begins. Mr. Electric of Murfreesboro handles the process from inspection to final walkthrough, making the upgrade as smooth and stress-free as possible.
When You Should Upgrade Your Electrical Panel Right Away
Some electrical panels don’t just need an upgrade; they need to be replaced immediately due to safety concerns. If your Murfreesboro home was built after 1990, your panel is likely to be modern and can be upgraded as your needs grow. But older homes may have systems that are no longer serviceable or have been identified as serious fire hazards.
Outdated Fuse Boxes - Homes built before the 1960s were often wired with fuse boxes rather than circuit breakers. Fuses are now considered obsolete, and replacement fuses for these older systems aren’t available. There's no safe way to continue operating a home on a fuse-based electrical panel; replacement is the only responsible option.
Unsafe Panel Boards - Many electrical panels manufactured and installed between the 1950s and 1980s were later found to be defective. Two brands in particular, Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) and Zinsco (also sold under the GTE-Sylvania name), have been linked to breakers that fail to trip under overload conditions, significantly increasing the risk of electrical fires. If your home has either of these panels, don’t wait for a problem to occur. Contact Mr. Electric of Murfreesboro for an immediate inspection and replacement.
Whether your panel is outdated, unsafe, or simply no longer keeping up with your household’s electrical demands, acting sooner rather than later protects your family and your investment in your home.
