Electrical Panel Upgrades in Wichita, KS

Professional Solutions to Overloaded Wiring

We don't typically think about our home’s electrical systems very often but instead assume everything is fine. However, not giving your system the attention it needs can lead to a surprise functional or safety issue that may cost you more than a large chunk of your savings. If a device or appliance demands too much electricity over one of your circuits, you can risk circuit overload. In the worst cases, this hazardous issue can cause a fire and damage or destroy your home. A residential electrical panel includes safeguards that prevent this issue from occurring. Unfortunately, as your panel gets older, it may struggle to keep up with your system’s increasing energy demands. Luckily, Mr. Electric of Wichita will gladly help you prevent hazardous problems like this with our upgrade services. Our talented and seasoned technicians specialize in residential electrical panel upgrades, keeping household lights, appliances, and HVAC systems running safely and reliably. If your home is in Wichita, Andover, Douglass, or Wellington, KS, we make our exceptional services available to you.

How Do Home Electrical Panels Work?

The electrical panel safely connects the main power line to your home. This line connects to your residential electrical panel, and the panel disperses energy to all parts of your home attached to the system. Inside an electrical panel are multiple switches, also called circuit breakers, that distribute electricity into smaller branch lines connected to all your home’s outlets. These switches should also indicate how many amps a particular line can channel before the power causes a breaker to trip. The main power breaker next to the switches lets you switch off power to your entire electrical system simultaneously.

Knowing When It's Time to Upgrade Your Panel

Just like an old freezer or air conditioner, a home electrical panel can wear down as time goes by. As your household unit ages, it may begin having problems like frequently overloaded circuits. Breakers may trip frequently or give you or a loved one a sudden, painful jolt from an outlet. Mr. Electric of Wichita recommends watching for the following signs telling you to invest in an electrical panel upgrade:

• Rust or corrosion on your circuit breakers
• Crackling sounds coming from your panel
• Appliances cannot run on full power
• Your electrical panel’s inside surface feels warm
• Your home runs with an outdated split bus panel or fuse box
• Your home doesn’t have GFCI outlets (particularly around water sources)
• Plugging in all your devices requires multiple extension cords
• Your home has a 60-amp electrical service
• You still cannot run certain appliances despite your home having a 100-amp electrical service

Age Is a Clear Safety Indicator

General wisdom states that if your current electrical panel is over 25 years old, you should invest in a house electrical panel upgrade. We strongly urge homeowners to take this advice seriously because an older panel can lead to various hazardous issues and hazards in your home. Additionally, many electrical panels builders and electricians installed before 1990 have been proven unsafe. Mr. Electric of Wichita will gladly schedule a prompt panel replacement if your home has one of these defective electrical panels:

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panel

Builders often installed this panel in homes built from 1950 to 1980. An FPE panel has several design defects that raise electric shock and fire risks. Furthermore, the FPE has been classified as defective by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Zinsco Electrical Panel

While Zinsco panels haven't been available to electricians and homeowners since the mid-1970s, you may still find these old panels installed in some modern homes. Because of their defective design, power continues to flow and melt the switches even when you turn off the breakers.

Pushmatic Electrical Panel

Pushmatic panels don’t have a main breaker switch as part of their design, so it’s impossible to switch off power flow to your system all at once. Furthermore, the weak breaker switches in these panels may get tougher to reset over time.

Fuse Boxes

Fuse boxes are the oldest electrical panel version. Most of these antiquated panels can only support up to 60 amps of electricity, but the average contemporary home requires around 200 amps. Without a doubt, this panel type is not suitable to handle a modern home’s power demands. Fuse boxes also put your home and loved ones at risk of massive fire and electrocution. Mr. Electric of Wichita strongly advises homeowners to have our technicians replace this panel type as quickly as possible.

Upgrading Your Electric Panel When You Renovate

Upgrading electric panels goes overlooked when renovating a home more often than it should. If you plan to overhaul your home, be sure to update its electrical system. Mr. Electric of Wichita’s highly trained and knowledgeable experts can assess how much additional power your home will need after the renovation and where more outlets should go.

How Much Does an Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost?

Many homeowners are worried about how much upgrading their electric panels will cost. We strongly urge homeowners to remember that investing in a modern electrical system is investing in their safety. The benefits a new electrical panel offers surpass the project’s cost by leaps and bounds. Mr. Electric of Wichita recommends requesting an estimate to learn how much our services will cost, and our technicians can then discuss your project’s scope and your home’s current wiring conditions. We keep these factors in mind when we provide an accurate estimate.

Do I Need a Panel Repair or Upgrade?

Not all electrical issues call for a system replacement or upgrade. In many cases, our technicians can quickly and effectively repair your existing electrical panel to ensure it operates safely and reliably. We'll perform a complete electrical panel assessment and calculate your household energy demands to weigh an upgrade’s advantages. Our team offers the following repair options to households, among many others:

• Electrical panel relocation
• Circuit breaker replacement
• Bus bar replacement
• Rewiring

Schedule an Electrical Panel Upgrade at Your Home

Your residential electrical system needs periodic upgrading services to ensure it stays in top condition. Fortunately, Mr. Electric of Wichita’s talented and friendly team can provide peace of mind knowing your entire electrical system works properly. Speak with our experienced electrical professionals about which upgrades are appropriate for your Wichita, Andover, Douglass, or Wellington, KS home. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment.