Is it Time to Replace That Panel?
Is it time for a circuit breaker repair? Or maybe time to upgrade your electrical panel? If your house is older, you’ve had water leaks or you want to make sure that your home and family are fully protected, call an electrician and ask about an inspection.
Check the list below to see if your panel is showing any of the danger signs and then call SESCOS. We provide expert inspections, repair, and installation of all electrical components and that includes 24-hour emergency service.
Tripping Circuit Breakers
If your circuit breakers keep tripping for no apparent reason, you’re probably overloading your home’s circuits. If your panel can’t keep up with the amount of electricity you’re using regularly, you may need a new panel with higher amperage.
Did you recently have a blown fuse? One mistake people make is replacing a blown fuse with a larger fuse. If you need a higher-amp fuse, you definitely need a whole new panel.
Rust and Corrosion
If your panel has rust, water stains, corrosion or other signs of deterioration, it may be time to replace it. It’s also important to determine what’s causing the rust. Some common culprits are service entrance conductor cables that are not properly sealed or water leaks that dripped into the panel.
An older panel that is looking worn out isn’t necessarily one that’s in bad shape. In some cases, you may only need an electrician to straighten out the wires, tighten the cables and replace the breakers.
Flickering Lights
Occasional flickering or dimming of your lights is normal. This can happen when your utility company is going through a temporary power slowdown, known as a brownout. These generally occur during peak surges of use, during a storm or after a transformer blows.
This situation is temporary. If your lights frequently flicker or dim, a faulty circuit breaker could be to blame. If it happens when you use energy-hungry appliances like clothes dryers, air conditioners, and hair dryers, you might need to upgrade the panel. Consult with an electrician about the size and type of panel that will work better for you.
Older Homes and Systems
If your home is a few decades old or a historic building, it may still have the original wiring. That wiring is probably safe but it just wasn’t built to handle the heavy demands of today’s homes.
Using heavy appliances, charging electronic devices, using smart technology to power everything in your home and adding outdoor security lights–these things all contribute to a heavier-than-normal load on your circuit breaker. It may be time to replace it with a new one or add new panels to your home. A SESCOS technician can advise you about all your options.
Stab-Lok Panels
Many homes between the 1950s and 1990s were built with electric panel breakers made by Federal Pacific, a company no longer in operation. Stab-Lok panels are considered unsafe because they fail to trip and break the circuit when it gets overloaded. Circuits that fail to trip are a risk of fire, electrical shock, and other dangers.
These faulty panels are in homes across the country. They were popular among builders because they were inexpensive compared to other models, but most electricians recommend replacing them. Stab-Lok panels no longer meet electrical code standards for safety and keeping them in your home may increase your insurance rates as well as your risk of fire. If your panel was made by Federal Pacific, do the smart, safe thing and have it replaced.
Call SESCOS for All Your Electrical Needs
Whether it’s an old wall receptacle you want to remove, a rusted-out panel you need to replace or a whole-house generator that needs service, SESCOS is equipped to handle any size or type of electrical job. If you need ceiling fans, outdoor lighting or recessed lights, one call to SESCOS does it all.
When it comes to faulty, outdated or dangerous electrical panels, don’t put your house and your family at risk. Call a knowledgeable, helpful SESCOS electrician and get that worn-out panel replaced.