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We would like our community to do their best to be informed, proactive, and safe during these uncertain times.
We're urging our valued customers to be aware of what repairs are needed in their homes so they can be protected and comfortable at all times. Please don’t neglect your home's electrical wiring and panel!
What's the Electrical Panel’s Purpose?
The function of the panel and breakers is to route your home’s electricity to the outlets in your walls, thus powering the appliances and devices in your home.
Your breakers also limit the capacity in your home to a safe level so that the wiring in your home doesn’t overload during surges of power from your supplier.
The typical lifespan of an electrical panel is approximately 30 years. This means that depending on the age of your home, it may be time for an upgrade or evaluation.
Common signs your electrical panel needs to be upgraded:
Your breaker trips often or feels warm to the touch.
Your breaker trips when you plug in an appliance.
Your home is on the older side and has an old looking panel or a fuse box instead of breakers.
There are black spots or burned areas on the breaker panel or a wall outlet.
If you smell something burning from the breaker box or outlet.
Wires appear melted or scorched.
Weird buzzing or crackling sounds emit from the breaker box.
Your lights are constantly flickering especially when you turn on appliances like your dishwasher or microwave.
Benefits of Upgrading your Electrical Panel
- Safety - Having an up-to-date, state of the art panel goes a long way in securing the safety of your home. Old panels are susceptible to overloads, can be fire hazards, or the cause of electric shocks. Making sure this component of your home is working as it should is a priority.
- Reliability - Today’s electrical panels are much more reliable and dynamic. Their parts last much longer than they used to, and replacement parts are more affordable. These panel boards are larger and more versatile. As opposed to older panels that are only usable as-is, newer electrical panels are built for expandability, designed for expansion as needs arise in the future.
- Reduce Homeowner Insurance Costs - Panel upgrades can help you reduce your homeowner’s insurance. Replacing an old or faulty panel makes your home safer, thus possibly qualifying you for a lower annual bill. You may also receive rebates and discounts from your local electric company. On the other hand, some older panels are non-insurable, so if you’re up for a renewal and the panel fails inspection, it won’t be insured.
- Save Money on Energy - In addition to saving money on bills, a newer panel works more efficiently than an older one, saving you money on energy. Nowadays, due to the appliances and devices we have, homes require more energy than ever. It’s very possible that you own appliances that use more electricity than what was around when your home was built. This may be giving your electrical system a hard time handling the load. Upgrading your panel will resolve this issue!
- Increase the Resale Value of your Home - Depending on the panel, some homes can’t be sold until the panel meets the requirements. Upgrading your electrical panel will also increase your home’s value, which is a great plus should you choose to sell it sometime in the future.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
You may be pondering on whether or not to take on this project yourself in order to save some money. In reality, choosing this route may result in you paying double your desired budget instead.
Electrical panel upgrades are complicated projects and can go wrong at any turn if not being handled by a licensed, professional electrician. More importantly, trying to change your panel yourself can be dangerous and isn’t worth the risk.
Leave the job to the professionals who will pull the proper permits, will be familiar with the current code and safety requirements, and will work with your local energy supplier to get the job done as smoothly as possible.
Take into consideration that depending on complexity of the project and the person’s experience, a panel upgrade can take anywhere from 4 to 10 hours to complete. This would mean that you could risk keeping your home without power for an extended period of time. This means no lights, AC, or refrigeration. Using a professional means you’re reducing the amount of time your power is off.
Doing an upgrade yourself also means you won’t be able to take advantage of a professional company’s warranties should anything go wrong with the panel. Why leave yourself with no recourse in the event of a malfunction? A professional will ensure that the upgrade is completed in a timely fashion, and that your home is free of hazards and safe for your family.
Don't Wait too Long!
If the aforementioned symptoms ring any bells, don't wait until it's too late to make these repairs. Electrical panels are vital to the safety of your home, family, and belongings. A mild panel malfunction scenario could be a damaged outlet, appliance, or computer with important information. On the more serious end of the spectrum, a neglected panel can be the cause of an electric shock and can create a fire hazard in your home. Our mission is to keep you, your home, and your community safe. Please be proactive and safe!
Count on Tru-Line Electric for reliable electrical panel upgrades in Palm Harbor. Call (727) 308-6680 or contact us online to let us know if you would like your panel evaluated. We're happy to help!
