Electricity is a major part of modern life. You need it to power everything from your heating and cooling system to your computer. Electricity is also potentially dangerous. You must maintain and monitor the power in your home to ensure safety and efficiency. This is where your electrical panel enters the picture.
What is an Electrical Panel?
Your home’s electrical system has an electrical panel, which you might call the breaker box or fuse box. It’s usually located in your basement or garage. Ignoring issues with your electrical panel can lead to serious risks, including fire, shock, damage to your home and appliances, and even death.
Electricity from the utility company flows into your home through this panel. The inside has breakers or fuses that regulate how much electricity is sent to different parts of your house. This is to prevent different circuits from overloading. An electrical panel can wear out because of age or simply start malfunctioning.
These issues can result in several dangerous situations that we will discuss below.
1. Fire Hazards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that electrical malfunctions are one of the leading causes of house fires, many of which originate from malfunctioning electrical panels. When circuits overload, the wires can overheat and cause sparks. A faulty or old panel may not trip correctly, which means dangerous levels of electricity can continue to flow. This is an issue because electrical fires are not always immediately noticeable. They can start behind walls or within the actual panel, causing excessive damage and spreading quickly.
2. Electrical Shocks
A faulty electrical panel increases the risk of shocks. A panel that has damage, loose connections, or improper grounding can expose you to live wires. A live wire carries electrical current in an electrical system. If you touch this wire, the resulting shock can cause burns, pain, loss of consciousness, or even death. This is why you should never attempt to repair the panel without proper knowledge.
3. Damage to Appliances and Electronics
An unreliable electrical panel can lead to power surges and inconsistent electrical supply. These surges can damage electronics, appliances, or your heating and cooling system. This could cost you thousands of dollars for repairs or replacements.
4. High Power Bills
Ignoring a faulty electrical panel can result in inefficiencies. Circuits that can’t handle the load or a panel box that’s out of date consume more power than necessary. This isn’t as dangerous as other risks, but the expense is often a burden.
5. Inability to Handle the Modern Home
If you have an older home, your electrical panel may be insufficient for today’s power demands. Modern homeowners have items like high-powered appliances and smart devices that didn’t exist just a few short years ago. A panel that’s out of date may struggle to keep up. This can lead to frequent tripping of breakers, leaving you without power in certain areas of your home and increasing wear on the system.
6. Panel Box is Hot to Touch
The surface of your electrical panel should not be hot to the touch. Heat indicates internal problems, such as overloaded circuits or failing components. If you see sparks, smoke, or flames, do not open the panel. Call for emergency services.
7. Frequent Power Outages
Even if you have an up-to-date modern electrical panel, it can cause an inconsistent power supply if it’s faulty. This can result in your home experiencing frequent power outages that are independent from local widespread outages. These disruptions in your household can affect your daily activities and possibly put your safety at risk.
Signs of Electrical Panel Problems
Knowing the warning signs of a failing electrical panel can help you act before a small issue becomes a major hazard.
Circuit Breaker Trips All the Time
Circuit breakers should trip when a circuit is handling more electricity than it should. This prevents overheating and fires. If your breakers are constantly tripping, it’s a sign that your panel is struggling to manage the electrical load. You should have our team assess your panel and the load it is attempting to handle. There is the option of expanding your breaker panel if you need more power.
Burning Smells or Burn Marks
If you notice a burning smell near your electrical panel or see scorch marks around it, turn off the main power immediately and call for assistance. These are signs of overheating and other fire hazards. Also, look for traces of smoke stains, soot, or residue around outlets, switches, or other electrical components.
Crackling Sounds
Your electrical panel should operate silently. Buzzing or crackling sounds can indicate a problem. For example, loose or faulty connections in your electrical panel can cause arcing, which produces a crackling sound. Arcing is dangerous as it can lead to electrical fires.
Dimming or Flickering Lights
Lights that flicker or go dim can mean your panel isn’t distributing power properly. This is possibly because of old wiring or circuit overloads.
Possible Legal Implications for Homeowners
A faulty electrical panel elevates the risk of electrical fires and accidents. If such incidents occur due to neglect of the panel, you as a homeowner may become liable for resulting damages or injuries. This liability can lead to lawsuits and substantial financial penalties.
Electrical systems must also comply with local building codes and safety standards. Neglecting panel issues can result in code violations, leading to fines and legal action from local authorities, especially if you’re looking to sell your home soon. Non-compliance can complicate property sales, as homes must meet code requirements to pass inspections.
Steps to Take to Protect Your Home
Even if you’re not currently having any issues, it’s wise to have an electrical panel inspection performed periodically. Preventive maintenance can catch problems before they become hazards.
Should You Upgrade the Panel?
It might help to upgrade your electrical panel if it’s more than 20 years old. And if your panel has fuses instead of breakers, you’ll almost certainly benefit from upgrading. Circuit breakers are easier to reset after they trip. You simply flip the switch back on. With fuses, you need to replace the blown fuse. Circuit breakers also align with modern electrical codes and standards, which might be necessary if you’re upgrading or renovating your home.
Perhaps you’re unable to upgrade your old panel. In that case, you can focus on practicing safe electrical use. Avoid overloading outlets or using cords that have damage. It also helps to avoid running too many high-powered devices on a single circuit. This ensures your home can safely handle current and future electrical demands.
Get in Touch with Bryant Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric Today
Ignoring issues with your electrical panel can lead to serious consequences. In addition to electrical services, also offer a range of home services such as the installation and repair of your heating and cooling systems or plumbing. We also provide routine maintenance and inspections to catch and repair problems early for homeowners in the areas of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Call our team here at Bryant Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric today, and we’ll provide the electrical panel service you need.
