This may not be the most pressing question on your mind when considering what kind of maintenance or repairs your home needs. However, asking yourself if you’re in need of electric panel upgrades can result in many long-term benefits that you will be grateful for in the future.

Odds are you are not the first person to live in your home, and you haven’t upgraded your electrical panel since moving in. If your panel is outdated, it is probably not functioning to its fullest capacity, which is costing you money. In addition to this, outdated panels can impact any electrical appliance connected to them. From a legal perspective, outdated panels must be updated to follow current code regulations—this applies to you if your circuit breaker box still has fuses.

Fortunately, service panels takes months to slow down to a full stop instead of completely breaking down at once.

Here are some telltale signs that you have a dying electrical panel.

Flickering lights, tripping circuit breakers, a panel that is warm to the touch, sounds or a burning smell coming from your circuit breaker box, and smoke or a burning smell coming from your outlets are all things that you should not ignore. Doing so will not just inconvenience you, it will put your safety at risk. When you do get electric panel upgrades, you can expect to gain the following benefits.

Greater Efficiency

The average modern home requires at least a 200-amp panel to power our technologically-advanced lifestyle. An upgrade will allow all of your appliances to run at full capacity and reduce the risk of any of them burning out. The addition of appliances that require a 240V circuit, such as water heaters or electric cars, can be accommodated.

Reduced Risk of Power Shortages

Old and worn out panels are likely to become overloaded with the many appliances you use on a day-to-day basis. This will cause your breaker to trip and your power to go out—a safety precaution that prevents wires from overheating. Upgrading your panel will eliminate this issue.

Safety

Outdated panels can pose a fire hazard as they are not built to handle powering your televisions, computers and kitchen appliances and charging multiple cell phones all at once. Electric panel upgrades are required to ensure the safety of everyone in your household.

Financial Savings

You can reduce your homeowner’s insurance bill by reducing the safety risk in your home. An upgraded panel can also get you discounts from local electrical companies.

Now that you know what you have to lose and what you stand to gain with electric panel upgrades, make this a priority in your home maintenance. Our fully licensed electricians have the expertise to perform any service your electrical panel may need, including an inspection, upgrades or repairs or the installation of a brand new panel. Contact us today!