Time to Replace Your Breaker Panel?

What you need to know when its time to  replace your breaker panel. Advanced Electrical Services has a few tips for you! The brain of your home’s electrical system is the electrical panel.  Being educated in electrical safety and practicing good maintenance habits can make your home a safe place.

If you live in a home built before 1970, chances are you have fuses in your fuse box. They would screw in and out and could possibly have 8 to 20 fuses per box. A home with fuses runs three time the risk of A fire than a home with an updated breaker box. If your circuit  breaker gets tripped it is like a smoke alarm going off in your house telling you something is wrong.

There are only two reasons a circuit breaker trips. One reason is that there is a short circuit. The second reason is that there is an overload of current in the circuit. This is a frequent occurrence for older homes and homes that have remodeled or made additions. Electrical panels have a lifespan of about 25 years. If your home is older than that you might need to replace your panel. It may no longer be sufficient to keep your home working safely. Older homes may have originally been set up with a 60 amp limit as was typical 30 years ago. This amperage is simply insufficient for our times.

To address this issue, many homeowners want to add additional circuits or sub-panels. A sub-panel seems like an easy fix especially if your plan is to remodel your home. Adding sub-panels or buddy boxes may be a temporary fix for your short term needs, but they place your home in danger. Attempting to put in sub-panels or buddy boxes by yourself can even invalidate your home owners insurance if a fire were to break out.

It is important to find a qualified electrician to help you manage your homes energy needs. Call Advanced Electrical Services today at 402-932-1361. We specialize in electrical service and wiring installation for your home or business. We provide residential and commercial services, including new construction, remodeling, upgrading and more! Fixed Right Every Time! Fast With No Surprises!