7 Key Warning Signs You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
If you’re considering an electrical panel upgrade in Lancaster, PA, our expert team is ready to help. We have more than 100 years of local experience and a team of licensed, insured electricians ready to meet your needs. Putting off upgrading your old electrical panel or fuse box can be a serious concern. Let’s look at the times when you should upgrade your electrical panel, what issues a panel upgrade can help you avoid and what benefits it can provide.
What Is an Electrical Panel and Why It Matters
The electrical service panel is essentially the brain or heart of every electrical system. Electricity from the grid flows into the panel, and the panel is then responsible for distributing the power to everything in the building as needed. Electrical panels are rated in terms of how many amps of power they can supply, and the amperage of your panel determines how much electricity you can safely use at any given time. The circuit breakers in modern electrical panels play a key role in avoiding safety hazards caused by overloads and short circuits. When this type of issue arises within a circuit, the breaker will instantly trip to block the flow of electricity to that circuit.
Top Warning Signs You Need an Upgrade
Ignoring warning signs that your electrical panel is outdated or doesn’t supply sufficient amperage to meet your needs can come at a great risk. All of the following situations are times when you should definitely consider scheduling a panel upgrade.
- Lights keep flickering or dimming
- Circuit breakers frequently trip
- Burning smell or a buzzing sound near the panel
- Outlets feel warm or are discolored
- You have a fuse box instead of a breaker panel
- You only have 60- or 100-amp electrical service
- You’re adding a high-demand appliance like an EV charger or new HVAC system
Why Ignoring These Signs Is Dangerous
The biggest concern, if your electrical panel is outdated, in poor condition or doesn’t have sufficient amperage to meet your needs, is that it can result in an electrical fire. If a fire occurs and your homeowners insurance company determines that it happened because you neglected to replace your outdated panel, they may deny your claim. Many homeowners insurance companies also won’t insure houses if they have an outdated panel or will charge much higher rates. Another thing you need to worry about, if your panel is too small for your needs, is you can frequently experience power surges that can cause significant damage to your appliances and electronics. This type of power surge is what causes lights to dim or flicker. That’s why when dealing with flickering lights, an electrician will almost always recommend a panel upgrade or breaker box replacement.
Benefits of Upgrading Your Panel
Upgrading an outdated electrical panel can benefit your life and your home in various ways. For starters, it gives you added peace of mind knowing that the panel is safe and not likely to lead to major issues like an electrical fire or your appliances and expensive electronics getting damaged or destroyed by a power surge.
While investing in a new electrical panel isn’t necessarily cheap, it can provide some financial benefits. Many insurance companies offer lower rates for homeowners who replace their outdated electrical panel, as a new panel reduces the risk of fires and damage claims. Upgrading your electrical panel is also one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to boost the value of your home.
With a new electrical panel, you can potentially lower your electricity bills by 15%-20% or possibly even more. As an electrical panel ages, it often develops issues that lead to it not efficiently distributing power and resulting in energy being wasted.
Local Expertise You Can Trust
For electrical panel upgrades and outdated fuse box repair in Lancaster County, look to the pros at Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We serve Lancaster, Lititz, Ephrata, Manheim and surrounding communities. Our electricians place a huge emphasis on providing safe, reliable, code-compliant electrical services and always do our best to ensure each customer is 100% satisfied with our work. Whether it’s a electrical panel upgrades or electrical repairs, you can trust us to do the job right. Don’t wait until a major problem arises to upgrade your electrical panel. Contact the trusted, local experts at LPH to schedule an electrical panel inspection or to receive a quote.
