Upgrading Your Home’s Electrical Panel
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) requires you to conduct regular check-ups to your electrical panel. For this reason, homeowners need to include electrical panel maintenance as a part of their routine.
However, in some circumstances, simple maintenance won’t be enough. Instead, homeowners need to upgrade their electrical panels to a more futuristic version. Typically, you wouldn’t consider upgrading them until you notice problems in the electrical systems.
A faulty or broken circuit is quite dangerous and may pave the way for fire accidents. Therefore, you should carry out regular maintenance checks for rusted or scorched wires as it indicates damaged electrical systems.
If you’re planning to get an electrical panel, it’s always a good idea to do some reading beforehand. Here’s a comprehensive guide on upgrading your electrical panels:
When Should I Replace my Electrical Panel
With time your electrical panel will start deteriorating. To avoid unnecessary accidents, you should replace your electric panels after every 25 to 40 years.
When your home reaches that age, it’s likely your electrical panel will need an upgrade. Other than this, several different vital signs indicate that you need to change your existing electrical panel.
Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs Upgrading
To avoid accidents and injuries, you must learn the signs of potential danger from electrical panels. Here are a couple of factors to keep in mind:
- Flickering, dimming, or blinking lights
- Cracking, buzzing, or sizzling from receptacles
- Circuit breaker trips frequently
- Blown fuses
- Discoloration in wall plates
- Burning order from either the wall switches or receptacles
- Switchplates, outlets, or electrical panels are hot
- A mild shock/tingle from switches, appliances, or machinery
- Frequently resetting circuit breakers
- Appliances fail to operate at full capacity
- Utility bills are spiking up
Heavy-Up Services to Upgrade Electrical Panels
The primary reason to upgrade the electrical panels is that they cannot support modern appliances. With the combination of high-tech gadgets, day-to-day devices, and electrical machinery, electrical panels often fail to provide ample power. Therefore, the electrical panels may need upgrading.
Upgrading your panels to meet your electrical usage needs is known as ‘heavy up.’ Here professionals will equip homes to ensure they can support the modern era’s heavy electrical usage daily.
What is the Cost of Electrical Panels Upgrade
The cost of your electrical panel upgrade depends on an array of different factors. Primarily, it depends on the size of electrical service you require:
- Square meters of the living space
- Heating and air conditioning loads
- Cooking appliances
- Water heaters
- Vehicle charging units
- Additional loads
The average cost for labor and supplies during an electrical panel upgrade costs anywhere between $600 and $2,200.
Final Words
Before getting an electrical panel upgrade, make sure you conduct an in-depth and appropriate background check on your chosen electrician. Make sure you check their licenses, insurance, past projects, and so on.
After a professional electrician analyzes your electrical panels, they’ll discuss replacement and upgrading plans with you.