Knowing When Your House Needs an Upgrad
Your electrical panel is just like an old freezer or air conditioner in that it wears down with time and regular use. As your unit ages, it may start experiencing problems like the circuits overloading frequently. Your breakers may trip more frequently, or someone in your household might get shocked when they use an outlet. Mr. Electric of Riverside has listed several ways you can tell you need an electrical panel upgrade:
- Circuit breakers have rust or corrosion on them
- Panel is giving off crackling sounds
- Your appliances no longer run at full power
- Electrical panel’s interior surface feels warm
- The only way to plug in all your electronics is with multiple extension cords
- You don’t have GFCI outlets (including around water sources)
- You have an outdated split bus panel or fuse block supporting your system
- You have 60-amp electrical service in your home
- Your home’s 100-amp electrical service still doesn’t let you operate certain appliances
Your Panel’s Age Indicates When an Upgrade Is Necessary
According to general wisdom, households should get an electrical panel upgrade if their existing panel is older than 25 years. We advise customers to take this advice seriously because an older panel can cause various electrical issues and hazardous situations around their homes. Furthermore, many panels are proven unsafe if they were installed before 1990. Reach out to Mr. Electric of Riverside to discuss a prompt replacement If your home features any of these defective electrical panels:
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panel
Homes built from 1950 to 1980 often feature this panel type. These panels have many design defects that raise a household’s electric shock and fire risks. The FPE electrical panel has been classified as defective by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Zinsco Electrical Panel
Zinsco panels haven't been an available panel option since the mid-1970s. However, many modern homes can still feature these old panels. Because of their defective design, these panels let power flow at all times, including when you’ve turned off the breakers. This hazardous issue causes the switches to melt.
Pushmatic Electrical Panel
Pushmatic panels are hazardous because their design excludes a main breaker switch, so stopping power flow all at once is impossible. Additionally, this antiquated panel type has weak breaker switches, which may be more challenging to reset as time passes.
Fuse Boxes
Fuse boxes are the oldest electrical panel type. Most of these outdated versions can only handle a maximum of 60 amps of electricity, while today’s average homes require around 200 amps. Clearly, a modern home won’t get adequate support from this type of panel. Furthermore, fuse boxes also put your home at massive risk of fires and electrocution. Mr. Electric Riverside strongly advises homeowners to replace this type of panel as quickly as possible
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