What kind of electrical panel do you have? If you’re like most homeowners, you aren’t even sure!
But we'll let you in on a little secret: if your home was built before 1990, you may have an outdated electrical panel.
Electrical panels are specifically designed with safety in mind. They prevent too much power from flowing to the same area at once and overheating or causing a fire. But many panels installed before 1990 were recalled for their potential safety hazards.
Are your fluorescent bulbs on the fritz? If you’ve recently been hearing a strange, loud buzzing sound every time you flick on the lights, or are experiencing inconsistent lighting levels, there’s a chance the bulbs themselves aren’t to blame.
Most of us only think about our electrical panel when we need to reset a circuit breaker. Other than that, you probably forget it even exists.
When you own a home, there are many times when doing the job yourself can save you some money instead of hiring the project out. That said, it’s important to remember that you don’t want to do a job bigger than you can handle.
Renovating and remodeling are no small undertakings. After all, you want your dream home to be perfect for you. Determining a layout design, choosing colors, and picking materials are tough enough without the added pressure of electrical plans.
“What even is an electrical panel?” you ask? Think of the electrical system of your home like the body’s circulatory system. The electrical panel is like the heart, “pumping” electricity throughout your home.
Chances are, you don’t think about your electrical panel very often. Most people don’t know anything about them beyond how to reset a circuit breaker when it’s tripped. It’s not something you think of as needing to be replaced, but sometimes that’s the case. And if you don’t replace it when you should, it can lead to fire hazards and other dangers. So how do you know when you need a new electrical panel? Here are 7 reasons why you might.