Is Your Electric Panel In Need Of An Upgrade? 3 Signs That The Answer Is Yes

Posted on: 16 June 2022

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For many people, determining whether or not their electrical panel is in need of an upgrade can prove difficult. There are several reasons for this. For instance, since electrical panels are meant to remain out of sight, many visual signs that your panel requires upgrading could go unnoticed. The fact that many people are unfamiliar with how an electrical system works can also add to the difficulty of this task. Thankfully, there are some easy-to-spot warning signs that you can look out for when determining whether or not your electric panel needs to be upgraded. Below you can learn more about these signs that you should be on the lookout for. 

Be On The Lookout For Flickering Or Dimming Lights

If your electrical panel is outdated, you may find that your lights flicker or dim when turning on another appliance. This is because an outdated electrical panel will not be able to supply enough voltage to keep your lights at full brightness while also supplying the energy demanded by an appliance or other electronic item. If you notice that the brightness of your lights is impacted by what else is turned on at the time, it is time to get your electric panel upgraded. 

Be On The Lookout For Frequently Tripped Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers are tripped when a particular electrical circuit attempts to carry too much current. This often occurs when there are too many high voltage appliances or other electronics plugged in on the same circuit. Occasionally needing to reset a circuit breaker is no reason to be concerned. However, if you are resetting these breakers on a frequent basis, this could mean that your current electrical panel is incapable of supplying the amount of energy your lifestyle demands. The safest and most effective way to deal with this issue is to upgrade your electrical panel. 

Be On The Lookout For Frequent Extension Cord Use

If you are like most people, you probably don't equate your extension cord use with the need for an electric panel upgrade. However, if you are frequently using extension cords in your home because you either do not have enough outlets or because your outlets are not located in convenient places, this can be a sure sign that your electric panel should be upgraded. This is because the need to use extension cords on a regular basis means that your current electric system is not capable of meeting your needs. Supplementing the use of grounded outlets with extension cords is fine for short-term use, however, using extension cords long term can be a fire hazard and should be avoided. 

Contact a company like Plugged In Electric LLC to learn more.