7 Tips for an Electrical Panel Replacement in Ogden

All of the wiring in your home or business runs through the electrical panel. Inside this box, every circuit has its own breaker. The complete system delivers electricity to your heating system, lighting, electrical outlets, appliances and more. What are the signs it’s time for electrical panel replacement and how can you avoid electricity problems?

1. Act Quickly When You Need Electrical Panel Replacement

The following problems can mean your breaker box is reaching its capacity, requires urgent repairs or needs to be replaced.

Flickering Lights

If your lights constantly flicker when you use appliances, you have too much power draw on the circuit. The solution is to add more circuits, either by expanding or upgrading your electrical panel.

Frequently Tripped Breakers

When a breaker trips, it means some device temporarily exceeded the circuit’s power capacity. This can happen occasionally if another family member is using the blender while you’re running a vacuum cleaner. On the other hand, if breakers trip frequently, there may be a problem with your wiring or electrical panel.

Burn Marks on the Panel

Burning smells or blackened areas are major red flags for circuit breakers and electrical panels. If you suspect an electrical fire, call 911 right away.

What if you don’t smell burning? Any time you notice burn marks or rust, it’s best to schedule a professional inspection of nearby wiring, power cables, circuit breakers and electrical panel connections.

Heat

It’s not normal for an electrical panel to feel warm when you touch the cover. This issue means a circuit breaker is improperly connected or malfunctioning. Contact an electrician without delay.

It’s true that electrical panel replacement costs money, but it’s a good investment. Protecting your family and avoiding fire hazards is always worth it.

2. Give Yourself Wiggle Room for New Appliances

Your home’s breaker box has a limit to the amount of electricity it can supply. The last thing you want is to bring a new appliance home and discover that your system can’t handle the power draw.

Heavy appliances are major sources of energy consumption: microwaves, dishwashers, chest freezers, large refrigerators, washers and dryers. If you want to fully furnish your home, avoid headaches by investing in a larger panel.

3. Know When You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade

You may think that an electrician is only necessary when you have power problems, but many times, upgrades are more about taking advantage of benefits.

New HVAC Installation

Smaller homes often only have a 100-amp electrical panel. This amount of electricity can’t support central air. Before installing a new HVAC system, upgrade to a 200-amp panel.

Small Electrical Panels

Sometimes, you simply don’t have space for new circuit breakers. Instead of trying to MacGyver your way around the problem, choose electrical panel replacement. That way, you avoid problems such as overheating.

Remodeling Projects

Expanding a home or business also can require a larger circuit breaker panel, one capable of handling from 200 to 400 amps. In addition to the higher electricity requirements, you probably also need more electrical circuits. Plan on two or three new circuits per room. A new kitchen requires at least seven circuits.

Older Homes

Electrical panels last approximately 25-40 years, which isn’t as long as you may think for real estate. If you buy a home built in the 1990s, you may be overdue for an electrical panel upgrade already.

4. Learn Electrical Panel Safety Measures

Turning off circuit breakers is important before making any electrical repairs, such as replacing old electrical outlets. Don’t touch outlets or light sockets unless you’ve turned the power off.

Some homeowners and business owners think shutting off circuit breakers means it’s safe to work on the electrical panel, but that’s a dangerous mistake. Breakers only cut power to the home’s branch circuits, not to the main service cables.

Never touch lug nuts or wires — even with tools — connected to these service lines. Let an electrician handle electrical panel replacement or repairs. These cables have enough electricity to cause serious injuries or worse.

5. Invest in AFCI and GFCI Breakers

Arc fault circuit interrupters help reduce the risk of electrical fires. They can detect signals of burning wires or arcing electricity and cut power immediately. Ground fault circuit interrupters are another vital safety measure for electrical outlets near sinks. GFCI breakers can help kids and adults avoid electrocution hazards in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and garages.

Building codes in many states require homes to have AFCI and GFCI circuit breakers, but Utah is an exception. These systems are optional even for new homes in Ogden. However, if you want to give your family the highest level of electrical protection, you should invest in electrical panel upgrades with both AFCI and GFCI circuit breakers.

6. Plan Ahead for Expansion

When your home or business needs any kind of electrical or general contracting work, it’s a good opportunity to sit down and review your plans. You can save time and money by killing two birds with one stone.

If you’re going to add a few circuits anyway, why not spend a little more and replace your electrical panel with something that has more capacity? When you are ready to build a heated garage or outdoor kitchen in the future, you’re already prepared.

7. Talk With an Electrician First

DIY electrical projects rarely end well. They can be a huge disaster, not to mention exceptionally dangerous. Plus, you may end up spending more in the long run because of common wiring mistakes.

Talking with an expert electrician can make a huge difference:

• Save time: We know exactly what solutions provide the results you want.
• Save money: Our team does things the right way from the beginning.
• Stay safe: We’re fully licensed, insured and bonded, and we handle everything.

Our recommendations can deliver energy savings and smoother operations for businesses, too.

Contact Our Team for Electrical Panel Replacement in Ogden

Depending on your home or business’s power needs, you may have many questions about electrical panel replacement or wiring. At All Aboard, we’re happy to answer your questions about modern electrical upgrades with custom solutions. Enjoy a worry-free project by contacting us right away.