Your home’s electrical panel is its first line of defense against electrical problems such as surges, shocks, and fires. But how do you know if it’s up to the task of protecting your home? Here at TCA Electric, an electrical panel upgrade is one of the most common and important residential electrical services we offer to Vancouver homeowners. Whether it’s age and deterioration, wiring issues, or simply not enough power, there are many warning signs to look out for. Let’s look at five of the biggest signs it’s time to upgrade the electrical panel in your Vancouver home.
Your home still has fuses
Depending on the age of your home, you may still be relying on a fuse box to protect from overloads and surges. If this is the case, it’s definitely time to upgrade to a circuit breaker instead. While fuse boxes and circuit breakers perform the same function, fuse boxes are dated and generally considered less safe. Rather than simply flipping a switch to restore power, as with a circuit breaker, fuses melt when overloaded, meaning you must replace the fuse to bring the lights back on. Fuse boxes also don’t protect you from electrocution like a circuit breaker will, making them more dangerous to work with. For older Vancouver homes, make sure you upgrade your electrical panel if it still relies on fuses.
Your electrical panel is damaged, deteriorated, or old
This warning sign is fairly straightforward: if your electrical panel is dented, rusted, or otherwise visibly deteriorated, you should upgrade your panel right away. Corrosion is typically the most common problem in this regard. Electrical panels are often contaminated by water or other corrosive elements, which can damage the device and lead to malfunctions. Thus, any electrical panel that has been damaged or corroded should be replaced.
Even if it’s not visibly damaged, you may also want to replace your panel if it’s very old. Some electrical panels simply become obsolete over time, making them harder to repair or maintain. If you’re not sure how old your panel is, a reliable Vancouver electrician will be able to help you out.
You’re installing new appliances
Some appliances use a great deal of electricity, and chances are at some point you’ll want to add a new appliance or device to your home. Maybe you’ve gotten an electric vehicle and are interested in a home EV charger. Or maybe you’ve been eyeing a brand-new dishwasher, or even a hot tub to relax in. Whatever the case may be, it’s always a good idea to check with an electrician beforehand to see if you’ll need to upgrade your Vancouver home’s electrical panel. With so many power-hungry appliances available, there’s only so much a smaller electrical panel can handle at once. Upgrading your electrical panel before installing a new appliance will help you be sure everything keeps running smoothly.
Your breaker is constantly tripping
Occasional trips of your breaker panel isn’t necessarily a major concern. After all, that’s exactly what a circuit breaker is designed to do: “break” the circuit in the event of an overload or surge. However, if you find that your breaker is tripping very frequently, this is a sign that your family’s normal level of electricity usage has become too much for your electrical panel to handle. Leaving things as-is can lead to larger problems down the line, as frequent tripping increases the likelihood of your electrical panel malfunctioning or failing. In this case, it’s a good idea to upgrade your electrical panel to a larger-capacity model.
You’re planning ahead for a remodel
If you plan to remodel your home now or in the near future, this is a great reason to consider a service upgrade. Remodels are a great time to step back and evaluate your home’s electrical systems. A major remodel often includes adding new appliances, and as mentioned above, that’s typically a sign you’ll need a new electrical panel. In addition (literally!), adding on to your home likely means you’ll need more circuits to provide the new area of your home with power. Older or smaller panels will have fewer circuits available, and putting undue stress on your home’s existing circuits can create problems. To be safe, consider an electrical panel upgrade if you plan to remodel your Vancouver home.
TCA Electric: Electrical Panel Upgrade Vancouver
Your electrical panel might just be the most important component of your home’s electrical systems. That means you’ll want to call on a trustworthy and experienced Vancouver electrician to upgrade your electrical panel and keep your home safe! At TCA Electric, we have more than 60 years of combined experience providing electrical services throughout Vancouver. We’ve helped many Vancouver homeowners upgrade their electrical panels over the years, and we always provide top-notch electrical work along with excellent customer service. If you’re interested in upgrading your home’s electrical panel, or if you’d just like to learn more about our services, we’re eager to get in touch. Contact us today!