When Should You Upgrade Your Electrical Panel? 4 Signs to Look For

Posted by rbelectric on November 24th, 2020

Your home has an electrical panel in Lake Cowichan that acts as the brain for your home’s entire electrical system. If your Electrical Panel in Lake Cowichan is not working properly, trust that all the other electrical systems in your home will not work properly as well.  
 
This is why you need to make sure that your home’s electrical system is in good shape. It’s a good idea to inspect your electrical panel in Lake Cowichan once a year to see if it’s still working properly. Here are the signs that will tell you it’s time to make an upgrade:  
 
1. You don’t have an electrical panel but an outdated fuse panel.
 
If your home still uses fuses, it’s time you should switch to new ones. Fuse panels are old and might not be capable of catering to your modern-day electricalTargeted Website: https://www.rbelectric.ca/lake-cowichan/
needs.  
 
2. You can see signs of water damage.
 
Inspect the inside of your electrical panel. You should be able to see clean parts. If you can spot corrosion or you see moisture inside the panel, it’s time to get it checked by a professional electrician. There could be water entering your electrical panel.  
If your electrical panel is located in an area where there could be water damage such as water dripping from the ceiling, you need to have the electrical panels changed.
 
3. You can spot mouse droppings everywhere.  
 
Watch out for infestation. Mice can wreak so much havoc on your electrical systems as they could chew on the wires of your panel. They like to take refuge inside the house during the cold winter months. It’s dangerous because the damaged wires could be a source of house fires.  
 
4. You can spot signs of damaged wiring.
 
Do you see burn marks on your electrical panel? This could be an indication that there are damaged internal wires. Over time, the wires could wear out. If you have a particularly old electrical system, you might see these burn marks or smell a burning scent coming from your electrical panel.  
 
5. You notice fluctuating electrical supply.  
 
Are your lights flickering? Do your electrical breakers trip when you plug in a device that needs a lot of electricity? These are usually indications that your electrical panel is not sufficient in supplying the power that you need in your home.  
 
If you are not sure whether your electrical panel is still in good condition, you should hire professionals from RB Electric to inspect your electrical panel. If you need an update, you should also let these professionals handle the work. Don’t try to troubleshoot it on your own as it can be dangerous. For all your electrical needs, always hire a professional.  
 
Roy Stevenson is the author of this article. To know more about Electric Heat Installations and Repairs. Please visit our website: rbelectric.ca