Powering Your Home with Expert Electrical Services

Here are some critical signs that you may need to upgrade your home's electrical panel:

• Your home is over 40 years old. Older homes may have an electrical panel that can not handle the power demands of modern appliances and electronics. Upgrading to a new 200-amp panel is recommended for safety and capacity.
• You experience frequent circuit breaker trips or flickering lights. This is not just an inconvenience, it's a warning sign. It indicates your panel is being overloaded and cannot handle the electrical demand, which is a potential fire hazard. Upgrading to a new panel is a crucial step for your home's safety.
• You have an old fuse box instead of a circuit breaker panel. Fuse boxes are outdated and should be replaced with a modern circuit breaker panel.
• You smell burning odors or see scorch marks near the panel. This is a severe fire hazard, indicating electrical faults that need immediate attention.
• You are planning a significant home renovation or addition. This will increase your home's power needs beyond what an older, smaller panel can handle safely.
• You want to install new large appliances like an electric vehicle charger. Older panels may not have sufficient capacity for these power-hungry devices.
• Your home inspector or electrician recommends an upgrade during an inspection. You can trust their advice, giving you the confidence to make the necessary upgrade for your home's safety and modern power demands.
• If your home's electrical panel is having issues keeping up with your power needs or is over 25-30 years old, upgrading to a new 200-amp electrical panel with more circuits is advisable for safety and to meet modern power demands.

The most common causes of electrical circuit overloads include:

• Too many devices plugged into one circuit: Connecting multiple high-power appliances or devices to a single circuit can exceed its capacity
• Using high-wattage appliances: Plugging in appliances that draw a lot of power, like space heaters, air conditioners, or microwaves, can overload a circuit that isn’t designed to handle such loads
• Faulty wiring: Outdated, deteriorating, or improperly installed wiring can reduce a circuit's capacity and lead to overloads
• Insufficient outlets: When there aren't enough outlets available, people often resort to using extension cords or power strips excessively, which can overload the circuit
• Circuit breaker malfunction: If a circuit breaker is faulty or outdated, it may fail to trip when an overload occurs, potentially causing safety issues
• Power surges: Sudden spikes in electrical voltage, often caused by lightning strikes or utility grid issues, can overload circuits
• .Daisy-chaining: Connecting multiple power strips or extension cords in a series can overload the original circuit
• .Older homes with limited circuits: Some older houses may have only one or two circuits controlling most of the home, making overloads more likely
• Faulty appliances: Malfunctioning devices or light fixtures may draw more power than they should, contributing to circuit overloads
• To prevent electrical circuit overloads, your electrical panel must distribute electrical loads across multiple circuits, use dedicated circuits for high-power appliances, and have a professional electrician inspect and upgrade your electrical system if needed.

What should I do if my circuit breakers keep tripping?

• If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, here are the steps you should take:
• Identify the affected circuit: Determine which area of your home is losing power when the breaker trips
• Unplug and turn off devices: In the affected area, unplug all devices and turn off all lights and appliances
• Reset the breaker: Go to your electrical pane and locate the tripped breaker Reset it by flipping it entirely to the "Off" position, then back to "On."
• Gradually reconnect devices: Plug in and turn on devices one by one, waiting a few minutes between each. Activating one device at a time can help identify which electrical device may be causing the issue.
• Check for overloads: If the breaker trips when you plug in a particular device, you may have identified an overloaded circuit. Try redistributing high-power devices to different circuits.
• Look for signs of other issues: Check for buzzing sounds from outlets, burning smells, or visible damage to outlets or switches, which could indicate more severe problems like short circuits or ground faults.
• Consider electrical upgrades: If overloads are frequent, you may need additional circuits or an electrical panel upgrade.
• Call a professional like Gorjanc Home Services: If the problem persists or if you suspect a short circuit, ground fault, or wiring issue, it's crucial to contact a licensed electrician.
• Remember, electrical issues can be dangerous. If you're unsure about anything or notice signs of serious problems (like burning smells or visible damage), don't hesitate to call a professional electrician immediately.