Category Archives: Safety

Our friends and neighbors ask a lot of questions about electrical panel replacement. That’s a good thing because there are questions you should ask about home electrical panels.

Some of the frequently asked questions we receive reflect what we’ve always known: The Valley homeowners are savvy DIYers (do-it-yourselfers). And the best DIYers know when to depend on their local electrician for safe and efficient electrical panel replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electrical Panel Replacement

Some FAQs we receive about home electrical panels are:

Q: Can I do a DIY panel upgrade?
A: NO. You certainly won’t save money. The smallest mistake can ruin your home’s electrical system. In addition to causing a fire hazard, the damage repair will be very expensive. If a fire causes damage as a result of a DIY electrical panel replacement, your insurance company can deny coverage. The number of injuries and fatalities professional electricians experience every year is tragic. It’s not worth risking harm or death.
Your professional electrician will:

1. Evaluate your lifestyle and home’s electricity
2. Explain the best panel for your property
3. Install/connect the panel/circuit breakers
4. Test and document your system for code/zoning requirements

Q: How can I tell it’s time for an electrical panel upgrade?
A: If your panel operates with fuses, it’s time for a replacement. If your home was built in the ’70s, ’80s, or 1990s, your electrical panel is due for an upgrade. Signs you need electrical panel replacement include:

• Amperage – If you have less than 200 amps, you don’t have enough to power a home today.
• Flickering lights
• Frequent trips/resets needed
• Increase in number of people living in home
• Outlet shocks
• Visible signs at the electrical panel:
  • “Burning plastic” odor
  • Burn marks
  • Buzzing
  • Rust

Q: Is there a difference between a panel “upgrade” vs. panel replacement?
A: Yes and no. Usually, a panel replacement includes a panel upgrade. It’s a situation of “As long as we’re here…” Panel replacements are mandatory if you have:

• Age – Electrical panels need to be replaced between 24-40 years
• Rodent damage from chewing/droppings
• Water damage
• Wire damage

A panel “upgrade” is often less about repairs or damage control and more about service. Your home may not have enough open circuits or need additional amperage.

Q: My neighbor had an electrical subpanel installed. What’s that and do I need one?
A: We install quite a few subpanels in homes with electric vehicles. A “subpanel” is a smaller electrical service panel that targets a specific area. It is “essentially a satellite circuit breaker panel that has its own breakers,” says The Spruce. The advantages are:

• A subpanel is another way to add circuits to a too-full electrical panel.
• If needed, circuits can be controlled in a more convenient location than the main electrical service panel.
• Subpanels accommodate space requirements in garages, outbuildings, etc.

Q: Our small home was built in 1988. We retired here in 2018, and so far, so good. If we don’t have any problems, do we really need an electrical panel replacement?
A: Your home’s electrical panel is overdue for replacement. You need to plan and budget for an electrical panel replacement sooner rather than later. Why wait until an emergency?

We also need you to check the inside of the panel cover to see if it says “Federal Pacific.” If it does, call us asap. These were never “officially” recalled but had a too-high failure rate that caused fires.

Turn It On Electric is your residential and commercial electrician for top-tier experienced service and customer care. When you have questions, please ask. Contact TIO Electric today!

We tend to take our electrical systems for granted until they don’t work. When that happens – home or business – getting our electric system back to normal takes top priority. Circuit breaker repair is confusing at best because most authorities say there’s no such thing as “circuit breaker repair.” Broken circuit breakers have to be replaced.

When you google “circuit breaker repair,” you’ll get plenty of DIY (do-it-yourself) ways to fix your circuit breaker. Most experts (and homeowners insurance companies) advise: Don’t try this at home.

Reasons You Need Circuit Breaker Repair or Replacement

It helps to understand how electrical breakers are used. Circuit breakers are like fire alarms. Their job is to protect the amount of current flowing on a circuit. If it exceeds its rated level, which is measured in amps, it “trips.” That is your alarm signal.

The power goes out. You know where the electric panel is located and you know how to reset the circuit breaker. By the time you’re back in the kitchen, you hear a “pop” and it’s tripped again. Now what?

Why can’t you reset your circuit breaker? Reasons include:

• Ground fault – If a hot wire touches the copper ground wire, it’s like a short circuit. It needs professional electrician attention as soon as possible.
• Overload – You have innumerable appliances and devices charging and running in your home. Then, one morning, between the microwave popping corn, one person using a hairdryer, the washing machine on spin cycle, an electric skillet set at 350°, and the intense gamer fighting electronic battles in his bedroom, your electrical system threw up its hands and called it quits.
• Short circuit – Only your local electrician can diagnose this. A short circuit is complicated and dangerous. It can be caused by a wiring break in the circuit, a burnout in your home’s wiring, a hot wire touching another wire, or something you plugged in.

Circuit Breaker Problems: 11 Warning Signs

When your circuit breaker keeps tripping, that’s a major warning sign you need circuit breaker repair or replacement. Other signs are:

1. Age – If your electrical panel is more than 20 years old it might be time for an upgrade. A lot depends on its manufacturer, how often you have power surges, and your electrical usage.
2. Amperage – Older homes may not have adequate amp wiring. If you’re using every drop of your 200 amps to power standard appliances and devices, you may need more.
3. Appliance – If the breaker trips every time you plug-in one particular appliance, your home’s wiring can’t handle it. You should consider an upgrade.
4. Buzzing sound – A buzzing or humming noise from your panel needs professional attention.
5. Car charging station – If you need one or if you have any new heavy-duty appliances upgrades, your amps may need to be upgraded.
6. Electrical burning smell – If you’ve ever smelled burning wires, you know it’s distinct. You also know it’s a huge fire hazard and should not be ignored.
7. Fuses – Fuses are unsafe and outdated.
8. Heat – A hot-to-the-touch circuit breaker panel is a serious warning sign. In addition to circuit breaker repair, you may have wiring issues.
9. Lights – When lights occasionally dim or flicker, that’s a sign you need circuit breaker repair or replacement. If it’s just one room, that may be another issue. Either way, you need to call your electrician.
10. Outlet burn – Your outlets shouldn’t have burn spots, black spots, brown spots, or any odors.
11. Panel rust – It might be more than showing its age. Schedule an inspection to ensure there are no moisture issues before you schedule circuit breaker repair or replacement.

An annual electrical inspection is a small investment that can prevent huge losses. If you suspect you need electrical upgrades or repair, you probably do. Play it safe. Contact Turn It On Electric.