When you think about your electrical system as a whole, it might remind you of the central nervous system in your body. There is wiring that extends to every room of the house, branching off into each electrical outlet, light fixture, and switch. But where does the electricity all start? The brain of the electrical system is the electrical panel. When electricity comes from the power company, it ends up at the electrical panel which controls where the electricity goes from there. Without it, there would be nothing regulating electricity, and it would be chaos. 

You can see why it is so important for your electrical panel to be in good condition. If your electrical panel is faulty or doesn’t have enough amps, the rest of your electrical system will struggle too. You’ll need an electrical panel repair or replacement to ensure electrical safety in your home.

Is Your Current Panel Dangerous?

How can you tell if your current electrical panel is posing a danger to your family? There are a few ways that you can detect a dangerous panel or know that it’s time for an electrical panel repair in Dallas, TX.

Your Electrical Panel is Too Old

Electrical panels can last anywhere from 25-40 years. Because of this, age isn’t always a perfect indicator of needing a breaker box repair or replacement, but it can be helpful as a starting point. 

Your Electrical Panel Can’t Handle the Load

A more helpful indication that your panel may be a danger to your home is if the electrical load of your home is greater than what your panel can handle. If you’re trying to run a flat-screen TV, an HVAC system, an air fryer, a refrigerator, and a microwave all on a 60 amp panel, you may be overtaxing your panel, overheating your electrical wiring, and causing a fire and shock hazard. You will want to have your panel upgraded before you need electrical rewiring or other repairs.

Your Electrical Panel Is Incorrectly Installed

If your panel hasn’t been correctly installed, it could be a danger for your house and your family. You shouldn’t be able to see any exposed wires, and the panel should look brand new. Everything should be regulated to the correct circuits allowing your home to function safely. If you are having electrical problems, it might be because of an incorrectly installed panel. A breaker box repair might be enough to fix the problem, or you may need a replacement.

What Is the Deal With Fuse Boxes? 

If you’re browsing online for information about old electric panels, you may get a lot of varying information about fuse boxes. Hopefully, we can set the record straight about this type of electrical panel. 

Fuse boxes, in themselves, are not necessarily a danger to your home. In other words, having a fuse box isn’t an electrical emergency. However, there are certain things that can make them more dangerous and a lot less convenient. For one thing, your fuse box uses fuses that burn out every time there is a surge of electricity. It’s what they’re supposed to do, but you’ll have to replace a lot of fuses which is a lot harder than flipping a switch.

The danger comes in the fact that it’s easy to replace fuses with the wrong type of fuse which can cause a fire and shock hazard. Your fuse box also isn’t likely sufficient to be able to handle all of your modern electrical devices.

Signs That You Need Electrical Panel Services

Unless you’re an electrician, you might not be able to tell how old your panel is or whether it has enough amps for all of your appliances. But there are certain signs that can make it easy to know when to call for repairs or electric panel upgrades. Watch out for these electrical problems in your home:

  • Tripping Breakers: frequently tripping breakers might be a sign that you need electrical rewiring, but this can also be a sign of an insufficient electrical panel.
  • A Panel That Is Warm to the Touch: your panel should never feel warm. If it is, you may need an electrical panel replacement.
  • Bad Odors: Watch out for burning smells, hot electrical smells, and fishy smells near your panel. These are all signs that you need an immediate electric panel upgrade or repair.
  • Flickering or Dimming Lights: When you need an electrical panel replacement, you might notice flickering or dimming lights, especially when you turn on appliances.
  • Buzzing or Humming Sounds: For electrical safety, call right away if you hear buzzing or humming sounds coming from your panel.

A List of Unsafe and Discontinued Electrical Panels 

There are a few different types and brands of electrical panels that are considered unsafe across the board. If you have any of these unsafe electrical panels, you should consider having an electrician come for an electrical panel installation.

  • Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Panel
  • Zinsco (GRE-Sylvania) Panel
  • Pushmatic Panel
  • Challenger (Eaton/Cutler-Hammer) Panel

Electrical Panel Repair and Other Services

Keeping your panel in perfect condition is always important. When you need an electrical panel repair or you suspect that you might even need an electrical panel installation, make sure you get the help of a licensed electrician. At W3 Electric, we offer electrical panel repair in Dallas, TX along with any other electrical services that you need for your home.

For more information on our Electrical Panel services in Dallas, TX.  and the surrounding areas, or to schedule service with one of our professionals, contact us or give us a call at (972) 945-8141.