Electrical panels are the heart of your electrical system. These metal boxes are typically found outside the home, inside the garage, or in the basement.
These units provide both power and safety for your whole electrical system. When anything goes wrong with your electrical panel, it’s essential to work with an expert electrician to resolve the issues.
Here are three major signs that your electrical panel is malfunctioning and you need to hire a pro for help:
Rust or Corrosion
Electrical panels located outdoors have to take on the rain, snow, sleet, hail, and everything else that can come at them. Over time, the metal casing of the panel can break down and become rusted. Even worse, water can enter the panel and cause serious damage.
Water poses a major risk when it comes into contact with anything electrical. Sparks can fly, and first can start. Power can surge through the system unevenly and cause serious appliance malfunctions. If your electrical panel shows signs of rust and corrosion, it’s time for a pro to replace it.
Frequently Tripped Breakers
Circuits within your electrical panel are designed to switch off when there’s any issue that could lead to a safety problem. This is a great feature of modern panels, but sometimes, many circuits repeatedly trip to the off position.
When your circuit breaker trips over and over, it’s a sign of major damage within the system. Something is straining those circuits and making them too dangerous to function reliably. A new circuit breaker or entire electrical panel may be the only solution.
Burning Odor
As you would expect, burning odors or smoke coming from your electrical panel is a sure sign of fire. Many parts of your panel could overheat, and frayed wires can emit sparks that could lead to a small fire within the system. This can cause irreparable damage to the entire breaker and panel.
In this situation, leave your home and call 911 for immediate assistance. Then, call an expert electrician in Philadelphia, PA, to remove the panel and install a new one.
Other Common Signs You Need Electrical Panel Repair or Replacement
There are many signs to look for that indicate it’s time for an electrical panel repair or replacement service. Just a few more signs include:
- High utility bills: When your electric bill is higher than usual without any significant use change, it could be due to a struggling panel.
- Dimming or flickering lights: When a major appliance makes your lights flicker, your system has a power flow issue.
- Sparking plugs: A sparking outlet could indicate damage to the single outlet or a broader issue with your panel.
- Unusual sounds: Electrical panels shouldn’t make much sound at all.
- Electrical panel shocks: If you get shocked while touching the panel, there may be exposed wires.
What Causes Electrical Panels to Malfunction
A lot of situations can lead to a malfunctioning electrical panel. Old panels struggle to handle the workload of today’s modern electronics. Worn-out panels can struggle to work correctly. Damaged circuits can also be a common issue. Whatever is causing problems for your electrical panel, turn to JDV Electric for help.
Why Choose JDV Electric for Panel Upgrades or Repair?
Since 2005, our team of professional electricians has been resolving all types of electrical issues and panel upgrades throughout Delaware County. Our award-winning service ensures that your electrical system will work like new when we’re done.
Whether you need electrical panel repair or replacement, look no further than JDV Electric. Call us now at (610) 364-5099 to get started.
