Residential Electrical Services Central PA

Circuit Breaker Panels

The circuit breaker panel, also known as your electrical panel, distributes and regulates the current that flows within your home. If the circuit breaker is faulty, it won’t be able to detect power surges or regulate the electrical current. As a result, your electrical appliances can be damaged, and your home will be at risk of electrical fire.

Signs That Your Panel Has a Problem

Before a circuit breaker completely shuts down, there will be signs to warn you. If you detect these indicators early and call a professional to fix them, you won’t have to experience the damage that comes with a faulty circuit breaker. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Flickering lights: If your lights flicker or dim consistently or when you turn on a large appliance or use several appliances at once, this could indicate that you have an overloaded panel. This problem is a clear clue that your current circuit breaker panel is not strong enough to meet your home’s power needs and needs replacement or an upgrade.
• Frequent trips: When a circuit breaker trips, this indicates you’re putting too much demand on it. Move some of your appliances to another circuit, or replace the old panel with a new one that can handle the high demand. This issue is usually common in older homes with circuit breakers that weren’t designed to support the needs of modern appliances.
• Burned spots or smells on the breaker or outlet: If you see burned spots on your breaker box or pick up on a burning smell coming from your outlets, it’s a clear sign that your breaker panel is overheating. This issue requires immediate attention, and you should call an electrical contractor before an electrical fire breaks out.