Let’s talk about when you should get an electrical panel upgrade for your home. Like any other equipment, there’s a certain shelf life for circuit breakers, wiring, and anything else involving electricity.

You’ll notice when your equipment has reached the end of its life cycle when you encounter adverse problems like breaker trips, flickering lights, and power surges. Fortunately, you can address this with the help of a reliable electrician from Fusion Electric.

Why You Would Benefit from an Electrical Panel Upgrade

Folks in Kansas City call us all time wanting to know if they need an electrical service upgrade. A good rule of thumb would be to get an upgrade about every 20 to 30 years for your home’s electrical panel. This is the best way to avoid safety hazards and energy inefficiency.

Alas, most people disregard the issue until they have severe power problems. An electrical panel is a lot like your vehicle, which requires frequent inspection, preferably multiple times a year. If for no other reason, electrical equipment has the potential to overheat and fall apart just like an automotive engine.

Your panel has multiple circuit breakers carrying current, which also carries heat. All the cumulative heat will degrade the internal breaker components, leading to connection issues. As that degradation worsens, so does the potential for shocks and other dangers.

What to Expect from Panel Upgrade Service

How long does it take Fusion Electric to perform this task?

We can do an upgrade in about one day. The most time-consuming aspect will involve replacing fuse panels if it looks like your home is running on insufficient amperage. Many customers have an outdated fuse panel, allowing only 60-amp service.

The minimum standard for today’s homes is 100 amps. You should upgrade to that level based on increased electrical demands. This is especially true if you’re using car chargers or other heavy-duty appliances.

What are the warning signs of a failing electrical panel?

Frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, the smell of burnt wires, and other odd occurrences are an indicator that you should upgrade your panel. In addition, there are certain outdated breaker models that are known to cause a fire hazard. Those include Zinsco, Federal Pacific, Push-o-Matic, and Wadsworth.

We recommend calling an electrician for a home safety inspection to assess your electrical panel if you’re using one of these brands.

Other Importance Electrical Upgrades

Then, if you’d still like to find other ways to improve your electrical framework, we have these suggestions.

• GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) Outlets
  In the early 20th century, before we had GFCI protection, older homes had much more trouble with shocks and surges. Nowadays, a GFCI can shut down the problem and protect your family, especially while using appliances near water.
• Re-wiring
  Another issue in older homes is a lack of ground wires since they built them before those became mandatory. Ask your electrician about the wiring in your home whenever you get a panel upgrades. If you have something outdated like knob & tube wiring, you might want to replace some or all of it.
• Amenity Upgrades: Indoor Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Ceiling Fans
  Once you’ve addressed the safety matters, it’s time to look at luxury or amenity upgrades. Maybe you’d like to try sconce lights to accent your living room, or spruce up your backyard deck with lanterns of strand lighting. There’s so much you can do, and we’re happy to help make it happen.

For more information and ideas, check out this article on what electrical upgrades can make your home safer.

Get an Electrical Panel Upgrade Through Fusion Electric

As usual, we never recommend homeowners pursue electrical upgrades without an electrician. There are too many ways to wire something backward or make some other critical mistake. It’s better to invest a little into professional services than to suffer shock or electrocution trying to “DIY” your panel breakers.

Our company has full licensing, bonding, and insurance to perform any electrical installation or repair. Plus, we’ve seen it all in both Kansas City residential and commercial dwellings.

If you want to go ahead with an electrical panel upgrade, then contact us soon for top-notch service.