Your electrical panel has its limits. There’s only so much power it can supply at one time, but when it reaches those limits (or tries exceeding them), it can be dangerous. There are a few things you really need to look out for.
We don’t want you to push the limits of your electrical panel by mistake. It’s time to find out whether or not you need an electrician in Hattiesburg, MS to upgrade your electrical panel.
Burning Smells
Burning plastic has a very distinct smell. If there’s ever been a time when you stop and wonder what that burning smell is, it could be from your electrical panel.
While it’s not the most common thing you’ll run into, a burning smell means there’s an issue with your circuitry. The casing on your wires is overheating and producing that burning smell.
It’s never a small problem if you encounter this. You desperately need a panel upgrade, and an electrician to inspect your wiring for any problems that stem from overheating.
Loud Crackling or Popping Noises
Electricity buzzes–it isn’t supposed to sound like popcorn in the microwave. If you hear a light buzzing sound, that’s okay, but if you listen closely and you can hear crackling, that’s a bad sign.
The most likely cause of this is electricity arcing across your entire house. Your panel is peaking beyond its capabilities, and now it’s causing a hazard.
Burned Outlets
Have you ever seen scorch marks on the outside of your outlets? This is a classic sign that you need a panel upgrade.
If you’ve ever put your hand on a cord and felt a little bit of heat on it, say for an electric griddle or the power brick for your phone charger, you’ve felt the byproduct of electricity: heat. All that power can lead to overheating if your system isn’t set up to handle it correctly
Scorch marks on your outlet can happen from time to time, especially if something is unplugged while in use, like a vacuum cleaner. When you find scorch marks on your electrical panel, that’s when you know the problem is critical.
There’s No History of Rewiring
Rewiring your entire home isn’t something that you need to do every few years. Try every 40 years, with inspections once every decade or so.
Inspections should be documented, but they’re often forgotten. Try to find out when your house was last rewired. If it’s a recent purchase, try to find out that information from the real estate agency you used when buying the house.
It’s Upgrade Time
If this list resonated with you in any way, then it’s time for an upgrade. Power demands from appliances may go down as technologies improve, but the average electricity use is going up.
Thankfully, if you have an upcoming remodel or renovation planned, that’s the perfect time to plan your electrical panel upgrade. Pay attention to the signs and make the upgrade as soon as you realize you need it.
Contact AirSouth Cooling and Heating today to schedule an appointment to upgrade your electrical panel as soon as possible.
