The electrical panel is a breaker box that distributes the electricity that is coming into your home and sends it out to your appliances, lights and outlets. It is often located in a basement or garage.
When it becomes overloaded, which can happen much more easily in older buildings, those appliances, lights and outlets are asking more of it than it has the capacity to deliver. This can be dangerous.
Warning Signs of an Overloaded Electrical Panel
It is important to be on the lookout for these warning signs of an overloaded electrical panel:
- Burning smell
- Burned insulation or melted breaker handles
- Warm or hot electrical panels and outlets
- Repeatedly flickering lights
- Lights that dim regularly
- Unexpected device or equipment shutdowns
- Using numerous power strips and extension cords
- Your circuit breaker trips on a regular basis
- An older electrical panel, particularly if it was installed more than 30 years ago
What Causes Overloaded Electrical Panels?
Electrical demand has surged over the last several years as the use of electronics has skyrocketed. The biggest issue occurs in homes with older electrical panels. These tend to run on electrical service that normally ranges from 60 to 100 amps while it would be much safer if it could handle 200 or more amps.
Risks of Using an Overloaded Electrical Panel
There are numerous risks of using an overloaded electrical panel. A few stand out.
One is an increased risk of fire. When an electrical panel becomes overloaded, it can cause breakers to overheat and even do things like melt wire insulation. Arcing is possible as well. When these types of circumstances occur, a fire that can quickly get out of control is possible.
Another significant risk of an overloaded electrical panel and the power fluctuations that tend to result from one is the damage that can happen to your electronics and appliances. Even more significant is that what is happening may not be readily apparent, resulting in you unknowingly ending up with a refrigerator and furnace with shorter lifespans than should be the case.
Unplanned downtime is a third risk. This can significantly harm a business, including if you run a home office, in addition to regularly interrupting you while simply relaxing doing something like watching a movie or series.
Although an overloaded electrical panel is an annoyance, the bigger issue is how risky it is. If yours is old or otherwise showing regular signs of being overloaded, get it looked at or replaced in order to greatly reduce those risks. When you need electrical panel services in Washington, DC, contact FH Furr.
