Solving an Electrical Problem

If you're like most homeowners, you probably use electrical appliances in your home without giving the house's electrical system much thought. But if there are issues with your home's electrical panel, it is important to identify them and hire an electrician to make repairs in order to reduce the chance of damage to your electrical system or, more importantly, an electrical fire. Common signs that your home's electrical panel needs to be replaced and updated include:

Bad Wiring

As a home gets older, the wires inside can begin to show their age and cause problems. If you have an old electrical panel and old wiring, you may notice several signs of problems, such as: lights that flicker or dim, a small shock when touching electrical outlets in your home, a burning smell from the outlets in your house, and sparks from an outlet when you try to use it. These are all serious issues, and if you encounter them it is important to hire an electrician immediately to examine your electrical panel and the wiring in your home.

Installing New Appliances

Homes are typically built with an electrical panel that can handle the load of the appliances in the house. If you live in an older home and plan to have new appliances installed, it is worth your time and money to consult an electrician to ensure that your current electrical panel can handle the load. Small appliances like coffee makers and toasters rarely present a problem, but new washers, dryers, refrigerators, HVAC units, or an outdoor hot tub can all put a lot of stress on your home's electrical panel.

Using Power Strips and Extension Strips Regularly

If you live in a home where power strips are the norm and extension cords are used on a regular basis, your current electrical panel may not be able to handle the extra load. Before relying on power strips and extension cords, you should have an electrician come to your house to make sure that the extra power draw isn't negatively affecting your electrical panel.

Tripping Circuit Breakers

An obvious sign that you home can't handle the electricity you're trying to utilize is tripping circuit breakers. Circuit breakers can trip every once in a while for no reason, but when you have to reset your circuit breakers on a regular basis, it is time to call an experienced electrician who can replace or repair your current electrical panel in order to fit your electrical needs. 

For more information, contact companies like Morris Electric Contracting & Service, Inc.