Your electrical panel, also called your breaker box, is a key safety feature for the house. The breakers detect when circuits throughout the home are drawing too much power and cut off the current. This lowers the risk of electrical fires and shocks and also keeps the wiring from getting damaged. If your electrical panel has a capacity too low for your home, you need an electrician to upgrade it for both safety and convenience. Here’s how you can tell it’s necessary.

When Should You Call an Electrician?

1. The Breakers Trip Frequently

If the breakers trip regularly, it either means that you’re drawing more power than your wiring is designed to handle or that the breakers are broken. If the breakers won’t reset when you flip the switch, or if they shut off again immediately, an electrician should be involved. 

2. The Lights Flicker When You Turn Something Else On

Every breaker in your electrical panel is connected to a different circuit, including several light fixtures and outlets. A circuit is designed to support multiple lights and devices at once, but there are limits to the amount of energy available. If you plug in something that uses a lot of energy, there may not be enough left for the lights on the same circuit, which can get dimmer or flicker. This is common when turning on the AC unit since this device draws a lot of power. 

You can sometimes move the device to a different outlet to try another circuit. If this problem happens often, the circuit and breaker need an upgrade to give them a higher capacity.

3. The Electrical Panel Is Scorched or Overheated

Your wiring and breakers shouldn’t generate significant heat. If the breaker box is warm to the touch, if you smell burning from the panel, or if you see smoke or scorch marks, something is wrong. The circuits likely are overloaded or stray current is escaping. The risk of a fire is high, so turn the power off and call an electrical service immediately.

To schedule an electrician for an inspection and an upgrade, call SG Services in Centennial, CO. Serving Arapahoe County for over 20 years, this family-owned company is available 24/7 for emergencies and offers a wide range of installation and repair services. Call (720) 435-3031 or visit their website to get started.