Many of the homes in and around Lafayette, LA are older. While some have upgraded electrical systems, others still rely on old electrical panels that date back to the days when people only accessed a fraction of the power they use today. Even if you have a newer panel, you may still need to replace it because it cannot keep up with your home’s needs. Check out some of the signs that it’s time to say goodbye to your electrical panel with help from Paxton Electric.
Frequent Tripped Breakers
If you live in a newer Lafayette home, you likely have a system that works with a circuit breaker. It assigns a circuit to each area of your home. You might have one breaker for your washer and dryer and another for your fridge and stove as well as breakers for each bedroom. A common sign that you need to replace the panel is when you experience frequently tripped breakers that you need to reset to restore the power.
Outlets Run Hot
Your electrical panel should notice when an outlet uses too much power. It will trip the breaker to keep a fire from breaking out. This does not always happen, though. If you place your hand near an outlet and feel heat coming off it, you know that the panel isn’t regulating the power it uses as well as it should. You should also check the panel itself to see if it runs hot.
Smoke
Have you ever walked through your home and picked up a smoky smell as if something was on fire or burning? Those scents often relate to the wiring inside your walls, but they can also indicate an issue with your panel. It often lets you know that the panel didn’t trip the breaker and that there was a small fire in your home. You’ll also want to check for dark marks like soot around your outlets. Replace the panel if you see any signs of smoke or fire.
New Appliances
Though buying new appliances doesn’t necessarily require that you get a new electrical panel, it might let you know that you need to upgrade your old one. Although modern appliances usually use less electricity than older models do, they can still draw a lot of power and trip the breaker, especially if you never used that type of appliance in your home before.
Comeaux Electrical Services offers help with electrical panels on homes all around Lafayette, LA. Whether you need panel repairs or replacements, you can set up a time that works around your schedule. Call Comeaux Electrical Services when you find yourself dealing with tripped breakers and other signs of a faulty electrical panel.
