Keep Your Electricity Flowing Safely
A functioning electrical panel is key to making sure the electricity flowing through the wiring in your walls and out of your outlets is doing so correctly and safely. If you’re experiencing issues with your electrical panel, you’ll want to get those addressed right away to avoid bigger problems like potential fire hazards.
The team at Hendrix Air includes trained electricians who perform electrical panel repair and replacement in Brunswick, GA, and the surrounding areas. With over 25 years of experience in the home services industry, we’ll solve your problem with expertise and professionalism. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you may have. We’re available by phone or our online contact form.
Electrical Panel Vs. Circuit Breaker: What’s the Difference?
The electrical panel refers to the box that serves as a hub for distributing electrical current throughout your home. It is composed of a series of circuit breakers, which are electrical switches that turn off automatically if there is a power overload.
Circuit breakers allow you to turn power off to different areas of your home without affecting the whole household. Electrical panels also include a main circuit breaker, where you can turn off your whole building’s electricity at once.
How To Tell You Need Electrical Panel Repair
Whenever your electrical panel is malfunctioning, you should always call a professional. Trying to poke around or repair your own circuit breaker can be dangerous due to the nature of working with electricity. Our team is trained to respond to these problems while following all necessary safety protocols.
If you’re unsure whether or not you need repair on your electrical panel, we’ve laid out examples of what to look out for.
Your Lights Are Flickering or Dimming
This is a telltale sign that there’s something wrong with your electrical panel. Your circuits may be overloaded or your entire breaker may be failing. Enlist our help to diagnose and repair the problem.
You Hear Strange Sounds
Keep an ear out for buzzing sounds coming from your electrical panel. You may be dealing with loose connections or damaged wiring.
You Smell Odd Odors
The smells to pay attention to are odors of fish or burning plastic. Both of these can occur when components overheat or are damaged. You should be careful with your electricity usage until an electrician can inspect your panel.
Your Circuit Breaker Trips Frequently
Watch for frequently tripping circuit breakers. The cause could be damaged wiring, or the circuit breaker may be at the end of its lifespan.
When To Invest In An Electrical Panel Replacement
Are you thinking it’s time for an electrical panel upgrade in Brunswick, GA? Sometimes the best thing you can do is replace your electrical panel entirely, rather than scheduling repair after repair.
The following are especially good reasons to consider replacement:
- Remodeling: If you plan to remodel your home soon, you’ll almost definitely have to replace your electrical panel so that it can stand up to the new energy use needs.
- New Appliances: Adding large appliances like dishwashers or an extra refrigerator may cause undue strain on your current electrical panel unless you replace it.
- Outdated Electrical Panel: Especially if your electrical panel is more than a few decades old or doesn’t have breakers, you should invest in upgrading to the latest electrical panel technology.
- New Outlets: When getting new outlets installed throughout your home, you should always consider electrical panel replacement so that your circuit breaker can handle the increase in energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to keep using my Brunswick home’s electrical panel if it’s an older Federal Pacific or Zinsco brand?
If your home has a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panel or a Zinsco panel, it’s something that should be addressed sooner rather than later. Both brands have been the subject of significant safety concerns within the electrical industry for decades.
For instance, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers are famous for failing to trip under overload conditions at a much higher rate than current safety standards allow, meaning that the breaker that’s supposed to protect your wiring from overheating is unlikely to do its job when it actually matters.
On the other hand, Zinsco panels have a documented history of fusing breakers to the bus bar (the metal strip that distributes the incoming electrical current), a situation that makes them impossible to shut off and creates a serious fire risk.
Is a 100-amp electrical panel enough for modern-day usage?
For most pre-80s homes, 100-amp service was the standard at the time of construction. While perfectly adequate for household demand at the time, electrical consumption has changed dramatically since then, with most modern households running central air conditioning, an electric water heater, a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, and even a home office simultaneously. This pushes 100-amp panels to their absolute limit, espcially on a hot Brunswick summer afternoon.
The National Electrical Code now recommends 200-amp service as the baseline for new residential construction, an electrical panel upgrade in Brunswick, GA, our team has years of experience performing.
Work With Hendrix Air
When you need electrical panel replacement or repair in Brunswick, GA or beyond, get in touch with us at Hendrix Air. We’ll be happy to respond to your inquiries when you contact us by phone or through the online form on this website.
