Electric Panel Safety, Repair, & Replacement
Responsible for delivering electricity throughout your home, your electrical panel (breaker box) is vitally important. Ensuring the safe operation of your electrical panel is key to ensuring your home is safe from outages, brown-outs and fire hazard. Rust, corrosion and strong odors from your electrical panel as well as fuses tripping or frequent power outs can be signs that it’s time to replace and/or upgrade your electrical panel. Our trained and licensed electricians are here to help with electrical panel repair in Seattle, WA, as well as replacement. Don’t hesitate to contact South West Electricians immediately.
Signs You Need Electrical Panel Repair
Over time, a home’s electrical panel can wear down or work less efficiently. Some older homes feature electric panels that are unable to handle the higher demands of modern appliances and electronics, causing issues with overloaded circuits and, worse yet: fire hazard. The following are indicators that it’s time to call us at South West for assistance before it’s too late.
Flickering Lights
If you’re experiencing suddenly dimming or flickering lights, that’s a sign your electrical panel is malfunctioning. Our team will assess the state of your circuit breaker and fix whatever is broken.
Bizarre Smells
Any time you smell burning coming from your electrical panel or even see scorch marks, your electrical panel is overheating. That’s a serious issue that can cause a fire if left unattended. Get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Strange Sounds
Pay attention to the sounds of sizzling, popping, or buzzing on your electrical panel. We’ll determine whether your wires are loose or if there’s arcing taking place.
Reasons to Get Your Electrical Panel Upgraded
You may wonder why you should invest in electrical panel replacement in Seattle, WA, in your home. There are a couple of key benefits you’ll reap when you make this decision:
- You’ll Be Safer: An outdated electrical panel is more likely to malfunction and put you and your home in danger of fires or electrocution. A licensed electrician from South West can assess the condition of your electrical panel and determine whether a replacement is the right choice.
- Your Power Will Be More Reliable: If you’re experiencing frequent circuit tripping or full-on power outages, you deserve a newer, more reliable electrical panel.
Our team will, first and foremost, try to perform electrical panel repair in Seattle, WA, but there are times when replacement is the best option for our customers’ needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electrical Panel Services
We’ve put together answers to some frequently asked questions regarding electrical panels and the services we provide.
Does the power need to be turned off during electrical panel replacement?
Yes, that’s a necessity for safety reasons. You should expect to be without power for between six and eight hours, up to a full day of work. It’s unlikely you’ll need to go without power for a full night, however.
What should I do to prepare myself for an electrical panel repair or upgrade?
There are a few ways you can make the process go more smoothly for you and your family, including:
- Turn off important devices or unplug them prior to work beginning.
- Locate your flashlights.
- Charge any electronic devices you may need throughout the day.
- Have portable charging devices available.
What does the 80% rule mean?
The 80% rule is a recommendation by the National Electrical Code that anything running three or more hours at a time, such as HVAC systems and appliances like refrigerators, shouldn’t take up more than 80% of the capacity for your electrical panel. Our electricians can perform this calculation for you and make sure you’re in line with this rule. If not, we’ll recommend upgrading to an electrical panel with higher capacity.
Schedule Your Electrical Panel Repair or Replacement
When you need electrical panel repair or replacement in Seattle, WA, look no further than South West. Our expert, licensed electricians will be able to figure out whether a repair is sufficient or if you need a full upgrade. In either case, you’re in good hands. Reach out to us by phone or through our online contact form to start the conversation.
