Does your home often experience electrical power issues such as tripped breakers, lights dimming unexpectedly and frequent flickering of the lights? If yes, it could be a sign that you need to upgrade your electric panel. Installing an upgraded electric panel in itself is not a risky job. However, if certain precautionary steps are overlooked or if certain guidelines are ignored by the technician while the electric panel upgrade then there may be some risks associated with it. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what those risks are and how to mitigate them.
- One of the biggest risks associated with upgrading your electric panel is incorrect wiring or unprofessional installation by an untrained technician. This can result in unsafe connections that put the entire electrical system at risk of overheating, sparking and short-circuiting, which poses a significant fire hazard to your home. To ensure this doesn’t happen, hire a professional and experienced electrician in Fort Collins, CO who knows how to properly install the new electric panel and is familiar with all local building codes.
- Another risk associated with upgrading your electric panel is improper sizing for specific lines or circuits. If not sized correctly, it could overload those lines or circuits resulting in potential damage to appliances and other electronic devices connected to them as well as frequent tripping of breakers. To prevent this, it’s important to accurately size and label the new electric panel for each line or circuit according to the local building codes.
- When installing a new electric panel, you should also consider potential future upgrades and expansions that may be necessary down the road. If your electric panel is not designed with these changes in mind, then additional modifications might have to be made later on which can be costly and time-consuming. To avoid this hassle and expense, it is best to plan and install an upgradeable electric panel right away.
- Finally, upgrading your electric panel without turning off the power is a big no-no. Doing so can cause serious damage to the equipment, and injury to yourself or the technician and may even lead to loss of property in case of an electrical fire. Always make sure that all power is turned off before beginning any installation work on your electric panel.
Upgrading your electric panel can significantly improve the efficiency and safety of your home’s electrical system. However, it’s important to be aware of these potential risks and take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and successful installation process.
Hire a professional electrician who understands the local building codes and knows how to properly install an upgraded electric panel while avoiding any potential hazards during the process. Be sure to also size and label the electric panel correctly, plan for any potential upgrades in the future and always turn off the power before beginning any work.
By following these steps, you can upgrade your electric panel with confidence and enjoy a safe and efficient electrical system for years to come.
Eggers Electric is an experienced and professional electrician in Fort Collins, CO with several years of experience in upgrading electric panels. Contact us today for a free estimate and to learn more about how we can help you upgrade your electric panel safely and affordably. We look forward to hearing from you!
