Is Your Home's Panel Under Stress? 5 Warning Signs You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
Your electrical panel—the large gray box housing your circuit breakers—is the heart of your home’s power supply. In older Bucks County homes, panels installed decades ago were not designed to handle the heavy demands of modern living: air conditioning, multiple computers, charging stations, and high-draw kitchen appliances.
If your electrical panel is struggling, it’s not just an inconvenience—it's a potential safety hazard. Here are five clear signs that it’s time to call Rescom Electric for a professional panel assessment and potential upgrade.
1. Frequent Tripping Breakers
While a single tripped breaker can be caused by an overloaded dedicated circuit (as we’ve discussed), persistent tripping across multiple circuits suggests your entire panel is being pushed past its safe limit. The panel itself may be failing to handle the cumulative load.
2. Flickering or Dimming Lights
If your lights briefly dim or flicker when a major appliance (like the furnace or dryer) kicks on, it means your panel is struggling to distribute power evenly. This is a sign of an outdated or overtaxed system that is struggling to keep up with power surges.
3. Buzzing Sounds or Burning Smells
Immediate Action Required. Any strange sounds (buzzing, crackling) or smells (like burning plastic or rubber) coming from or near the electrical panel are critical danger signs. These indicate loose wiring, arcing, or overheating. Do not ignore this. Shut off the main power if you can safely do so and call an electrician immediately.
4. The Panel is Warm to the Touch
An electrical panel should be cool. If the face or nearby wall feels warm or hot, it means the wires and components inside are overheating due to excessive current draw. This puts your home at serious risk of fire.
5. You Still Have Fuses (or an Outdated Brand)
If your home still uses a fuse box instead of a breaker panel, it is functionally obsolete and should be replaced for safety and insurance reasons. Additionally, certain older breaker brands are known to have manufacturing defects and should be professionally replaced.
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