Upgrading My Electrical Panel
Your home should be your sanctuary for relaxation and safety with an electrical system you can trust. One of the main aspects of that system is the electrical panel that disperses and monitors energy requirements throughout your home.
You may not know when to upgrade your panel for better safety, so here are a few tips:
- Your panel is 25+ years old: The national electrical code gets updated every three years with new requirements. A home older than 25 years old is outdated, not up to today’s safety requirements, and lacks the number of outlets necessary for a fully functioning home.
- Lights dim when using appliances: Your aging circuits cannot handle the energy draw of today’s devices and can put your home at risk for an electrical fire if your lights are dimmed with high-energy accessories. Upgrading your panel can allow you to use appliances without losing light in your space.
- Lack of outlets: Older homes were not prepared for the technology we use today, so they often lack the proper amount of outlets today’s families require. If you’re constantly using extension cords in your home, you may be overloading your circuits, and you need more outlets in your space.
- The panel is warm to the touch: It needs immediate service if you smell burning or feel the heat from your electrical panel. This signifies that wires are damaged or exposed and can start a fire. Laughlin Electric provides expert electrical panel services in Santa Barbara that can help keep your home safe.
You can reach us at (805) 590-2222 to speak to a team member today about electrical panels and subpanels that work for your home!