Though you may pass by it quite often and not think much about it, your electrical panel is one of the most important components of your home. Basically viewed as the control center for anything in your home that uses electricity, your electrical panel should always be kept in excellent working order. To do so, it may need an upgrade now and then. If you are curious as to why an upgrade may be needed, here are some important reasons you’ll want to keep in mind as you’re preparing to call an electrician.
Living in an Older Home
If you live in an older home, chances are your electrical panel could use an upgrade. In most older homes, wirings and fixtures are outdated, as are electrical panels. In many cases, older homes only have a 60-amp panel, whereas in today’s modern world a home should have a 200-amp panel in place.
Adding New Appliances
Since today’s new appliances are made to work with 200-amp electrical panels, it is a good idea to get a panel upgrade if you are going to be adding new appliances to your home. Whether this involves a new washer or dryer, water heater, air conditioner, or other appliance, failing to upgrade could lead to power issues and possibly put your home at risk of an electrical fire.
Get Rid of the Fuse Box
If your home still has a fuse box, you most definitely need an electrical panel upgrade. A fixture in homes of yesteryear, fuse boxes are in no way capable of meeting the electrical demands of today’s homes. Since fuses are easy to overload, they tend to become blown out on a regular basis when trying to deal with the larger electrical needs of homeowners. Thus, replace your fuse box as soon as possible.
Lower Insurance Premiums
While you may have to initially spend a little bit of money to get your electrical panel upgrade, you will save money in the long run. Once you get the upgrade, it is likely your insurance premiums will become lower. For homes that have outdated electrical equipment such as panels and wiring, insurance companies charge more to insure these homes. Once your upgrade is completed, let your insurance company know so that you can start getting a sizable discount on your premium.
Greater Safety
By having a new electrical panel upgrade, you will instantly make your home much safer. For example, by having new and updated circuit breakers, you will lessen the chances of power surges that could potentially cause fires. Also, your electrician can examine your home’s wiring while upgrading your panel and make suggestions as to any other changes that could be beneficial.
Lower Electric Bill
While you may still be using as much electricity as before, having a new electrical panel will let your appliances and electronics operate much more efficiently. As a result, your monthly electric bill will probably start to go lower and lower. When added to your lower home insurance premiums, you may start to find you’ve got a few more dollars in your pocket each month.
Increasing Your Home’s Value
Finally, upgrading your home’s electrical panel will add significant value to your home. If you know you will be selling your home in the near future, it will be to your benefit to have a new electrical panel installed. Since homebuyers today are always expecting homes to be able to accommodate more and more appliances and electronics, failing to do an electrical panel upgrade will make most buyers look elsewhere.
Since there are so many good reasons to do an electrical panel upgrade, there is no better time than now to get started. However, since it is a very complex job that is so important to making your home as safe as possible for you and your family, always trust the job only to a qualified and licensed electrician.
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