The main electrical panel is essentially the heart of a building’s electrical system. The main panel is where power from the grid flows into the building, and the panel then distributes the electrical current to all of the outlets, appliances, and light switches. A malfunctioning or damaged electrical panel is one of the most serious issues a building can face because of the risk of an electrical fire or electrocution. That’s why it’s a good idea to occasionally inspect your electrical panel so that you can hopefully spot any potential issues before they create a major problem.
Electrical Panel Issues to Watch Out for
While you should always have your electrical system professionally inspected by a licensed electrician every so often, experts also recommend inspecting your electrical panel yourself at least a few times a year. If your electrical system has any subpanels such as in your garage or an addition, you should also make sure to inspect them.
The first thing to check when opening the door on an electrical panel is if the panel feels hot. If your panel is located outside, which is fairly common in newer buildings, it will obviously feel fairly warm when the sun is shining on it. Nonetheless, the inside of the panel where the circuit breakers are still shouldn’t feel overly hot when you touch it. If your electrical panel does feel hot to the touch, it’s a good idea to shut off your main breaker and immediately call for a professional inspection because a hot electrical panel generally indicates a serious issue with your electrical system that could be a major fire hazard.
When checking an electrical panel, you should also listen for any sounds like humming or buzzing. A slight humming or buzzing sound normally isn’t an issue and is just caused by electrical currents flowing through the panel. If the noise is overly loud, it usually indicates a more serious issue like an overload, a loose wire, or an improperly grounded circuit. Another possibility is that you have a bad circuit breaker that’s stuck and isn’t tripping when it should. All of these issues can be major safety hazards and require immediate professional attention.
The worst-case scenario is that there is an issue causing the current to arc. An arc fault can easily start a fire and also has the potential to seriously shock or burn you or even cause fatal electrocution if you touch the panel. As such, you should make sure that no one touches the panel if it makes a loud humming or buzzing sound until you can have it inspected.
After opening the panel, you should then check for any signs of smoking, scorching, or rust. Smoke or scorch marks indicate that something in the panel overheated at some point and that there is a major fire hazard. As such, it’s a good idea to shut the main breaker off until an electrician can identify the issue and repair it.
Rust and corrosion generally indicate that water or condensation got into the panel. Having water get into your electrical panel is obviously not a good thing and is something you want to get fixed straight away. The other issue if there is rust and corrosion is that it can prevent one of the circuit breakers from tripping and potentially lead to an electrical fire starting somewhere in the building.
How Often Should You Hire an Electrician for a Professional Electrical Inspection?
If your home or commercial building was built within the past 20 years or your electrical system has been updated within this time, you’re usually fine to have a complete electrical safety inspection performed every three to five years. If much or all of your existing electrical is older than 25 to 30 years, you’re better off having an electrician inspect everything annually. The primary reason is that most experts agree that electrical panels should be replaced after this amount of time since they tend to develop various issues the older they get and could become a safety hazard.
Signs That Indicate You Should Have Your Electrical System Inspected
In addition to occasionally checking your electrical panel, watch out for any signs that may indicate an issue with any part of your electrical system. One sure sign that you need immediate help from a professional is if you have an outlet that starts smoking when in use or shows any signs of smoke, scorch, or burn marks.
You should also immediately call an electrician if you notice any outlet or light switch feels hot. When facing any of these issues, it’s important to immediately shut off the circuit breaker that controls the power to that room or else you could easily end up with a fire starting. If the breakers in your electrical panel aren’t labeled or you’re otherwise unsure of which one to turn off, you should instead just flip the main breaker off.
Another sure sign that your home has some type of electrical issue is if you have a breaker that frequently trips or if you keep having breakers for different parts of your house trip. A single breaker that often trips indicates that there is an isolated issue with that circuit or something connected to it, such as a damaged cord or a loose or frayed wire.
If various breakers keep tripping, it usually means there is an issue with your electrical panel, and it likely needs to be replaced. Another possibility is that your building’s wiring is old and deteriorated, in which case you’ll need to have your electrical system rewired.
Another thing to watch out for is if you have lights in various parts of the building that flicker. This most commonly happens when you turn the microwave or dryer on or when your air conditioning first starts up. In this case, it usually indicates that your electrical panel isn’t sufficiently powerful and doesn’t have enough amperage to meet all of your home’s electricity needs.
When an electrical panel doesn’t have sufficient amperage, high-power appliances, like microwaves and air conditioners, can draw so much power that it results in a temporary drop in the amount of current flowing through your other circuits. This drop then results in lights flickering or dimming for a short time because they aren’t receiving as much power as they should.
Canton’s Premier Electrical Company
If you’re dealing with any electrical issues in your home or business, you can count on the team at Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing for help. We’re a family-owned company that’s been serving Canton and Stark County since 2007, and our licensed electricians have what it takes to handle all of your electrical inspection, repair, and installation needs. We also offer expert plumbing services and can assist with any issues you’re having with your pipes, drains, or sewer. To schedule an electrical inspection or any other service, contact us today.
