Older homes—and sometimes new homes as well—often need an electrician to upgrade their circuit breakers. This is because circuit breakers might no longer effectively stop the flow of too much electricity as a safety measure, putting those homes at risk for fire. Consult an electrician as soon as possible to upgrade your electrical panel if you've experienced any of the problems below. 

5 Warning Signs Your Electrical Panel is Outdated

1. Malfunctioning Appliances

Outdated or malfunctioning circuit breakers can cause appliances to malfunction or stop working completely. Refrigerators can stop cooling, washing machines can shut off mid-cycle, or your toaster could toast one piece of bread and not the other. When multiple appliances fail to work correctly, the culprit may be your electrical panel.

2. Burning Smell Near Outlets

Circuit breakers act as a fail-safe, stopping excess electricity from passing through power cords. When they fail, too much power can be drawn through cords into outlets and electronics, causing the wires or outlet itself to melt. The result is a burning smell that can signal the problem before a fire occurs.

3. Flickering Lights

One of the most visible signs your circuit breaker needs an upgrade is flickering or dim lights throughout your home. Your lighting might flicker off and on or slowly dim before brightening again. The first time you notice this, contact an electrician and request an inspection. 

4. Breakers Trip Often

Breakers that trip means your circuit breaker is doing its job, but there is a more significant problem to address. Circuit breakers trip when too much power is drawn through the electrical panel. If a breaker begins tripping frequently, it could be close to wearing out or is no longer sufficient to handle the energy load demanded by your home. 

5. Breaker Won’t Reset

The more a circuit breaker trips, the less likely it can be reset. When it fails to reset at all, it’s damaged and needs to be examined. An electrician should make sure your home’s wiring is up to code to accommodate the amount of power drawn from your electrical panel. 

If your home is exhibiting any of these signs, the electricians at George’s Electric can help. These professionals have more than 45 years of experience with both residential and commercial electrical services in Kitsap County, WA. Their licensed, bonded, insured, and certified master electricians can inspect your home’s wiring and circuit breakers to diagnose the problem. Call (360) 895-9482 to schedule an inspection or visit their website to see a list of their residential services.