Your home is likely filled with electronics and electrical appliances. Many homes were not built with this many gadgets in mind, and your electrical panel—the breaker box that all of your home's circuits run through—may not be up to the challenge. To decide whether it's time to call an electrician, look for these signs.

Why Electricians Focus On the Breaker Box

Your breaker box is the central hub of your home's electrical system. It controls the flow of electricity to every room in the house. The breakers are also designed to cut off the current to prevent fire and shock hazards. The breaker will trip when more electricity is being drawn through it than it was designed for, which is when homeowners often run into problems. Older designs had a lower capacity that can’t meet today’s higher demands.

When to Call a Qualified Electrician to Look at Your Panel

The most obvious sign it's time for an electrical panel upgrade is the age of the home. If your house is more than about 20 years old, your electrical company likely designed it with the lower demands of that time period in mind. Some older homes even have outdated fuse boxes, which can burn out with use and should be replaced with modern options.

You can also tell your system is overloaded if the breakers trip frequently, or if your lights and other devices aren't drawing enough power, as evidenced by dimness and flickering. If you can smell your breaker box or feel heat from it, it's being overtaxed.

To have an electrician improve your home's electrical panel call AA Electric in Honolulu, HI. Serving the island of Oahu for over 70 years, these master electricians provide safe, code-compliant installations and repairs. To schedule an appointment, call (808) 841-4131 or send a message online.