Is Your Electrical Panel Safe? How to Identify Hazards and When to Call an Electrician

Is Your Electrical Panel Safe? How to Identify Hazards and When to Call an Electrician

The hub of your home is the electrical panel, which should work safely, efficiently, and consistently to distribute the electricity you need without thinking twice about it. Just like anything else in your home, your panel can face daily wear and tear, which could turn your electrical components into a potential safety hazard. Knowing how to identify risks and when to call in a professional is critical for your home’s safety and the longevity of your electrical system and wiring.

Castle Electric’s team of Newton electricians and Norwood electricians is always here to keep your home and business safe with high-quality electrical work. We have all of the necessary training, license, and equipment to manage all your electrical needs.

Give us a call anytime there’s a problem and we’ll come out to rewire your home, work on quick fixes, make complicated electrical panel upgrades, and resolve any issues you’re having. We also put together a guide on what you need to know about potential electrical dangers and how to keep your property safe.

How to Spot Electrical Panel Hazards

This is a list of common warning signs that your Newton electrical panel may be malfunctioning:

Outdated Fuse Boxes or Panels

If your home has a fuse box instead of circuit breakers, your electrical system may not meet current safety or industry standards. You could be facing a fire risk trying to accommodate your home’s  growing electrical load. If you ever want to resell your home in the future, an outdated electrical panel could also bring down the value of your property and deter potential buyers.

Flickering or Dimming Lights

If your lights are flickering on and off or dimming frequently, there could be a loose connection with your electrical panel. Or, there could be a problem with the way your electrical panel distributes power, which may indicate a hidden issue that requires investigation by a Newton, MA, electrician.

Frequent Breaker Trips

Circuit breakers are designed with safety features to keep your home safe. Overloading or short-circuiting them causes them to trip, leaving you vulnerable to danger. Tripped circuits will happen occasionally, but if it’s a regular occurrence, it’s a sign your electrical system is experiencing too much strain. You may need an electrical panel upgrade in Newton, MA, to accommodate the growing needs of your household.

Unusual Noises

If you hear buzzing or crackling sounds near your electrical panel, proceed with caution. Your electrical components or circuits may malfunction and put your home at risk of overheating, electrical fires, and other damage.

Burning Smells or Scorch Marks

Can you smell strange, burning odors near your electrical panel? Or maybe you notice mysterious scorch marks near your breakers? These are immediate indicators of circuit overload. Left unresolved, faulty wiring or a damaged breaker could spark a fire in your home.

Warm or Hot Panel

Your home’s electrical panel should never feel too warm or hot to the touch. There’s a good chance you have loose wiring or overworked circuits. An experienced electrician needs to check both of these issues to determine the root cause of the problem.

Rust or Corrosion

Any type of water or moisture exposure could lead to rust or corrosion in or around your electrical panel. Before they compromise the integrity of your system, address any short circuits or electrical failures you may have.

Electrical Panel Safety Checklist

Now that you know some of the electrical panel warning signs, you can take steps to keep your system running smoothly:

1) Inspect for Physical Damage

Perform periodic visual inspections of your electrical panel to look for cracks, broken seals, rust, corrosion, or any visible signs of wear and tear. You should also replace any damaged components as soon as possible.

2) Test Your Circuit Breakers

Test your system’s circuit breakers and manually flip each one to check that everything is working properly. With a little pressure, your circuit breakers should snap back into place without any kind of delay or hesitation. If your connections feel loose or unresponsive, they may need a replacement or upgrade.

3) Check for Proper Labeling

All of your circuit breakers should be clearly labeled and organized. In the event of an emergency, you don’t want to waste any time trying to figure out which breakers control which areas of your home. Give the team at Castle Electric a call to look at your unlabeled circuit breakers and determine which areas they control.

4) Test GFCIs and AFCIs

Your ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are crucial for protecting your home from electrical shocks and fires. Test these devices regularly to ensure they’re working. GFCIs are typically found in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages, outdoor outlets, basements, and pools and hot tubs. The AFCIs in your home are usually found in bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, hallways, and closets.

5) Schedule a Professional Inspection of Your Electrical Panel

Even a well-maintained and tidy electrical panel needs periodic inspections from a skilled electrician in Newton, MA. Call the Castle Electric team, and we’ll look at your system, outlets, wiring, and panel. After running tests and checking your system’s electrical load, we’ll let you know if you need an upgrade and next steps to keep your home running efficiently and safely.

When to Call the Electricians at Castle Electric

DIY checks for your electrical panel, as well as our pro tips, can go a long way toward keeping your electrical system as safe as possible. Don’t just call Castle Electric for regular inspections; call us at any time:

• You see scorch marks, feel excessive heat, or hear buzzing.
• Your home still uses an outdated fuse box.
• Your breakers trip frequently or have become unresponsive.
• You notice corrosion, rust, or water damage around your electrical panel.

Call Castle Electric for an Electrician in Newton, MA

No matter what’s going on with your home, Castle Electric is your go-to electrician in Norwood and Newton, MA. We have offered high-quality work to home and business owners since 1997. From simple fixes to complete electrical panel overhauls, we have the training and equipment to handle all types of electrical needs. Schedule your appointment today!

Learn More About Electrical Panels & Upgrades in Newton and Beyond!

Check out our blog posts below for some helpful info, expert tips and more!

• What Is an Electrical Service Upgrade and When Should You Consider One?
• 5 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Upgrading Their Electrical Panel
• Electrical Panel Upgrade Costs: What to Expect and How to Budget