5 Indications That You Need to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

You might not think about your electrical panel often, but it is one of the most important aspects of your home. Your electrical panel is responsible for bringing electricity into your home and routing the electricity throughout your home. Modern appliances and technology are more energy efficient, but if you have an outdated electrical panel you may not be taking advantage of your energy efficient items in your home. Making your home more efficient isn't the only reason you may need to upgrade your electrical panel. This week Catalyst Electric is going tell you five reasons you might want to consider upgrading your electrical panel.


1) You Live in an Older Home 

Living in an older home is not a bad thing. In fact, a lot of people prefer the charm an older home has. However, if the electrical panel in your older home has not been upgraded you may want to consider doing so. A lot of older electrical panels have a 60-amp panel. With today's appliances and the number of electricity people use today, a 60-amp panel typically is not enough to support your home. Not sure how old your electrical panel is? Contact the best electricians at the Lake of the Ozarks and we will take a look for you. In the meantime, here are few signs that you may have an old electrical panel that needs to be replaced. 
  • Your lights occasionally flicker
  • Your panel doesn't shut off during an overload 
  • Using numerous appliances trip the breaker 
  • Your panel has corrosion

2) You Remodel or Upgrade Appliances 

If you add a room or an addition to your home, your existing electrical panel will likely not have the capacity to support additional wiring. If you add new appliances such as a new fridge, hot tub, or new air conditioner you could potentially overload your existing panel. Your home won't run efficiently, and neither will your new appliances. 

3) Your Panel is Equipped with Fuses 

If your home was built before 1970, it is possible that your electrical panel runs off of fuses rather than circuit breakers. While they both serve the same purpose, a fuse box will not trip if they are overloaded, which could cause it to melt, or short circuit. Again, we use more energy in our homes than we use to, so a fuse system used to be cable of handling the energy load, but now with the increase in energy use makes fuses outdated.

4) You Use A Lot of Extension Cords 

Extension cords are great for short-term use. However, a lot of people use them for extended periods of time, which is not what they are designed for. There is a reason our electrical wires are ran inside the walls, aside from just aesthetics. The inner wall provides protection from wear and tear on the wires. If your extension cords are exposed all the time they can get kinked, or pinched, which can damage your outlet. If your home has an immense amount of extension cords it may be time to call your trusted electrician at the Lake of the Ozarks to install a few more outlets and upgrade your electrical panel.   

5) Your Breaker Trips Often 

Your breaker trips for a reason and it's a much-needed safety feature to prevent overheating and a potential fire hazard. If your breaker trips occasionally, that's okay. However, keep in mind that if your breaker does trip it means that there is an inconsistency in the flow of electricity and a problem occurred. If your breaker trips frequently, it more than likely means that your panel has too much to handle and it's time to upgrade.     

Energy efficiency and convenience are some of the key benefits of upgrading your electrical panel. However, the biggest reason you should upgrade your electrical panel is for safety. At Catalyst Electric we provide quality work with integrity! That's why your safety is so important to us! Electrical problems are one of the leading causes of house fires and can cost you big time if it happens to you. Prevent the tragedy of a house fire by taking the steps to upgrade your electrical panel if it is outdated or overloaded. If you have any questions, or you're not sure if your electrical panel needs upgrading, contact Lake of the Ozarks best electrical service company, Catalyst Electric! 

Quality Work With Integrity

 Catalyst Electric: Best electrician service at the Lake of the Ozarks  


1106 Runabout Drive
Osage Beach, Mo 65065
(573) 552-8488 -Phone
(573) 552-8248 -Fax

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Location: Osage Beach, MO 65065, USA

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