Is Your Electrical Panel Up to Date?

Your electrical panel, also known as a distribution board or breaker box, is an important component of your home! You probably don't think about it but without your electrical panel, your home wouldn't be able to get electricity. It's your electrical panels job to distribute the power throughout your home. Electrical panels can become outdated and not run as efficiently as they once did. Your electrical panel may be working but that doesn't mean that it's working efficiently. Read on to find out a few reasons your electrical panel may need to be replaced. 


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to, so a fuse system used to be cable of handling the energy load, but now with the increase in energy use makes fuses outdated.

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 a 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.

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 run 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.   

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.   

Here at Catalyst Electric, we want to make sure that our customers are well educated on electrical safety! Electrical issues are a leading cause for house fires and ensuring that your electrical panel is up to date is one way to promote electrical safety in your home. 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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