NEWS, TIPS AND GUIDES

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The electrical panel in your home is not meant to last forever. And most importantly, shouldn’t be allowed to last forever. Certainly not where safety is the watchword. Most homeowners adopt a rather simplistic view of things like their electrical panels and cables. Even if some rightly assume the panel is an important device responsible for distributing electricity to where it’s needed in their homes, most homeowners see little need to regularly check the health of their panels because it always seems to be working. To them, if it’s not broken, then don’t fix it. Most homeowners can’t tell the type of electrical panels they have in their homes. What they don’t realize is that the electrical panel is chiefly responsible for receiving incoming power and distributing it to every part of the home where electricity is needed. As with all things, electrical panels can get damaged or become less effective due to aging. When this happens, your overall electrical system will be running less safely and efficiently than before. Benefits Of Having Your Electrical Panel Upgraded The above becomes even more revealing when you understand that electrical distribution systems are the third leading cause of residential fire outbreaks in the United States. That’s why regular inspection and maintenance of electrical systems to keep them up to date is important. Electrical panels are very crucial pieces in the puzzle. Outdated electrical panels are one of the major causes of electrical hazards in our homes and business premises. Hence, the key to ensuring safety in your home is not just to replace damaged electrical panels, but to also fix them before they become bad and a liability to you and your property. But, how do you know when to replace the electrical panel in your home if you’re not an expert? Our electricians at Gravette Electrical Services have put together some practical tips to help you properly inspect the health of your electrical panel at home or office building. 1. The Age of Your Electrical Panel Ideally speaking, electrical panels need a replacement after every 25 – 40 years, depending on the type and manufacturer of the panel. So, if you’re living in an older home, your electrical panel may be past its safe lifespan. Besides, one sure scenario where you may need a new electrical panel is if your home doesn’t have one but uses a fuse box instead. This is most common in old homes and pre-war apartments. Fuses are far less convenient and simply don’t meet modern safety requirements are circuit breaker panels. 2. Burnt Odor From Electrical Panel As with most electrical installations, you should immediately be concerned if your electrical panel has a burnt or burning smell whether in or around it. When the circuit breaker panel fails, the results could be disastrous. In most cases, the burnt smell will be that of wood or plastic, as the plastic jacket of electrical wires melts or the wood and insulation in your walls become scorched from the eschewing heat. If your nose is perceiving some funny burnt odor from your panel, the first thing you should do is turn off and unplug all electrical appliances in the home. Then, turn off your main power supply and call a professional electrical service company, such as Gravette Electrical Services , to come and have a thorough look at your electrical system. 3. Frequent Breaker Tripping Circuit breakers are designed to trip and cut off the flow of electricity to protect you from circuits that are drawing too much power. When your breaker trips off once in a while, it can be a good sign that everything is in order. But when this breaker tripping action happens too often, it may mean that your electrical panel cannot allow for an adequate supply of electricity to your appliances. Instead of constantly having to flip your breaker back on every time, you can simply use our electrical services and have our engineers recommend a sufficient electrical panel for your home capacity. 4. Breaker Trips When You Turn On An Energy-Hungry Appliance Does turning on an energy-zapping device like an air conditioner or electrical heater cause your breaker to trip? Or when you try to use the drying machine? 5. Hot or Warm Electrical Panel One of the key things that an electrical panel does is regulate the temperature of your electrical systems. Overheating should trigger a circuit breaker to trip and cut off the power supply to protect your home from a potential electrical fire. But what happens when your electrical panel itself is warm or even hot when you touched it? Such hotness may arise from a serious problem that may require that you replace your panel altogether. Reach out so we can have one of our electricians check out your electrical system immediately if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms with your panel. 6. Rust Formation on The Electrical Panel One of the most common signs of damage to your electrical panel is when rust forms on parts of the device. The presence of rust indicates that there has been water damage to your panel. Water in contact with electrical installations, that’s a no-no. First, you need to have a professional electrician from Gravette Electrical Services inspect the level of damage to your system. Then, you must find the cause of the water damage. Perhaps the roof or leaks in the pipes? That’s the only way you can prevent the newly installed panel from suffering the same fate as the previous one. 7. Panel Makes Strange Noise Normally, since the electrical panel has no moving parts, they usually operate silently. Except for the occasional click sounds, the breaker makes when it trips on and off. But when there’s a problem, people hear a buzzing or hissing sound from their electrical panel. These sounds are anything but normal so should be taken seriously. They generally indicate a bad wire or lose electrical connections. If left unattended, the faulty wiring connection can potentially damage your electrical panel. Hence, you should have Gravette Electrical Services check for any faulty connections and have damaged wirings replaced immediately. Think it’s Time For a Panel Upgrade? If you find that your electrical panel is suspect in one of the pointers above, it may be time to upgrade your panel. A panel upgrade or replacement process is a complicated one and the best left to experienced electricians to handle. Even if you’re not sure of what to make of your findings, reach out to Gravette Electrical Services and we’ll be happy to help you with solutions to any problems you may have with your electrical panel or systems.

An electronic device plugged directly into an outlet is susceptible to serious damage. Protect your gadgets from power strikes and surges by using a surge protector—they’re inexpensive and easy to use. They’re beneficial in the long run, too. Surge protectors help extend the lifespan of your electronics. Power strikes and surges put your electronics at risk. Lightning strikes, power outages, grid malfunctions, and several other electrical problems cause spikes. Power surges usually happen because of issues with a power grid. An issue with the power grid is the common culprit of a power surge. Power spikes are over in an instant whereas surges last several seconds. Don’t let electricity lingo overwhelm you—it’s easy to protect your devices from surges and spikes with a surge protector… it’s also essential, and here’s why. What is a surge protector? A surge protector is an appliance made to protect your devices from voltage spikes. It’s designed to keep unwanted voltages away from your electronic devices. Is a surge protector the same thing as a power strip? Even though they look similar, a surge protector is safer and more beneficial than your run-of-the-mill power strip. A power strip just adds extra outlet space. A surge protector defends against voltage spikes. To make sure you’re purchasing a surge protector, look on the packaging for a joules rating—a power strip won’t have this. Joules are a measurement for energy and will tell you how long your devices will be protected, depending on the strength of the surge. How does a surge protector work? The devices you plug into your electrical sockets rely on a consistent voltage of electricity. Unfortunately, your sockets can’t guarantee steady electricity. A surge protector defends your electronic devices from voltage inconsistencies by rerouting unsafe energy so that only the normal amount of electricity will pass through your device. In most residential and commercial spaces in the United States, the standard voltage is 120 volts. A surge protector steps in when the voltage goes above 120, preventing the high voltage from destroying whatever’s plugged in by sending that voltage to a ground wire . When should I use a surge protector? Whether or not you need a surge protector depends on the devices you’re plugging in. For example, there’s no reason to plug a lamp into a surge protector, because the only thing a power surge running through a lamp could do is burn out its lightbulb. On the other hand, it is crucial to use a surge protector with your computer. Laptops and desktop computers are both packed with voltage-sensitive components that a power surge could easily damage. Without a surge protector, a power spike or power surge could shorten the life of your computer, wipe out all of your data, or even completely destroy your system. In fact, you should use a surge protector with any high-end electronic device. You should always use a surge protector with entertainment centers and gaming consoles, for example. By doing so, you’ll extend the life of the device and prevent possible damage. What happens if I don’t use a surge protector? Your electronics may seem to work fine without a surge protector… at first. But you’re not seeing the slow decline of your gadgets. Without a surge protector, your items have a shortened life span. Plus, they’re not guarded against high voltage. When the surges become too high, there is wear and tear to the device. Where can I get a surge protector? Surge protectors come in the form of power strips, single-outlet protectors, and even travel-size devices—they have fewer outlets and will fit in a laptop bag. A surge protector is an easy and inexpensive way to ensure the safety of your favorite gadgets. You can find surge protectors at retail stores, online, and electronics stores. Not sure what kind of protector you should buy? Get in touch with a professional electrician for assistance. If you have questions or need help with an electrical problem, give us Gravette Electrical services a call!

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