Have you ever walked into your home and flipped on a light switch to have it flicker a bit before coming on completely? Or maybe you turn an appliance or light on in one room and the lighting in another room flickers. You may write this off as just something that happens, particularly in an older home.
But what you’re actually dealing with is a problem that requires professional electrical services in Cincinnati, OH. You wouldn’t ignore a burst pipe pouring water into your home, right? Nor would you ignore an air conditioner that’s pumping hot air into your home. Therefore, an electrical system that’s not behaving as it should, shouldn’t be neglected either—especially since you’re facing more than just property damage by ignoring this issue—you’re facing a fire hazard.
You May Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
The good news, and the bad news, is that you’re not alone in neglecting this particular electrical issue, and the answer is almost always that you need an electrical panel upgrade. This may seem like such a benign issue.
But, with the increased demand homeowners are placing on their electrical systems in even just the past few years, it shouldn’t come as a surprise at all that eventually your circuit breaker box might not be able to handle the demand anymore, and this is where you run into potentially severe side effects. Read on to learn more about the signs that you are, in fact, in need of an electrical panel upgrade.
- Flickering Lights: We mention this first because it’s one of the most obvious signs that something is amiss with your electrical system. The main cause of flickering lights is a short circuit in the system. Now, if we’re just talking about one lamp or small fixture, then it might just be that particular fixture that has a problem.
But, if we’re talking about a whole section of lighting in your living space that’s being affected, then the short circuit is somewhere else in your wiring and you have a bigger issue. If you’ve been experiencing this, it’s urgent that you give our pros a call.
- Hot Spots: We’re talking about those situations where you put your hand on a light switch, or possibly even a random spot on the wall, to realize it’s warm or even hot to the touch. These areas typically indicate points in the electrical system where current is flowing in a direction it shouldn’t be. Electrical current that gets diverted to an area it’s not supposed to go throws off heat due to the excess energy.
The excess heat is what you’re feeling when you discover a hot spot. It’s indicative of a breach in the electrical system, and can lead to a house fire. Please do not neglect this issue, and be sure to give our pros a call for immediate assistance.
- Frequent Circuit Breaker Tripping: The circuit breakers within your electrical panel are there to protect your home from power surges—although, it bears stating that whole-home surge protection is even more effective at ensuring your home is comprehensively protected. A single circuit breaker might trip due to an overloaded circuit. But if you’ve tried switching outlets and still experience this problem, your entire electrical system may be in need of an upgrade.
Contact Servall Electric Company today! Where we are “Creating Sustainability through Bright Ideas.”
