For no apparent reason your lights will flicker? Or is it the case that putting on the toaster with the microwave is enough to trip the breakers? You may be left to question if the panel in your garage or basement is slowly going bad.
Those are questions we hear often and if they ring true, you have come to the right place. We of Electrical Pros, LLC are here to put such matters in perspective for homeowners in Northeast Kansas before they become an issue of some consequence. Call (785) 246-5708 and we can discuss what you have been seeing.
Think of the electrical panel as the power system’s heart. Its job is to take in the utility’s electricity and distribute it to all the rooms and appliances in the house. When it is doing its job properly one does not give it a second thought. Yet it has a way of issuing warnings well in advance of a total failure. Being aware of them is good for your wallet and your peace of mind, and can avert a safety hazard.
The Reasons Panels Fail
Nothing lasts indefinitely. In Topeka and the surrounding area there are plenty of older homes with panels from decades back, when a family’s power consumption was a small thing compared to now. Put in the demands of your HVAC, home office gear, chargers and the like and an old panel is only going to be overtaxed.
Then you have the matter of age, corrosion, wear and loose connections. There are also certain makes of panel put in years ago with their share of problems; a professional will know when they need to be put in the ground even if they appear fine.
Don’t Overlook These Warnings
A panel on its last legs will tell you about it, you just have to see past the minor nuisance of it. Some of the more common indicators are:
- Breakers tripping at the drop of a hat with normal appliance use
- Lights that dim or go out as other things are turned on
- The smell of hot plastic or something burning in the vicinity of the panel
- A warm feeling on the cover or the breakers themselves
- Any buzzing, humming or crackling from the panel
- Discoloration, scorching or rust on the box
- A breaker that is loose or refuses to stay on
You would be wise to pay heed to any of the above. Should you have two or more, it is time to have someone look at it.
A Question of Safety
One can be inclined to reset the breaker and carry on. But that is a habit that will only mask what is developing. An arcing or overheated panel is responsible for its fair share of electrical house fires. The sounds and heat are your home under stress. Get on top of it and you are likely to find a simple fix or upgrade rather than an emergency situation.
Make the Call to a Pro
This is no time for DIY or to make guesses. The kind of power in an electrical panel can do serious damage. The prudent course is to let an electrician who is licensed and insured do an inspection.
We are not some franchise from out of town. Electrical Pros, LLC is a Topeka company, locally owned. Our people have over 12 years in the electrical trade and we do residential and commercial work from Olathe and Leavenworth to Gardner, Holton, Osage City and Alma.
We are on hand around the clock since an electrical problem is not going to wait until we open for business. If at ten o’clock at night your panel is acting up, phone us at (785) 246-5708.
What to Do About It
Do not put off dealing with a flickering light or a breaker that will not hold, or the odour of something hot by the box. Your panel is too vital to be put aside. Contact our team at Electrical Pros, LLC for a free estimate on electrical panel services. We are at your service 24/7 and are proud of the work we do for homeowners in all of Northeast Kansas. For the safe and dependable power your home ought to have, call us at (785) 246-5708.
