If you live in an older home, or if you have started hearing a buzzing sound from your breaker box, it is time to consider replacing the breaker panel. For the safety of yourself and your family, it is important to make sure your breaker panel is up to date and able to handle the electrical requirements of your home. An old or overloaded breaker box can be a fire hazard.
Many homes built prior to the 1980s are not equipped to handle the increasing electrical usage of today’s technologies. The need for increased power can easily overload an older breaker box. A modern home typically requires 100-amp to 200-amp services. Many older homes only have 60-amp services, because at the time there were not the number of appliances and alternative electronics. Considering that a new home must have at least 100-amp services, if you have less, it is time to update.
A buzzing sound coming from your panel is an indication that you might be running too much electricity, and your box is not able to handle it. This is a safety hazard that should be checked immediately. It may be time to upgrade to a higher service. To decide, consider the size of your home and the number of appliances you use. If you need to calculate accurately, check the nameplate reading of each appliance in your house.
The location of the breaker panel or box needs to be carefully planned due to strict regulations on their placement. Our team at Hoffman Electrical & A/C can help you determine the right location for your breaker panel.
In either instance, it is important to understand this is not a do-it-yourself home repair; this type of work requires a professional. Breaker panels can be very dangerous fire hazards, and it is vital to have a knowledgeable electrician inspect the panel to determine what is right for your home. If you need a professional electrical service with 20+ years of experience in the Tampa area, you should check out Hoffman Electrical & A/C.