Electrical Panels
Fusebox Down, Say WATT!?
So, if you have concerns over flickering lights, loss of power, or tripping breakers and suspect a problem with your fusebox, or if you simply need to make an upgrade to your electrical panel to replace an outdated system or to accommodate a home renovation, give Service Legends a call.
The electricians at Service Legends provide:
- Electrical panel upgrades
- Electrical panel repairs
- Individual breaker switch replacement
- Electrical panel replacement
- Electrical panel maintenance
We Get a Charge Out of Panel Replacements.
Is your panel outdated or on the watchlist? Reach out to the Service Legends electrician experts and we’ll make sure your electrical system is humming ohm, sweet ohm!
Electrical Panel Inspection
Do you have rooms that lose power? Are you constantly turning circuit breakers on and off due to power surges? These can all be symptoms of problems with your home’s electrical panel.
If a quick reset doesn’t do the trick, Service Legends’ licensed electrical panel experts will alleviate you from guesswork and potentially unsafe conditions. We know what to look for in determining the underlying cause of an uncooperative outlet – and we can uncover any safety concerns. Keep your home’s electrical panel safe, on track, and up to code with Service Legends electrical panel inspection for just $79.
Fusebox Down, Say WATT!?
Our licensed electricians are experts in electrical panel repair in the Des Moines area are committed to proper electrical panel maintenance and excellent customer service. So, if you have concerns over flickering lights, loss of power, or tripping breakers and suspect a problem with your fusebox, or if you simply need to make an upgrade to your electrical panel to replace an outdated system or to accommodate a home renovation, give Service Legends a call.
Repair Vs. Replace
Are you stuck between repairing vs. replacing your electrical panel? We can help.
Without having a professional assess your electrical panel, it’s impossible to tell you for sure whether you should repair or replace it. And while you can repair electrical panels, many issues homeowners face when it comes to their electrical panels require a replacement rather than a repair. Here are some common reasons to repair vs. replace.
Reasons to Replace
Underpowered or Overcrowded Panel
Every electrical control panel has limited space for breakers and a maximum power rating (in amps). Older fuse-type panels typically provided 60 amps of power, followed by standard breaker-type panels at 100 amps. Today, 200-amp panels are recommended for most new construction and upgrades. If your addition or remodeling project calls for adding new circuits, you may need to upgrade to a larger panel. The modest additional expense of going to a 200-amp panel, rather than a 150-amp model, is well worth it, lest you run out of space or power in the future.
Excess Moisture
Water and electricity are as deadly a duo as fire and gasoline. If a water leak or drainage problem brings water onto or near your panel, stay away from the panel and call a pro for help. Evidence of water or excess moisture inside the panel may show up as rust stains on the box or chalky, white corrosion on wiring, and other metal parts. Water-damaged panels often must be replaced.
25+-Year-Old Panel
On average, electrical panels last between 25-40 years. If your panel is near or past this age, it’s not only likely to break down, but it’s also probably not meeting modern electrical standards and may not be able to support your current appliances.
We understand that 15 years is quite a wide range, and that’s because the lifespan of your electrical panel is dependent on a few different factors like:
- Number of power surges
- General wear and tear
- Any issues or defects
In some cases, an electrical panel in a home may be 25 years old and need to be replaced, whereas someone else may have a 35-year-old panel that’s working effectively. To determine the age of your electrical panel and if it’s in proper working order, we recommend reaching out to a professional like Service Legends.
A word to the wise: While you can continue to utilize an older electrical panel until it does break down, we wouldn’t recommend doing so. An old electrical panel runs the risk of breaking down or malfunctioning, which can cause damage to other parts of your home and become a safety issue. Additionally, suppose you wait to replace your electrical panel until you have a problem. In that case, you could be left without electricity for a time, which can negatively impact your home and family.
Electrical Panel Is Worn Out
If you notice that your electrical panel is starting to wear out, it’s time to replace it. You should contact an electrician as soon as possible if you notice signs like:
- A crackling sound coming from the electrical panel
- A circuit breaker that trips often
- Flickering lights when you use other appliances
- An electrical panel that feels warm when you touch it
- A burning odor coming from the electrical panel
- Scorch or burn marks on the panel
- Corrosion or rust on the panel
You’re Renovating Your Home
If you’re planning on adding to or renovating your home, chances are you’ll need to upgrade your electrical panel to support the additional load. Adding any large appliances, like a washer or dryer, or spaces, like an extra room, will require a significant amount of electricity and overload your current panel.
Before renovating, you should meet with a licensed electrician who can determine if your current electrical panel will meet your home’s new demand and, if not, what size panel you need to meet that demand.
There are a few other factors that indicate that you may need to replace your electrical panel, like:
- You have a fuse box. Fuse boxes are typically from older homes, don’t provide a lot of amperage, and are more challenging to reset than circuit breakers. If you have a fuse box, it’s likely time to upgrade your electrical panel.
- You’re out of expansion slots. Your circuit breaker panel should have empty expansion slots that will allow you to add new appliances or anything that requires an electrical circuit. If you run out of expansion slots, it’s time to upgrade your electrical panel.
- Your electrical panel has been damaged. If your electrical panel has been damaged in some way, such as being hit by your car or via water damage, it may need to be replaced. You’ll want to have a licensed electrician take a look and determine what your best next steps are.
Reasons to Repair
Improper Wiring
Faulty or careless installation can lead to any number of problems that should be repaired in electrical service panels. Common hazards include oversized breakers (such as a 20-amp breaker on a 15-amp circuit), two circuits doubled-up on a single-pole breaker (a code-violating effort to save space), double-pole breakers supplying two single circuits, and wires crisscrossing over the panel’s center. These problems can pose serious risks but are relatively easy to fix.
Damaged Service Cables
The cables running from the power pole to the structural mount on your house are in the domain of the utility company. The cable grouping between the mount and the panel (called SEC, for service-entrance cable) is your responsibility. Problems here may include worn or damaged insulation, a loose cable, or damaged or non-existent clamps or anchors where the SEC meets the meter or service panel. All of these conditions require immediate repair.
Don’t Be Shocked. We Conduit.
If you’re considering a repair or replacement of your electrical control panel, keep in mind that the final word on all home wiring is the local electrical code. You can learn more from your city’s building department or from an experienced local electrician who knows what the rules are for your area. At Service Legends, we charge just $79 to inspect your electrical panel.
Our Guarantees
You won’t find another electrician in Des Moines that offers the same warranty and guarantee protections as we do. Give us a call today and see why thousands of homeowners rate Service Legends, a 5-star service company!
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
If you are not 100% satisfied with the service we have provided, we will make it right or refund all of your money.
Fixed Right Or It’s Free Guarantee
When we come to your home to diagnose your electrical repair, we guarantee it will be accurate or else the diagnostic is on us.
StraightForward Pricing
We’ll always give you an exact price before moving forward with any services. No add-on charges, hidden charges, surcharges, or ‘oops, I forgot to add this on’ charges! If we perform work without giving you a straightforward price, the work is on us.
Professional Technician
If any of our staff swears, uses tobacco on your property or is not friendly, the service is free.
Electrical Evaluation
Did you know that worn, loose, broken, or overheated devices can pose as electrical hazards behind your walls without you even noticing?
With a home safety evaluation, our certified electricians at Service Legends in Des Moines, IA will take a look at your electrical panel, light fixtures, fans, electrical switches and outlets, grounding rod, service lines and the internal parts of the electrical circuit wiring systems to note any issues you may have around your home.
Our 33-point electrical safety evaluation checks for:
- Improper electrical work done by contractors or previous owners
- Degraded or outdated wiring systems
- Incorrectly sized electrical fuses and circuit breakers
- Appropriate light bulb wattage
- Operability of electrical switches and outlets
- Electrocution, shock, and multiple electrical hazards
- The functionality of arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
- Proper grounding systems
- Adequate surge protection
- Inspection of the electrical panel
- An examination of outdoor service lines