When Should You Get Your Electrical Panel Checked?

Preventative maintenance on your electrical panel should be done at least every three years. As a responsible homeowner, you should know the location of your main shut off breaker.

Here are some common signs that you need to get your electrical panel checked:

Frequently tripped circuit breaker
A circuit breaker “trips” to cut off electrical flow and prevent overheating. This can be caused by an overloaded circuit, short circuit, or ground fault. Read more

Water or signs of water on your panel

If you find water dripping around your panel, DO NOT touch the panel to avoid getting an electric shock. A rusty panel is also an indicator that water/moisture has been in contact with the panel.

Evidence of electrical failure

If there are signs of burned or overheated components in the panel, you should call a qualified electrician. Overheated components might cause electrical fire, so it is important to find out the root cause of the electrical failure.

Buzzing, sparking, flickering lights

When your lights flicker or spark, you should seek a professional electrician as soon as possible because these are signs of severe damage to the electrical system.

Smell of plastic burning

Turn off power immediately if you smell burning plastic in your house. This is probably caused by damaged wires in the wall.

Faulty or loose cables/wires

A damaged or frayed wire should not be used because it can be a fire hazard to your home.

Hot outlets or plates

An outlet/plate should never become hot to touch, including when something that is plugged in. This is a serious sign of faulty wiring and should be consulted by an electrician.

ELA Home Repairs provides free referrals to a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor for homeowners. If you need an electrician, call us at 1800-368-PROS or visit our website www.elahomerepairs.org .