An electric panel channels and distributes the electricity in your home.
It’s okay if you don’t know much about this panel because most homeowners don’t either. An electric panel is more than a grey metal box with breakers you can switch on and off.
We have put together some electrical panel information for you.
Electrical Panel Electric Code Requirements
It’s important to always hire an electrician for electric panel replacement or repair because they are up to date on the requirements for any installation of the grey metal box. Some of those requirements include:
- The height at which the breaker box must be.
- The location of the breaker box within the house. It’s important the area is dry, clear, and has less human activity.
- The accessibility of the breaker box. This means the box can’t be behind a bookshelf, or somewhere hard to access. You must have a clear space to open the panel door.
- The breakers must be clearly labeled – this includes their amperage ratings and which parts of the house they control.
DIY projects with your electrical panel hardly put any of these and others into consideration.
How much does it cost to upgrade an electrical panel with a Temecula electrician?
Upgrading the electrical panel in your home or commercial building doesn’t happen often. While the electrical panel can’t last forever, it can be used for decades without needing an upgrade.
Reasons, why you may need an upgrade or electrical panel repair, include when:
- Lights start to flicker and dim
- You can’t add new appliances because they trip the breakers.
- You live in an old home.
- You use too many extension cords
- There are too few outlets in your home
Depending on if you’re in a residential or commercial building, problems like these can cost you financially and be highly inconvenient.
Upgrading an electrical panel can cost $2000-$2500 for a 100-amp panel. It goes up from there for 200-amp panels and vice versa.
The cost is influenced by the Temecula electrician’s fees, your electrical needs, and materials.
What to do when something happens with the electrical panel?
- If your breaker trips often due to insufficient capacity or power, you can remove some appliances from a specific circuit and place them in another. But if you’ve reached the limit of your home’s service, call an electrician instead.
- When you have a tripped breaker, turn off the appliance that caused the trip in the first place. Go to the breaker box and find the tripped breaker. Reset it by switching it all the way off, then back on.
- If you observe corrosion in your breaker box, don’t hesitate to call an electrician. Corrosion or rust indicates that moisture has come in contact with the panel, which is dangerous.