The hot summer weather can increase your home’s power demands and put stress on its electrical system. Let’s explore the top reasons you should upgrade your home’s electrical panel before the start of summer.
Enhanced Safety
New electrical panels available to homeowners today can support advanced safety features like arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). While these are typically installed as circuit breakers or outlets, modern panels can accommodate these features for improved protection against electrical faults.
A new electrical panel can likewise reduce your home’s risk of fire. Outdated panels, especially older fuse-based systems or brands with known issues like Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) or Zinsco, can overheat and pose a fire hazard. New panels are designed to handle higher power demands safely and reduce the risk of overheating.
Better Energy Efficiency
Upgrading the electrical panel itself does not directly reduce energy consumption, but it can support energy efficiency by allowing the installation of modern, energy-efficient appliances, smart home devices, and solar power systems. Replacing an old panel with corroded or loose connections can also reduce energy waste by improving electrical efficiency.
Further, if you are environmentally conscientious, a new electrical panel allows you to integrate energy-saving solutions like smart thermostats and home automation, ultimately reducing your home’s carbon footprint.
Enhanced Capacity for High-Power Appliances
When you buy high-power appliances like a deep freezer, side-by-side fridge, or home theater system, you may need additional dedicated circuits to provide power to them. Upgrading your electrical panel can provide the necessary capacity for these upgrades, but new outlets and wiring may also be required.
Likewise, if you purchase an electric vehicle or install a home automation system, you may need a panel that can accommodate dedicated 240V circuits. An electrician can install a panel that provides sufficient power for these technologies.
Increased Home Value
An upgraded panel can be a selling point if you list your house for sale, particularly if it replaces an outdated or recalled panel. While a new panel may not significantly increase appraisal value, potential buyers may see it as a desirable feature, particularly in older homes where electrical upgrades are necessary.
Fewer Tripped Breakers
Your new panel can also reduce tripped breakers by ensuring that circuits are correctly sized for your home’s power demands. However, tripped breakers can still occur if circuits are overloaded, regardless of panel age. If frequent trips happen, an electrician may need to assess load distribution and circuit capacity.
For example, during the summer, you need a panel that can handle the high power loads coming from your appliances, chargers, air conditioner, and electronics. Upgrading to a new panel can improve load management for these seasonal demands.
Longer Appliance Lifespan
Frequent power surges, rather than tripped breakers alone, can shorten the lifespan of appliances. Investing in a new panel with whole-home surge protection can help safeguard appliances from voltage fluctuations and ensure they last longer.
Insurability
Your homeowner’s insurance company may require you to replace an outdated electrical panel, especially if your home has a recalled or unsafe model like FPE or Zinsco. Having an upgraded panel may improve the chances of your insurer covering your entire electrical system and could prevent premium increases.
Simply upgrading a panel does not guarantee lower insurance costs, but it may reduce liability risks, making it a worthwhile investment. Our electricians from Huft Home Services will install an electrical panel that complies with current safety codes and can pass a code inspection.
Smart Home Automation Integration
You can upgrade to a panel that integrates with your home’s smart automation system. While most standard panels do not have built-in smart features, newer models like Leviton Smart Load Centers and Schneider Electric Smart Panels offer real-time energy monitoring and remote control options.
A new electrical panel can also offer future-proofing. Even if you have the latest technology in your home right now, upgrading your panel ensures it can accommodate the next generation of appliances and systems.
Accurate Labeling
When our electricians from Huft Home Services install new electrical panels, they accurately label each breaker. You will know which one is the main breaker for the entire home’s electrical supply and which breakers belong to specific outlets and appliances. This prevents you from resetting the wrong breaker if a circuit trips or an appliance stops working.
Reduced Electrical Noise
An outdated panel can cause fixtures like outlets to buzz or hum due to loose connections, faulty wiring, or overloaded circuits. A new panel, along with proper wiring assessments, can help eliminate these noises and improve electrical reliability.
Reduced Costs
Your new panel can also save you money by preventing costly repairs due to outdated wiring, malfunctioning outlets, or damaged devices caused by power fluctuations. While electrical panels do require periodic maintenance, modern systems typically need fewer repairs compared to older models.
Peace of Mind
Finally, as a homeowner, you can enjoy more peace of mind with a new electrical panel. You can trust that your electrical system is up to code, reducing the risk of electrical hazards. You can also integrate smart home automation for added convenience and efficiency.
Choose Us to Install Your Home’s New Electrical Panel
At Huft Home Services, we have more than 20 years of experience providing customers in the Yuba City area with reliable electrical services. We not only install electrical panels but also work on heating and cooling systems.
Our team additionally works on plumbing systems and fixtures like water heaters and water filtration equipment. We won the Sacramento Bee Sacramento Favorites award in 2023. Our company also won the NextDoor Neighborhood Fave and Angi’s List Super Service awards in 2022. We operate as an Owens Corning AirCare Professional. You can receive an instant quote for services on our website.
Contact us to learn more about installing a new electrical panel in your home today.
