• When a circuit draws more electrical current than it’s designed for, the circuit breaker senses the extra heat in the circuit and shuts off power flow. Circuit breakers can go bad for various reasons, but the older your home is, the more likely you will face circuit breaker repairs. Old electrical systems are not equipped to supply adequate power to modern electronics, HVAC equipment and appliances. Lightning strikes, water damage and fraying wires can also cause big problems inside electrical panels. Here are a few ways to tell if a circuit breaker is bad:

  • A circuit breaker trips repeatedly
  • A circuit breaker will not reset
  • A circuit breaker feels hot
  • Smoke and/or a burning smell is coming from the electrical panel
  • Wires inside the electrical panel look frayed or melted
  • There is a sizzling or popping noise coming from the electrical panel

Your electrical panel needs a checkup, especially if it’s more than 25 years old. Here are the signs to look for to see if you might need a new electrical panel:

• You hear crackling sounds from the electrical panel.
• You see corrosion and rust on the circuit breakers.
• The interior of the electrical panel feels warm.
• Appliances are running at less than full power.
• Outlets near water sources – such as sinks, tubs, dishwashers and clothes washers – are not GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters). These outlets stop the electricity if an appliance comes into contact with water, preventing electrocution.
• You’re always using extension cords.
• Your home has a 60-amp electrical service.
• Your home has 100-amp electrical service, but it still can’t operate some appliances.
• Your older home has a fuse block panel or split-bus panel, which do not have a main breaker.

Your home’s electrical panel might have a serious defect if it’s more than 25 years old, because there are some electrical panels from that era that have known safety issues due to poor design. Electrical panels installed after 1990 are generally well designed and safe.

Contact Mr. Electric right away to replace the following types of defective panels:

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panel

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission classified this panel as a safety defect warranting a new electrical panel. These panels, installed in homes between 1950 and 1980, have design and manufacturing defects that can cause fires and electric shocks.

Zinsco Electrical Panel

Thankfully, Zinsco panels were taken off the market in the mid-1970s. They have a defective design that allows power to flow even when the breakers are switched off. Breaker switches also melt, which basically renders them useless. Zinsco electrical panels pose fire and shock hazards. Replace them with a new electrical panel immediately.

Pushmatic Electrical Panel

Pushmatic panels have weak breaker switches that get harder to reset over time. They also do not have a main breaker switch to stop all power from flowing into the panel. Mr. Electric recommends that Pushmatic panels be replaced with better functioning panels.

Fuse Boxes

The oldest type of electrical panel is actually called a fuse box. Today’s homes require up to 200 amps of power or more. Fuse boxes can only handle 30-60 amps. Back in the day, every time a glass fuse broke, it had to be replaced. You can’t even get fuses for many fuse boxes anymore. That’s because these outdated systems are a huge fire and electrocution risk. Immediately contact Mr. Electric to replace your fuse box with a modern electrical panel. We can also assess whether the wiring in the home is sufficient and up to modern electrical codes. Chances are, it’s not – but we can help fix that too.

• If you’re thinking about making a major improvement to your home, don’t forget to assess the additional power that you will need. Room additions, kitchen remodels and major appliances such as heating and air conditioning systems, hot tubs, double ovens, garage door openers and outdoor lights all may require an expanded electrical panel. You may have to add outlets to a wall or special 240-volt circuits or a sub-panel for a generator.

Electrical panel upgrade projects are priced individually because the price depends on three major factors:

• Location – Each Mr. Electric is independently owned, and each owner sets their own rates.
• Scope of the project – The cost of your electrical panel replacement will vary based on what you need done. The price to replace an old fuse box with a modern electrical panel will be far greater than installing a small secondary electrical panel for a generator.
• Site conditions – If the existing wiring, conduits or installation site need work before a safe panel replacement can be completed, the price of the electrical panel upgrade will increase.

Should I Upgrade or Repair My Electrical Panel?

In some cases, we’re able to repair your existing electrical panel rather than upgrade to a new system. Our electricians will determine whether your panel is a candidate for repair after they’ve had a chance to assess the current system and your household energy demands. Some key factors to determining electrical panel repair vs. replacement include the age of the electrical panel, reliability and safety.

Electrical panel repairs include:

• Circuit breaker replacement
• Circuit breaker installation and upgrades
• Rewiring the electrical panel
• Bus bar replacement
• Relocating electrical panel due to moisture or other concerns

• Overloaded circuits aren’t the only reason people replace circuit breakers. After years of use, circuit breakers can go bad. There is no way to repair a faulty breaker, so replacement is the only solution. A circuit breaker that feels hot or smells like it’s burning should be replaced immediately. If you have a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) or Zinsco electrical panel, or if your home still has an old fuse box, you could be in danger of electric shock or fire. Contact Mr. Electric immediately to schedule an electrical panel upgrade.

• Many homes are still operating with old breakers, and homeowners are beginning to feel the pinch. Is your old circuit breaker panel keeping up? Are you tripping circuit breakers right and left these days? Turn to the experts at Mr. Electric for a circuit breaker replacement.

We cannot overstate how important safety is when it comes to replacing circuit breakers. Your power company’s electricity supply runs right into your electrical panel. Replacing a breaker the wrong way can cause a deadly electric shock. Therefore, circuit breaker replacement should only be performed by a qualified electrician. Here are a few more important reasons you need to entrust your circuit breaker replacement to a professional electrician:

• Improper circuit breaker installation can leave you vulnerable to fire, putting you and your family in danger.
• You could also experience property loss through a fire or electrical surges from a carelessly installed circuit breaker.
• Circuit breakers must be installed to code for safety and insurance reasons.
• Mr. Electric is the one to choose to install your new circuit breaker. Our licensed electricians are prompt, friendly and professional. We’ll do the job right the first time.

Beyond power surges related to regional outages, another common reason for power surges is the operation of heavy-duty electrical devices. Refrigerators, air conditioners, and clothes dryers are just a few large appliances that require a significant amount of electricity to switch motors and compressors on and off. Devices that have heating elements, such as toaster ovens, electric kettles, and coffee makers, can also cause power surges on some circuits.

Toggling high-power electrical equipment and devices can create heavy demands for electricity that can disrupt the constant flow of voltage in the electrical system.

The following can cause power surges:

• Faulty electrical wiring is prone to several issues, including inconsistent delivery of power.
• Problems with the utility company’s lines, transformers, or other components can lead to power issues.
• Lightning can cause power surges. This is rare, though it does happen more often in areas with frequent thunderstorms. Lightning may increase electrical pressure in wiring by millions of volts, overwhelming even the best power strip style surge protector.
• High winds that accompany thunderstorms can down power lines and destroy transformers. When power is restored, it can lead to a sudden rush of energy that can break your devices.

• When you hear the words “surge protector,” you probably picture a power strip with several devices plugged into it. Household power strips do help protect against power surges, but they offer limited protection for devices and usually must be replaced after one power surge.

• You might be asking yourself, what does a power conditioner do? It does what a surge protector does and more, meaning that even if you have a surge protector in place, you still might not have the complete protection that you need.
• A power conditioner is a device that filters out surges and spikes, like a surge protector, but it also filters out radio frequency interference (RFI), electromagnetic interference (EMI), and voltage fluctuations that can impact sound and picture quality on televisions and computers. Having a whole-house power conditioner will protect all your electronic appliances and devices from possible damage, even when your whole-house generator turns on during a power outage.

• Dirty electricity is an alternating current (AC) that fluctuates and deviates from 50-60Hz, which is standard. This deviation results in either too much or too little power coming through and can result in underperforming devices or devices that are overwhelmed to the point of malfunction. As electricity runs through a power conditioner, the voltage fluctuations even out, reducing the risk of damage.