If the circuit breakers in your electrical panel go bad, it’s important to replace them to prevent damage to the electrical appliances in your house. Without proper protection and management of your electrical system, many issues can go wrong that will harm your home. If you care about the safety of your family and how your electricity will be handled, then it is important to maintain your circuit breakers.
Table of Contents
Top Signs of Bad Circuit Breakers in Your Home
Circuit breakers are a valuable component to keep your home safe. Although they are usually forgotten because they are buried in your basement or utility closet. If you continue to ignore these warning signs, then your home and electrical equipment can be affected, and you will continue to deal with extremely annoying aspects, such as flickering lights and poor performance of appliances.
No one wants the fear of a potential fire due to a malfunctioning electrical system, so pay attention to these signs and make sure to take care of your circuit breakers.
1. Physical Damage
The first sign you might notice immediately is damage marks to outlets or around the circuit breaker. Appliances might also be failing due to melted wires, which is a good indication that your electrical panel is affected.
If you notice any physical damage, you need to call for immediate service. A melted wire poses a huge fire risk to your home. Unplug all your appliances and make an emergency call for an electrician.
2. Frequent Tripping
When a circuit breaker is drawing too much power to protect your home, it is designed to trip. If it’s tripping every time you turn on an appliance, like your brand-new microwave or vacuum cleaner, then the breaker might be worn out. This could also indicate that your circuit breaker is starting to fail.
A licensed electrician will be able to determine if this is the case, whether it is a bad breaker, or if it’s time for a new circuit to be added to your home.
3. Poor Performance of Appliances
Are you tired of dealing with your oven that bakes unevenly? How about the dryer you bought that always shuts off mid-cycle? You are probably convinced that you are getting poor appliances, although it’s not your appliances that should be blamed.
This issue is probably due to bad circuit breakers since they are connected to your oven, hot water heater, dryer, washing machine, and other electrical appliances. Make sure to check your circuit breaker before replacing your malfunctioning appliances.
4. Burning Smell Coming from Panel
If you smell a burning scent coming from the panel, this is a sign of worn out circuit breakers. This odor can indicate your wires and insulation have been overheated. This means your panel is failing to protect your home from an electrical short elsewhere. Shut off the main power immediately if this is the case, and call an electrician for immediate service.
Read More: Ways to Safety Respond to a Power Outage in the Middle of the Night
5. Old Age
If you can’t remember the last time your circuit breakers have been replaced or serviced, then it may be time to do so. Circuit breakers are designed to last. However, if they haven’t been serviced in the last ten years, then they might be nearing the end of their lifespan.
6. Breaker Won’t Reset
If your breaker won’t reset, it could mean that you have a short circuit, faulty breaker, or another concerning problem. When your breaker is completely blown, it’s wise to call in a professional electrician. Ask your electrician to check the entire circuit to ensure no further damage was done to the wiring.
Professional Electrical Services for Homeowners
The team of certified electricians at Reliable Power Systems understand the importance of circuit breaker maintenance and maintaining the electrical health of your home. This is why we offer a variety of electrical services for homes in South Florida such as electrical panel installation, wiring replacement, backup generator installation, and lighting repair.
No home should deal with risks associated with worn out circuit breakers, especially when it comes to a potential fire due to poor maintenance. Additionally, maintaining the value of your home with an updated electrical panel gives buyers confidence they are making a great investment.
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service. The amount of experience we have in the industry will benefit you in the long run, so choosing us will always be a wise investment. Give our team a call at (561) 408-5147 or sign up for our electrical panel repair and replacement services in South Florida.
