Even if you don’t plan on doing any DIY electrical projects, it’s important to understand your home’s electrical capacity. At Livewire Electrical, our electricians in Huntersville believe in not only providing exceptional electrical services, but also equipping our customers with the knowledge and resources to maintain electrical safety in their homes.
While understanding the electrical capacity in your home may sound complex, it’s actually a rather straightforward concept. It’s also an important safety factor. For example, if you upgrade to modern appliances or build an addition to your home without knowing your home’s maximum electrical capacity, you could be putting your home and your family at risk.
No matter what your project, you should always involve a licensed electrician before you make any electrical updates. The team at Livewire Electrical can assess your current electrical system, identify issues, and create a custom action plan for your specific project. Let’s take a look at why it’s so important to understand your Huntersville home’s electrical capacity and how the team at Livewire Electrical can help.
Knowing if Your Huntersville Home is at Maximum Capacity
Before serious issues arise, your electrical system typically has some telltale signs that you’re at maximum electrical capacity in your home. If you’re experiencing issues such as flickering lights, inefficient electrical appliances, or consistent circuit breaker trips, it may be a sign that your home is at max capacity.
Consider Electrical Fires
Running modern appliances and pushing your panel and electrical system past maximum capacity are two common causes of electrical fires. If you ignore the signs that you’re at maximum capacity and continue using your appliances and other electrical products as you have been, your home may be at risk.
Review your current electrical panel to see if your appliances have dedicated breakers and to review your current amperage. If there are multiple appliances connected to one breaker, it’s time for an upgrade. Your microwave, stove, dishwasher, clothes washer, clothes dryer, and refrigerator should ideally be on their own separate breakers.
What Size Panel Do I Need?
Older electrical panels are typically 60 amps, which is not sufficient for modern homes. New appliances and home additions require much more electricity than older appliances, and running modern appliances on an outdated panel poses a major safety risk.
While a 100 amp panel may work for basic electrical needs, we recommend a panel of at least 200 amps for maximum efficiency and electrical capacity. A 200 amp panel not only ensures that your electrical systems can draw enough power, but it also doesn’t limit you when it comes to appliance upgrades and additions like a lower-rated panel would.
If you’re upgrading your home’s appliances or adding on to your home, you’ll want to upgrade your electrical panel as well. Whether it’s a simple upgrade or a complete renovation, we can help you upgrade your electrical panel to meet your home’s electrical needs.
Should I Upgrade My Electrical Panel? Signs It May Be Time
We already mentioned a few signs that your home is at maximum electrical capacity, which are also signs that it’s time to update your electrical panel to handle your increased electrical load. Here are some of the top signs that it’s time to upgrade your electrical panel:
- Multiple appliances connected to the same breaker
- Flickering and dimming lights when using large appliances
- An outdated panel rated at less than 200 amps
- Consistent breaker trips and power outages
In addition to watching out for these common signs, you should have your panel and electrical system inspected every few years by the licensed team of electricians at Livewire Electrical. As your electrical components age, they can become worn and outdated, leading to potential safety concerns.
When you are in need of an electrical panel upgrade, the team at Livewire Electrical can help. With years of experience upgrading electrical panels in and around the Huntersville area, we can help your home’s electrical system run safely and efficiently.
Keep Your Huntersville Electrical Capacity at Top Notch
Your home’s electrical capacity is something that every homeowner should know. From safety concerns to upgrading appliances, knowing how much your home can handle plays a vital role in the life of a homeowner. Check out our electrical panel replacement services for more information on why an updated electrical panel is so important.
If you’re unsure of how much your home can handle or you’re planning a large project for your home, be sure to give the team at Livewire Electrical a call today to schedule an electrical inspection and one on one consultation.
