![]() Keeping it out of sight is a matter of preference. However, note that there is no problem having a panel in an open space in the main living area. Service panels are often located in garages or basements or under stairways. Preferably not in bathrooms (a practice often barred by municipal codes).Close to kitchens and other heavy load areas.The best location for a new circuit breaker panel is determined by factors such as: Once you have selected an electrician you are comfortable working with, they and you will both have to do some preparation before the work can begin. Electricians can run into unforeseen problems or obstacles. The cost to replace a circuit breaker panel runs from roughly $800 to over $3,000, depending on the various factors that come into play. You should know that this job calls for at least one professional electrician. A panel replacement exposes the person doing it to potentially deadly voltage levels. The vast majority of homeowners should never even think about replacing a circuit breaker panel as a DIY project. ![]() Preparing to Replace a Circuit Breaker Panel It is important to know how old your panel is. The life expectancy of breakers is 25-30 years, which is also the same for your panel. ![]() The age of the breakers is also important to know. However, most of them will need help determining when a service upgrade and replacing the circuit breaker panel are in order. The owners of single-family homes are responsible for all issues related to the electric service panel. And if you still have a fuse box, you should give serious thought to replacing it with a circuit breaker panel. If so, it might be that your electrical system is carrying too high a load for the increased usage common to most households today. How to Know When You Need New Circuit Breakersĭo you always seem to be flipping breaker switches (or replacing) fuses because of circuit overloads? Are your outlets warm to the touch, or do they show burn marks? Do the lights in your home sometimes flicker or flash off and on? At the place where the electric lines enter the panel, one primary circuit (connected to the power grid) splits into subsidiary circuits.Ĭircuit breakers are switches that automatically shut off an overloaded circuit to prevent fires, electrocutions, and other serious dangers caused by improperly contained or maintained electricity. The purpose of a circuit breaker panel (also called the main electrical service panel) is to connect wires from the utility company with those comprising your home’s internal electrical system.Īs electricity flows to your house, it passes through the meter, the supply system, and your circuit breaker panel wiring. We’ll also cover the process and criteria for circuit breaker replacement. Then we’ll continue by explaining when and how to replace it. We’ll begin with a brief look at what a circuit breaker panel is and how it works. So how do you go about replacing a circuit breaker panel? In fact, how do you even know you need to replace yours? That’s what we’ll discuss in this article. After all, everyone knows that electricity is quite hazardous. If you’re like many people, the idea of even flipping a switch on your circuit breaker panel to turn the power back on makes you nervous.
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