When Should You Replace Your Breaker Box?

Written on: July 24, 2023

Seymour Oil & Propane’s electrical service team can update your home’s breakers.

When it comes to your home’s electrical infrastructure, the breaker box is like the central command. While you may only think about your breaker box when you need to shut down power to a part of your home, it is a crucially important piece of hardware. Ignoring an old or malfunctioning breaker box can create serious reliability and safety risks.

In Ansonia, Roxbury, Fairfield, Wolcott and other communities throughout western Connecticut, Seymour Oil & Propane’s world-class electrical service team can determine if your break box needs to be replaced, then get the job done quickly for you.

What is a breaker box?

A breaker box, also known as an electrical panel, is the primary point of distribution for your home’s electricity. Electricity passes from a utility line through a meter to your breaker box. From there, it splits into a series of individual circuits that provide power to outlets, lights and appliances in your house. Each circuit is controlled by a breaker switch, enabling you to cut off (and reopen) power to a part of your home. There’s also a main breaker, which cuts off power to the whole home.

How long do breaker boxes last?

Breaker boxes are durable pieces of equipment, but they don’t last forever. Depending on the quality of the breaker box in your home, it can last anywhere from 20 to 40 years. If you suspect that your panel is nearing retirement, contact our electrical team, and we can diagnose its condition.

What are warning signs that a breaker box might fail?

If you have a struggling or failing breaker box in your home, you could be risking some severe issues. Old breakers regularly trip and knock out power to your home, which can damage electronics. Even worse, an overheating breaker box might lead to a fire.

Here are some red flags to look out for in an aging electrical panel:

1. Breakers that won’t stay in “reset” mode.
2. A burning smell or a panel that is hot to the touch. (Contact an electrician immediately if you notice these issues, as they may indicate a fire hazard.)
3. Visible scorching or damage around the box.

Call Seymour Oil & Propane for electrical repairs and upgrades.

Sometimes, the issue with your electrical panel will require a quick repair, but other times, you will need a new breaker box altogether. The electricians at Seymour Oil & Propane will thoroughly inspect your panel and decide quickly whether it needs to be updated.

There are significant benefits to upgrading your breaker box beyond the vital safety and dependability ones. A new breaker box can enable you to add additional outlets to your rooms. It will make gaming systems and other electronic entertainment products more reliable. And homebuyers are more attracted to properties with up-to-date electrical panels.

Reach out to Seymour Oil & Propane to arrange a service appointment for your home’s wiring and breaker box.