Electrical panel preparation is extremely useful before the winter hits.
How Electrical Panel Preparation Can Prevent Your Electrical Panel From Malfunctioning
Nobody wants to deal with a damaged electrical panel in the dead of winter. Not only will a busted electrical panel make your winter miserable, it can be very expensive to repair. Your electrical panel won’t last as long as your house, and ideally, it should be replaced at least every 30 years to keep up with your home’s electrical demand. In the meantime, electrical panel preparation ensures it will not only work effectively but function during even the harshest of winters. Here are five ways to prepare your electrical panel.
Strive for efficiency.
Improving your home’s energy efficiency helps to prevent your home’s electrical panel from overworking itself. It’s important to be aware of phantom loads, which is the power that flows to unused appliances that are plugged in. It doesn’t matter if your appliances are turned off, if they are plugged in, they still use power. To help cut down on your energy consumption, you can either unplug any unused appliances or use power strips, which make it easier to shut off power to multiple unused appliances.
Prepare your generator
No power not only makes for a miserable winter, but it leaves your plumbing vulnerable to freezing. Install a generator today! Or get it get serviced with CT Generator Service
Treat your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
A damaged electrical panel can cause several safety hazards, including fires and gas leaks, which is why you should prepare your detectors as well. Installing new batteries and testing each detector helps to ensure you and your household will be safe in case of an electrical safety hazard.
Test your outlets
Preparing your home’s electrical system should also include thorough testing of all your outlets. Testing the outlets not only ensures they’re getting sufficient power. One easy way to test the functionality and safety of your outlets is with a multimeter.
Schedule a professional inspection
An electrical system is a lot. Ideally, it’s a good idea to schedule an inspection every three years. During an electrical panel inspection, we will inspect the breakers. Then check all the connections, and inspect for any unusual high temperatures. This will ensure it works and prevent any potential problems.
Rewire your home if necessary
Old and outdated wiring can cause problems for your electrical panel as well as your home. If your home is old and you’re tripping on extension cords, you might be due to rewiring your home. An electrician can inspect and confirm whether your home needs to be rewired. Old, outdated wiring, however, is a fire hazard and should be replaced immediately.
Keep your electrical panel closed and covered
In order to properly maintain your electrical panel, make sure to keep it closed and protected from dust and debris. Dust absorbs moisture, and if enough moisture accumulates on your electrical panel, it can cause a great deal of damage. Even dust and moisture can turn into rust, which corrodes circuit boards and most metals. Keeping your electrical panel shut, can significantly prevent dust and moisture from accumulating inside.
Your Holiday Season Doesn’t Have to End in Electrical Failure
With enough maintenance and preparation, however, you can stay warm without having to fear for your electrical panel. Stay prepared this winter season by having a licensed electrician inspect your electrical panel.
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