Have you ever found yourself wondering what benefits there could be to upgrading your service panel? Here we will go over some of the benefits and benefits to benefits (yes, that’s a word) to updating your service panel. We’ll also explore why it might not be good for your wallet to delay upgrading right now.
With all things electrical and or mechanical, there is never a guarantee that an upgrade will be smooth or painless. However, there are benefits to having your service panel updated, and we’re going to explore what they are. Let’s start with the benefits of upgrading our service panel.
Why Service Panel Upgrading Is Important
Service panel upgrading is essential for many reasons. The first one is safety. You want to make sure that all of your connections in your service panel, the breaker itself and the wiring in between are up to code and will pass inspection should an inspector come through.
Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade Your Service Panel
1) Equipment runs cooler—if you have upgraded to more powerful heating or cooling systems or are looking to upgrade in the future, you will need a panel that can handle the load.
2) Equipment (appliances and electronics) run more efficiently—saving you money on your electricity bills over time.
3) If you use a lot of power—for example, if you have a home business in addition to your regular household duties, upgrading to a larger service panel will help ensure that you have enough power available to run everything without any interruptions.
4) You can add more circuits, which is helpful if you have a growing family and need more outlets and plugs to handle.
5) Peace of mind—knowing that your electrical equipment is up to date and safe is a great feeling and can give you one less thing to worry about.
Upgrading your service panel can also provide benefits in terms of increased home value. When it comes time to sell, having an updated service panel will be something that potential buyers will appreciate and could be a deciding factor in your home’s sale.
Benefits of Upgrading Your Service Panel
The benefit of upgrading your service panel is that you provide a safer environment for those living under your roof as well as those visiting. Having a sufficient size service panel also benefits you as the homeowner by doubling the amperage of breakers on your metre, which result in lower electricity bills.
There are benefits to benefits (yes, that is a thing) when upgrading your service panel. Before upgrading your service, you should look out for whether or not your home is equipped with aluminium wiring. Aluminium is a heat conductor, which can cause problems if it’s in proximity to high currents.
If you have aluminium wiring, you will not be able to upgrade your service panel. If you are unsure whether or not your panel uses aluminium, contact an electrician, and they can tell you.
Second, let’s talk power—kw/kwHr (kilowatts per hour). This is how we measure the flow of electricity, and this is also how we show our benefits. A service panel with an upgraded capacity will allow for a higher flow rate of electricity into your home. More power means more benefits. What’s great about a higher flow rate of electricity is that the benefits only increase the more you use.
Disadvantages of an Outdated Service Panel
There are many disadvantages to an outdated service panel. For starters, if there is an overload of high usage appliances, the wiring and breakers will start to degrade and or catch on fire. Secondly, you do not want to put your family in danger by having faulty wiring cut corners during installation. The downside of an overload of high usage appliances is that it will trip the breaker, shutting down all power to that circuit. This inconvenience can cause missed opportunities and lost productivity in the home.
You may be asking yourself, why would my service panel need upgrading? The answer is simple, your service panel has a lifespan, and just like everything else in this world, it will eventually need to be replaced. To find out how old your service panel is, check the label attached to the lower left side. This tag will list your installed year along with the manufacturer’s information. The only way to upgrade a service panel is to replace it with another one with equal or greater benefits.
Over time homes are built with larger amps that are installed into the building code under what is known as a freestanding panel upgrade. This benefits the homeowner because it guarantees that your home’s electrical system is up to date and safe for use.
Lastly, if you have an outdated service panel, it can decrease the value of your home. For example, let’s say you want to sell your home and have an outdated service panel. This would be looked at as a safety hazard, which means the buyers may opt not to purchase your home if it can’t provide them with benefits that are up to date.
Schedule Your Service Panel Upgrade With Professional Glenco
If you’re looking to upgrade your service panel, look no further than Professional Glenco. They offer a tonne of services here.
Summary
To summarise, there are many benefits of upgrading your service panel. Many people view their service panel as an afterthought, but it’s important to remember that this is the heart of your home’s electrical system. By upgrading your service panel, you are not only providing a safer environment for your family and guests, but you’re also increasing the benefits of high-powered appliances by giving them more power to work with.
