At some point, you’ll likely need to invest in new circuit breakers for your home. By interrupting current flow when there’s an overload, these important safety features shield your household appliances from electrical damage. Even more importantly, they help prevent disastrous fires. Here are some of the biggest signs you need to have a circuit breaker replaced.
Old Age
Circuit breakers are rated to last for decades. While these components have an average life expectancy of around 30 years or so, poor maintenance and other factors can cause them to fail sooner than expected. Because an outdated electrical panel is considered to be a major safety hazard, do not take any chances. Your best bet is to have it replaced ahead of time.
Frequent Tripping
To protect your household appliances, a circuit breaker is designed to trip when too much power is being drawn. However, frequent tripping is a definite red flag. As soon as you notice a potential problem, contact an experienced professional such as Mister Sparky to check things out. There’s a strong chance the circuit breaker will need to be replaced.
Corrosion
It’s a good idea to visually inspect your circuit breaker panel at least once a year. Keep an eye out for corrosion on the various components. Your home’s humidity levels could be too high. Moisture can gradually creep into the electrical panels, thus making rust and corrosion more likely to occur. Call a licensed electrician right away.
Burning Odor
Never ignore a burning odor coming from your electrical panel. Its wires may have overheated, which dramatically increases the risk of a fire. At this point, the circuit breaker can no longer provide an adequate level of protection. Waiting to address the issue is simply not an option. The best recommendation is to kill the main power supply to your home by switching the service switch to the “off” position.
Buzzing Noises
A circuit breaker panel should only produce a slight hum. If you begin to hear a popping or buzzing noise, take action as soon as possible. The root of the problem could stem from loose wiring, which is an issue that can be easily repaired by a qualified electrician. On the other hand, it could be time for a replacement.
Flickering Lights
When there’s a bad thunderstorm in the area, it’s not common for homes to experience flickering lights. If the issue begins to happen regularly during normal weather conditions, this is certainly a cause for concern. You could be dealing with a poor circuit breaker that’s on its last leg. The problem will only worsen as time goes on.