There are a lot of homeowners stressing about how different the holidays are going to look this year, which is understandable. Families across the country aren’t able to get together due to health concerns, traveling is questionable for many folks.
There is still much to look forward to, however! For example, if you’re like many homeowners who enjoy decorating your home for the holidays, it’s your season to shine.
But before you attempt to challenge Clark Griswold outside your house, consider this—is your electrical panel ready for the increased demand? Also referred to as the breaker box, this component is tasked with safely touring electrical current to and from the various electrical appliances and fixtures in and outside your home. An overloaded electrical panel, however, will lead to expensive problems and even potential safety hazards.
Keep reading to learn if you may need an electrical panel upgrade before touching those outdoor holiday lights.
You’re sitting in your home, minding your own business—maybe reading or watching TV. Suddenly, your lights flicker. And we’re not just talking about one or two—we’re talking about the lights in a whole section of your home.
Of all the various problems that can negatively impact your home, electrical problems are among the most dangerous. After all, an air conditioner malfunction can leave you feeling uncomfortable for a while, a plumbing problem can cause damage to a room or two, but an electrical problem can cause electrocution or even fire.
There are a number of projects within your home that can be “do-it-yourself” (DIY) projects, but some typically require the assistance of a trained and experienced professional—such as electrical work.
Perhaps flickering lights in your home is so commonplace that you’ve simply figured it’s “just something that happens.” This may especially be the case if you live in an older home. However, this shouldn’t be acceptable! In fact, you could be putting your home and its occupants in danger. Electrical issues that cause flickering lights can be serious. Electrical fires account for hundreds of injuries each year, through no fault of the homeowner, but are almost entirely preventable.
Whether you own a home or are renting a room, we think it’s important you at least understand the basics of the electrical system in your home, in order to know what to do when something goes wrong. One component of your electrical system that is particularly important is the electrical panel—also referred to as the circuit breaker box. This is responsible for dividing up the electrical power in your living space into circuits.
