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The electrical panel is typically the source of minor frustration for many homeowners. Nobody likes to trudge out to the garage in the dark to reset a tripped circuit. However, your electrical panel is vital for keeping your home safe from a wide range of electrical issues. A couple of minutes of frustration every once in a while is well worth it if the alternative is house fires and electrocution. However, the panel itself is not immune to issues. You should be on guard for signs that your electrical panel itself is having some trouble, so that you can call for repairs as soon as possible. Nothing good can come from a breaker box malfunctioning.
Constant Tripping
When a circuit breaker trips, it’s typically because the circuit is overloaded. Someone plugged in too many appliances, or there was a minor power surge for some reason, and the panel shut the circuit down to prevent any serious harm. In cases like these, the solution is typically to just unplug some appliances and reset the circuit. That is often enough to fix the issue. If your circuit breaker is constantly tripping, though, that’s a more serious issue.
There could be a number of different reasons why your circuit breaker won’t reset properly. It’s possible that the circuit is simply still overloaded. It’s also possible that there’s a short circuit or other issue in the wiring itself, which the breaker is detecting. However, it’s also possible that the issue is located in the breaker box itself. You’ll need to have an electrician look at it, which we recommend you schedule as soon as you notice this happening.
Burning Smells
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to vacate the area if you ever smell something burning in the vicinity of electrical equipment. The same holds true for your electrical panel. If you smell a strong burning stench coming from the panel, do not open it. There could be a short circuit or other issue causing the panel to malfunction. Just back away, and call an electrician immediately. If you see any actual flames, you should obviously call emergency services first to make sure it doesn’t spread to the rest of the house.
Failure to Trip
When a circuit breaker begins to malfunction, it may fail to trip even when it’s supposed to. Listen for a buzzing noise coming from your electrical panel. This can happen when there’s an increased electrical current flowing through the panel, high enough that it should trip to cut it off. An electrical panel that won’t trip is very dangerous, and should be repaired as quickly as possible to continue protecting the rest of the home. Make sure you call an electrician right away if this happens.
Anderson Electric Corp. offers comprehensive electrical services in West Orange, NJ. If you need help with your electrical panel, one of our expert technicians can take care of it for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure your electrical system is safe and efficient.
