It can be difficult to determine whether your home’s electrical panel needs an upgrade. To make it easier for Vancouver Island Area homeowners, we’ve put together a list of the most common signs that it’s time to upgrade your electrical panel. They are as follows:

• Your electrical panel is hot
• Your electrical panel has not been upgraded in over 20 years
• You are still using a fuse box
• It smells like something is burning
• You feel small electrical shocks when touching appliances
• Your lights are constantly dimming or flickering
• Using your appliances causes your lights to dim or flicker
• Small acts like using your appliances trip the breaker or blow the fuse
• Your breaker will not reset
• You’re using more electricity than your home was built for (for example, there are only one or two outlets in each room, leaving you to rely on power strips and extension cords throughout much of the home)
• You can see signs of melting, burning, or discolouration, such as scorch marks, on your electrical panel or electrical outlets

If, after learning about these telltale signs, you still aren’t sure whether your Vancouver Island Area home’s electrical panel requires an upgrade, contact The Comfort Group today. One of our knowledgeable and friendly technicians will be happy to inspect your home and offer their professional opinion regarding any necessary electrical work.

It can be difficult to determine when a home’s electrical wiring needs replacing. However, there are a few symptoms that could indicate your wiring needs to be replaced. For example, if your lights dim or flicker when you turn on an appliance, if you’re regularly tripping breakers or blowing fuses, or if your outlets are stained and discoloured, you may need to replace your home’s wiring. Further, if your home is over 30 years old or only has one to two outlets per room, it may also be worth replacing the electrical wiring. If you aren’t sure whether your home’s electrical wiring needs replacing, consult with a professional who can inspect your home’s electrical system. With the help of an electrician’s knowledge and expertise, you can quickly discover whether your existing wiring needs to be replaced.

Generally speaking, electrical wiring should last 50 years or more. However, it depends on the type of metal wire used, if it has any protective coating and if so, the type of coating, and how well the wiring was installed. For example, aluminum wiring is not as durable as copper. Where copper wiring may last 100 years without needing to be replaced, aluminum wiring may last closer to 80 years. Beyond the type of metal used, the protective coating on the wiring (which ranges from knob and tube wiring to cloth wiring) can also impact its lifespan. Finally, if the wiring was badly installed to begin with or amateur modifications were made to it along the way, the lifespan of your home’s electrical wiring may be reduced. Ultimately, whether you’ve started to notice some of the telltale signs of bad wiring or not, we recommend hiring a licensed electrician to inspect your electrical system every 25 years.