Electrical Panel Upgrade
Are you considering an electrical service upgrade or installing a brand new electrical panel any time soon, then please read on.
The Electrical Panel in your home is an essential and crucial piece of equipment and probably the most important and valuable part of the integrity of your home. Consider it a central point and switchboard for all of the Electrical Distribution System running through your home. If you’re like any other homeowner, you probably don’t visit your electrical panel very often, we just expect it to run smoothly and do its job. In older homes and especially those that were built before the mid 70’s, you can expect to find a fused panel in them instead of a breaker panel which we have grown accustomed to.
An outdated electrical panel requires constant upkeep as fuses tend to blow and need replacement including wear and tear of the screws, lugs, and buss bars. We highly recommend upgrading to a breaker panel – where it’s as easy as flipping a switch instead of constantly having to replace fuses. Plus the fact that you may even run out of fuses and at the worst of times, imagine having no replacement fuses in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you think. Think of it this way your furnace stopped working and the 15A Fuse you thought was good is actually burned out. In addition, it’s in the middle of a cold winter night and you have no heat in your home. The chance of this occurring is greater than you can begin to even think about. You should consider upgrading your Electrical Panel and getting away from this type of Electrical issue and problematic situation.
Our Licensed Electricians provide the following services anywhere in the GTA:
- Electrical Service Upgrades
- Electrical Panel Replacement & Removal
- Electrical Panel Removal
- New Electrical Panel Installation
- Meter Base Revamping
- Fuse box Revamping
- Breaker Panel Revamping
- Back-Up Generator Installation & Service
- Back-Up Generator with Automatic Transfer Switch
- Electrical Disconnects Switches Installation
- Commercial Electrical Panel Installations
- Industrial Electrical Panel Installations
- Residential Electrical Panel Installations
The Process
Before we begin to work on your panel or installation, we need to assess the power demand of your home. This takes into consideration the surface area of your home, the number of water heaters, your heating and air conditioning loads, if you have electric heating, or if you have a pool, and if you have an electrical vehicle. These, among others, will calculate the total demand load of your house in terms of power usage, which will determine the needs and size of your panel including the size of your incoming Hydro Electric Service.
What Customer Need to Consider
If your home has an outdated fuse box – some insurance companies are now more than ever hesitant to insure you. This is because these older boxes are known to have lurking electrical hazards which can lead to dangerous situations and fire. They are highly sensitive and even placing the wrong fuse in the wrong place can cause serious damage to wiring and the fuse panel box its self.
What if you already have a circuit breaker panel? You can still benefit from an upgrade. If your circuit breaker is constantly tripping, this could mean your appliance(s) isn’t getting enough power, the breaker may be defective or too small for the load. Maybe you’ve recently added a pool or hot tub to your home – your circuit breaker panel may require an upgrade to ensure that you have enough available amperage and Hydro Service for your home.
Safety
Our clients appreciate the care that goes in when we are installing your electrical panel as we take extra care ensuring that the installation is done right and to the highest standards, keeping you and your family safe. KVA Licensed Electricians will give you peace of mind, knowing that your installation or upgrade is done correctly and in accordance with ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) posing no threat to the safety of your family. Don’t hesitate to call us, we’re available 24/7.
Here are a couple of Frequently Asked Questions we receive regarding Service Panels:
What is upgrading an electrical panel?
Modern households require much more power than they used to, and much more amperage. With the addition of high tech home electronics, your home requires more power than ever before. However, it typically should reflect the amount of power your home uses and needs to run all of your electrical equipment. Upgrading will align your power needs with what you’re receiving and how it’s being distributed throughout your home.
How long will it take to upgrade my service panel?
Some Electrical Panel Upgrades or new electrical panel installations require more work than others, depending on the age and complexity of the Installation. As well as the physical difference between the old and new locations in your home. If your home is not up to code, we’ll get you there! Also, we’ll set you up for future requirements of additional circuits that you may want to use down the road. On average, you’re looking at 6-8 hours for completion depending on the unique Installation and requirements.
