If you live in a home that’s more than 20 years old, chances are good that your meter and electrical panel is no longer up-to-date. These older models are no longer powerful enough to keep up with today’s modern electrical advances, causing Binghamton, NY homeowners with unnecessary electrical problems. Because there are so many older homes in the Binghamton area, meter upgrades are one of the most sought after electrical services at Albrite Electric.
Upgrading your meter can help diminish your electrical issues. By giving you a meter box to 100 amps or higher, you’ll notice a significant difference. Before you assume that your home doesn’t need an electrical or meter upgrade, take into consideration a few factors.
Your Home’s Electrical Needs
Consider what type of upgrades and electrical devices your home boasts. In today’s electrical climate, your home probably has what most modern homes have; flat panel televisions, flat irons, hair dryers, washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, microwave ovens and even second refrigerators in the garage. All of these appliances require more power than many older homes have the capacity to manage. Add to it a few Christmas decorations and the lights on your tree as well as outside and you may find your electrical system simply cannot handle the amount of voltage required to run all this electricity.
If your home boasts these and more and it has an older meter box, you’re going to want to upgrade to something more powerful and productive. The more power your house has, the more you can have plugged in and in use without worrying you’ll blow a fuse or circuit.
How Do I Know it’s Time to Upgrade?
There are several key factors to look for when deciding whether or not your home’s meter box is simply too old and weak. There are signs that it’s time to upgrade. The first sign is frequently blowing fuses and circuits. You’ll notice this happens anytime you plug in an electronic that’s not typically plugged in. It could happen when you light your Christmas tree for the first time, when you plug in the vacuum to clean the carpet or when you plug in the iron to tackle a wrinkled blouse. The second sign is dimming lights. When you plug in an additional appliance, do your lights noticeably dim? If so, your meter is not powerful enough to handle all the required voltage.
Finally, your home may not have enough outlets for your electrical needs. Builders typically do not add additional outlets to homes with meters not strong or powerful enough to handle anymore electronics. For this reason, you might notice that you never seem to have enough plug-ins to handle what you need to use. You might find yourself unplugging everyday appliances in favor of plugging in the ones you want to use throughout the day.
On average, electrical panels are only good for around 25 to 40 years. If your home is older than 20 years, it’s time to upgrade your electrical panel regardless whether or not you notice any of the above signs. Additionally, there are some panels that were used several decades ago that have been found to display a number of safety issues. To find out if your electrical panel is unsafe, you can educate yourself about older panels at http://www.IsMyPanelSafe.com.
Upgrading a meter and electrical panel is not a job for those who are not familiar with electrical work. There might be many DIY jobs you can tackle in your Binghamton home, but unless you have electrical experience, this job is not one of them. Call the experts at Albrite Electric to discuss upgrading your panel. Our professionals will come to your home and assess your current electrical panel and recommend the correct upgrade. Hiring a professional electrician from Albrite Electric can make the difference between blown fuses on a regular basis and being able to light your Christmas and vacuum your living room at the same time. Call our offices today to schedule an appointment to discuss your home’s electrical upgrades.
