Ask The Electrician: Electrical Panel Maintenance

Jul 29, 2023

Posted by Staff | Jun 20, 2023 | Ask The Electrician, Sponsored, Town Square

Q: Does my electrical panel need service or maintenance?

Most homeowners are aware that breakers and/or fuses sometimes wear out and need to be replaced but do not think about the electrical panel itself. Your electrical panel acts as the transfer point for power coming into your home from the electric company and being distributed to the various circuits and wires in your home. It is also where incoming power is either split or combined to create 120v or 220v for use on these circuits as well as being properly grounded and protected.

The panel components themselves are mostly hardware components, they consist of connections between power coming in and bus bars, neutral or ground terminals and wiring within the “box” to connect and distribute electricity to breakers and then out to the wiring in your home. Wire connections and screws to bus bars and other hardware can simply wear out, corrode, distort or loosen over time and require replacement.

Panel Age:

Like everything else your electrical panel has an expected lifespan. In general, an electrical panel is good for about 30 years but can last up to 50 years. This means if your home was built before 1990, your panel may be reaching the end of it’s useful life and need replacement.

Panel Size and Service Upgrades:

One of the most common reasons to consider panel replacement is to allow for additional space/breakers or to accommodate a service upgrade. Because the number of breakers required for a modern home or the amount of incoming power service has changed over the years, a panel upgrade may be required to allow for additional service or space to connect new breakers and circuits.

Federal Pacific or Zinsco Brands:

Both Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco were major manufacturers of residential electrical panels commonly used from the 1950’s to the 1970’s (as late as the early 1990’s) and is it not uncommon to find them still in use. Both of these panels had major manufacturing defects and have been involved in class action lawsuits over the years due to the risk of fire and even electrocution. Federal Pacific panels that used “Stab-Lok” breakers were not correctly UL certified and can fail to trip in the event of a surge. Zinsco panels had issues when circuits would melt to the bus bars and prevent breakers from tripping. Unfortunately with both of these panels, they can work just fine until they are exposed to a significant surge so they remain in use in homes even today.

You may be able to identify these panels by the embossed name on the outside cover or labeling inside the door but an electrician can easily confirm if your have either of these.

Code Changes:

As building codes and safety practices change over time, new code may require a panel upgrade or changes to comply with current building codes. This means a panel upgrade may be necessary even if you are doing “other work” such as a renovation. Most commonly this may be to accommodate an outside “shut off” or additional grounding.

Maintenance or Replacement:

It’s a good idea to occasionally have an electrician check for any loose wires, tighten the lugs, clean any dirt or corrosion off and make sure the panel is weather tight if it is located outside, but panels do not require “maintenance” per se. For the most part, we recommend replacement if your panel has reached that age or you need to upgrade service, increase space etc.

How do I check my panel or know if it needs replacement:

If your home is more than 30 years old it’s a good idea to have it inspected to check condition and wear. Most commonly, we replace an electrical panel in conjunction with other work being done such as a service upgrade or to increase size/available spaces in the panel. If we are visiting your home for other work, it’s a good time to ask us to take a quick look at your electrical panel for any potential issues.

Scott Cummings leads the team at Dynamic Electric, a Hillsborough-based full service electrical provider for both residential and commercial needs. Dynamic Electric is dedicated to providing quality workmanship, outstanding service, reliable installation and safe repairs or troubleshooting for all their customers.

In “Ask The Electrician,” Scott answers common questions about electrical work, from switches and outlets to safety issues and preventative maintenance. If you have a suggested question for us to answer – or need an electrician – please reach out to our office at (919) 370-0056 or visit our website.

Share: