200 Amp Upgrades – Leduc

Panel Upgrades for Leduc & area

Leduc When & Why to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel to 200 Amp Service

Panel upgrades aren’t simple or inexpensive, but in a lot of cases, they’re highly necessary for safety, efficiency, and effectiveness. If you don’t have the right amount of power running through your house, it can seriously limit your comfort and even cause safety concerns.

Polar Electric – Leduc & area
Alberta Certified Electricians – Licensed & Insured
Leduc Electrical Panel Upgrades
587-985-6403
Electrical services in Leduc & area 13+ years
A+ Rating on Better Business Bureau

What Is an Electrical Panel?

Your electrical panel is the point of connection between the power entering your home from outside and the power being used throughout your home. It pulls electricity in and distributes it to all your various switches and outlets.

Panels have individual circuits, which each send power to various places in your home. When a circuit “trips,” it’s because there was too much power being drawn through that one circuit (like when you have a few appliances on and then you turn on the hairdryer). The circuit trips as a safety mechanism.

If you aren’t sure about your breaker’s current capabilities, you can check it by looking for a tag or sticker that tells you. Your panel is usually found in your basement, utility room, or garage. The panel is where you go to flip breakers on and off if you’ve tripped one.

The Benefits of Upgrading to 200 Amp Service

Many homeowners in Leduc (and Edmonton) call Polar Electric to ask about whether it’s time for them to upgrade to 200 amp service. There are always benefits to upgrading.

Upgrading your panel can:

Reduce power surges, extending the lifespan of your devices
Run your panel more efficiently, saving you money on utility bills
Reduce your home insurance premiums because it’s safer
Prevent electrical fires in your home by reducing overcrowded breakers
Boost the value of your home for resale

The reasons for upgrading fall into a few categories. The panel might be of inferior quality, aging, or just outdated and unable to handle modern power needs. Outdated technology and broken components are two other reasons you might need a change-out.

However, it’s hard to know when the right time is. Here are some reasons you might want to put your panel upgrade at the front of your home improvement list.

10 Signs You Should Upgrade Your Panel

If Your Main Breaker Won’t Stay On

This is the most typical reason Polar Electric – Leduc gets called to a home to service or change out an electrical panel. If your main breaker is constantly overloaded, it’s well past time to upgrade.

If You Just Bought New Appliances

Modern appliances draw far more power than outdated ones from a decade or two ago. When you add these in without upgrading your panel, you risk overloading circuits.

If You Just Installed a Hot Tub or Air Conditioner

Sure, air conditioners and hot tubs count as an appliance, as mentioned in the point above, but they’re also a class all of their own because they pull so much electricity. If you don’t upgrade before getting these appliances installed, your circuit breakers might keep tripping. Home renovations that add extra rooms might have the same effect.

If Your Home is Aging

If your home is aging, you’re far more likely to need a panel upgrade. Older panels simply were not built for modern applications and appliances. If your home is more than 30 years old, it’s probably time to start thinking about your upgrade. Some older homes may have 60 amp or 100 amp panels, and these should be upgraded as soon as possible to 200 amps.

If Your Home Still Has a Fuse Box

Many older homes in Leduc may also have fuse boxes, which are less efficient than circuit breakers. Fuses are one-time uses, which means they melt when electrical currents are too high and then have to be replaced. Therefore, it can save you electrical repairs in the future.

Fuse boxes are also dangerous, as they can potentially start electrical fires, which is one of the main reasons they’re no longer used. That’s mostly because they were designed for 30-60 amps, and most modern electronics draw 100-200 amps or more.

If Your Lights are Flickering

One of the benefits of panel replacements is the smoother flow of electricity to your outlets. This keeps light more steady and prevents flickering lights.

If you’ve noticed your lights flickering or your appliances not working consistently, this is a good indication that your power isn’t flowing well. You may need to add a circuit, or you could need a full upgrade.

If You Get Small Electrical Shocks

Sometimes small electrical shocks when you touch a light switch or appliance can indicate that your panel needs to be upgraded.

If There’s Warmth Around Your Panel

If your panel is warm to the touch or the air around it is warm, it’s a good sign it’s working overloaded and needs to be replaced. Similarly, if there’s a burning smell near your panel, be sure to call an electrician sooner rather than later.

If You’re Using Power Strips or Extension Cords

If you find that you’re using power strips and extension cords as permanent solutions, it indicates your electrical system wasn’t built for modern uses. Call an electrician out to assess your outlets, circuits, and overall power supply.

If You’re Planning on Selling Your Home

Panel upgrades don’t have to be completed often, but it’s usually recommended that they’re done once per generation. Buyers who are looking at houses may ask when the last upgrade was completed, and this could impact your selling price.

How Can I Upgrade My Service Panel?

Service panel upgrades required an expert electrician, plus all the right permits to make the changes. It can also be highly dangerous work if you aren’t familiar with electrical best practices. It’s always best to hire a professional electrician in Edmonton.

Polar Electric has performed hundreds of electrical panel upgrades in Leduc and Edmonton. We can come out to assess your power needs, as well as seeing if there are more affordable options such as adding circuits or replacing other components.

Call us for all your service upgrade and emergency electrical needs!

Polar Electric – Leduc & area
Alberta Certified Electricians – Licensed & Insured
Leduc Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service
587-985-6403
Electrical services in Leduc & area 13+ years
A+ Rating on Better Business Bureau

electrical panel 5 Reasons to Upgrade to 200 Amp Service

It’s a familiar story we’ve all experienced, either first-hand or through a friend of a friend—the apartment or house has electrical quirks, such as not being able to run the stove and the washing machine at the same time. Maybe it’s the vacuum running at the same time as the dishwasher and TV that blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker. While these anecdotes may be funny to listen to, the reality of an electrical system that doesn’t match your needs can be more of a headache than anything else.

The right amount of electrical supply to your home will not only provide you with stress-free everyday life, but it will set you up for the future. We have many machines, appliances, and electronic devices in our homes now, but that number will increase five or ten years from now. Do you imagine yourself owning an electric car someday? Will your family grow, creating a higher demand for devices? Do you have dreams of building yourself a home gym, recording studio, or home theatre? Extra amperage can make those dreams a reality. Here are five reasons why a 200-amp service can benefit you.

Meet Capacity Demand Today

If your home was built fifty or more years ago and there haven’t been any upgrades to the electrical system, your electrical panel may be struggling to keep up with the demands of your daily life. Think back to the time when your home was constructed. The machines, devices, and appliances were less sophisticated and numerous. Now, there is an electric version of almost anything. The standard appliances have become larger and more powerful, drawing at least 100 to 200 amps, not to mention the addition of wifi and smart systems.

Older homes that are more than 2,000 square feet and have electric heating, central air, or a central HVAC system will benefit from more power. A service upgrade is also beneficial if you’ve recently added modern appliances to your home and you can’t run two or more of them at the same time. Watch for some of the other common signs that your power supply isn’t enough, such as unexplained flickering lights, tripped circuit breakers, or minor electrical shocks at the outlet. If you experience any of these warning signs, call our knowledgeable electricians and ask about a panel upgrade.

Meet Power Demands of the Future

Have you recently purchased new electronic equipment or added additional appliances, such as a hot tub or dishwasher? Do you have plans to add other electrical appliances or equipment to your home? If you answered yes, you might want to consider upgrading your electrical supply. Even if you have enough electrical support for today, you’ll also want to be thinking about the future. Anyone who enjoys buying the latest technology, including home appliances, electronic entertainment systems, or even an electric car, your electrical system needs to have the power to support your purchases. Planning an upgrade to a 200-amp service gives you time to budget and save for the investment.

Build Your Dream Room

When most people think of renovating and improving their home, they imagine new paint colours, new kitchen cabinetry, and all the finishing touches. But what about the core electrical supply within your home? If your home has a 100-amp service, you can consider and explore potential upgrades. If your ideal space features new devices or appliances, you’ll also want to evaluate your current electrical system.

Upgrading to a 200 amp electrical system will help you make your dream room or rooms in your home possible. Whether you imagine a home with a personal gym with all the workout machines, a full-scale carpentry workshop, or you simply want Alexa to run throughout your home without problems. A stable electricity supply running through your circuits allows you to run all your gadgets without interruption.

Home Medical Systems

There are some necessary examples of when an electrical system upgrade can benefit your daily life that isn’t as glamorous as a home theatre system. Suppose you or someone in your family relies on one or more home medical devices, such as a ventilator, sleep apnea device, or a dialysis machine. In that case, you want to ensure your electrical system runs smoothly without interruptions. Depending on the size of your home and the other demands on your power supply, an upgrade to 200 amps might be what you need.

Home Safety

There are several safety benefits of upgrading to a 200 amp system. Does your home still have a fuse box? If so, you should seriously consider an upgrade. Fuse boxes are designed to melt when they overheat and require replacement. They also pose higher risks for electrical fires under the strain of modern appliances. With a powerful electrical supply, such as 200 amps that utilizes a breaker system, you can have confidence that all your devices can run without melting a fuse box or constantly tripping the circuit breakers.

How to Upgrade an Electrical Service Panel

Electrical work can be hazardous when you don’t know what you’re doing or don’t have access to the appropriate tools, especially when handling the power supply source for your entire home. Always hire a professional electrician to take care of your electrical service panel upgrades. Any upgrades to an electrical services panel requires the attention of our licensed electricians and the appropriate permits.

Book a 200 Amp Upgrade in Edmonton

If you’re looking to upgrade to 200-amp service or you’re thinking about an upgrade, contact Polar Electric Contracting. We’ve installed hundreds of electrical panel upgrades in the Edmonton area and are happy to answer all your questions.

Our licensed electricians can come out and assess your power needs offer any possible, affordable alternatives (such as adding circuits or replacing components). If a 200 amp upgrade is the right fit for your home, our electricians can upgrade your electrical panel safely and efficiently, so you can operate all the devices a modern house requires, stress-free.

Polar Electric – Leduc & area
Alberta Certified Electricians – Licensed & Insured
Leduc Electrical Panel Service & Upgrades
587-985-6403
Electrical services in Leduc & area 13+ years
A+ Rating on Better Business Bureau

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Author: Cory Peters

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Leduc, Alberta
*We service Leduc, Edmonton, & surrounding area

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