How To Determine If Your Electrical Panel Box Is Dangerous
It is very important for you to make sure that you are well aware of the condition of the electrical panel box in your home in order to ensure that everyone stays safe. To help you do that, you will need to know what the signs are that the panel box is dangerous. This way, you can turn it off by the main power switch and call for emergency help from a licensed electrician.
The Box Is Hot To The Touch
Make sure that you are not reaching into any small opening you might see in the electrical panel box or touching any exposed wires. However, you can take the back of your hand and lightly touch it against the metal panel, specifically the section between the rows of breakers. If you find that the metal is much warmer than it should be at room temperature, then there is likely a very serious problem. It could be anything from breakers overheating or frayed wiring starting to spark. Either way, you need to turn off the main power breaker and refrain from turning it back on until a professional electrician has made the appropriate repairs and says it is safe to turn it back on. Turning it back on sooner than you should could start a house fire.
There Is A Burning Smell Around The Box
Even if you are not noticing any flames, there could be something smoldering within the electrical panel box that you will want to get taken care of right away. Since you cannot know when a flame would develop, it would be best to turn off the main power to the box if you are smelling something burning or something like plastic melting. Remember, the protective coating around the electrical wires is made of plastic, so that could be what you are smelling. Do not let anyone in the house turn it back on until an emergency electrician has had a chance to make the necessary repairs.
A Lot Of The Breakers Keep Turning Off
If you are not overloading the system, but still have a lot of electrical breakers flipping into the off position a lot of the time, then you will want to get in touch with a licensed electrician to see if you can determine why. It could be that the breakers need to be replaced, or you could have a bigger problem and need to have the entire box upgraded.
Always make sure that the electrician that you are hiring is experienced, licensed, and insured in order to get the best results.