As Aprile Chalmers of About Town Electric puts it, the
electrical panel is “the heart of the electrical circuits in the home”. It’s where all main circuits are connected to mechanical
components – either breakers or fuses - which act as a safety device in case
of overload or short circuit.
There comes a time when an electrical panel needs to be
replaced for safety reasons or if the needs of the household change and require
more power. Your panel will let you know if it’s getting run down. Its fuses
will blow and the breakers will trip frequently and will not reset properly. If
the panel is more than 25 years old, it would be wise to have it inspected,
Chalmers suggests.
“You never want to do anything on your panel yourself,” says
About Town’s client care manager, adding that shoddy work can lead to fire,
shock or electrocution.
If those risks aren’t enough to prompt homeowners to call a
professional, the fact that some insurance policies become null and void if a
fire is started by electrical work done by an unlicensed person should be
convincing, she explains.
When it’s time to replace a panel, Chalmers recommends that
you deal with an electrical contractor, not just an electrician. An electrical
contractor company is able to get permits from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA),
have their work inspected and receive the required inspection certificates.
About Town Electric is affiliated with the ESA, and is listed on the ESA website.
About Town Electric offers a 12-point safety evaluation to
determine whether or not your electrical panel should be replaced. If it does, you’ll
know exactly what the project will cost, in writing, right from the start.
Chalmers says the “straight forward pricing” system is based on various levels,
not an hourly rate.
“It’s a guaranteed price before we begin any work in your
home and it’s right down to the penny,” she explains.
If work goes ahead, About Town takes out a permit in their
name. Once the job is completed the customer receives a certificate in their name.
About Town assesses individual needs whether its adding
surge protection, increasing the amperage into a home if the power demand
surpasses the supply, facilitating a renovation, home addition or the
installation of a hot tub. On the day of the panel change, the contractor
arranges to have the power shut off, allowing time for household members to
have showers and breakfast. The process will take from four to seven hours. In
the end, the new panel will have labels on the breakers to indicate which area
of the house they control.
For contact information visit the About Town Electric
website at
www.abouttownelectric.com.
