Is your electric panel at risk?

By Bill Streb Owner, Streb Electric

People don’t often think of electricity as having moving parts, but it’s constantly flowing through your home. The heart pumping the flow is your electrical panel.

Since the panel is usually located in the basement, over the years it can be impacted by heat and cool temps, as well as moisture, which can cause corrosion and rust buildup.

Another issue homeowners don’t often think of is that all electricity in your home is connected. If there’s a light blinking on and off upstairs, it might be a red flag something is wrong somewhere else.

Maybe over the years there’s been work done by a non-electrician and a breaker installed isn’t UL-listed or tested. That’s pretty common and it can cause problems.

We recommend you have your panel inspected every year to two years to make sure it’s in working order. The life expectancy of a panel is around 20-25 years, but several brands, such as Zinsco and Pushmatic, are obsolete now and you cannot get parts for them.

If people are renovating their home or constructing an addition and need to update their electrical capacity with the latest technology, we can replace their panel or add a sub-panel. We can also add whole-house surge protection.

Another advancement in technology we see customers asking for is units that are connected to their smartphone, so they can monitor the energy flow and power usage in their home from anywhere.

Give us a call if you haven’t had your electrical panel inspected over the past year or two. The good news is that with six trucks on the road, we can usually come to your home within a few days. And we have an urgency list if we’re booked out up to a week to get you on as soon as possible.

Streb Electric is headquartered in Willoughby. For the past 40 years, the family-operated service company has earned a reputation for making sure homes are safe and free from electrical hazards. Call 440-953-5819 or visit StrebElectric.com for more information.