Four Ways To Protect Yourself During Electrical Panel Maintenance
The electrical panel is one of the most important components of your home-but it’s also one of the most overlooked. Typically tucked away in your utility closet, this metal box is responsible for distributing electricity to every appliance and light fixture in your home. However, if it’s not maintained properly, it can cause serious damage to your home’s power supply. Below are the key dos and don’ts of electrical panel maintenance.
The Do’s
Here are a few tasks you can do.
Schedule Regular Inspections
Similar to your HVAC unit, your electrical panel also needs regular inspection. Regular inspections can catch early signs of corrosion, wear and tear, and possibly overloaded circuits. Scheduling regular inspections can also identify any underlying problems, which the electrician can then fix accordingly.
Keep the Panel Area Clear
You should keep at least three feet of clearance around your electrical panel. In fact, maintaining this degree of clearance is actually part of the National Electrical Code of Safety Requirements. If the area around the panel isn’t clear, it can restrict necessary airflow.
Label Circuits Appropriately
Every circuit breaker needs to be labeled appropriately. Not only will you have a harder time figuring out which breaker controls what, but it also increases the risk of overloading the circuits. Taking the time to do so can save you both time and prevent dangerous mistakes when the power is turned off for repairs.
The Don’ts
Here is what you shouldn’t do.
Don’t Overload the Panel
You should avoid overloading your electrical panel. Overloaded circuits repeatedly trip breakers, cause overheating, and can even lead to electrical fires. If your panel is overloaded to the point it’s sparking, contact an electrician immediately.
Don’t Use the Panel as a Shelf
Similar to keeping enough clearance around the panel, you also need to avoid using it as a storage shelf. Even though it may seem like no big deal, stacking items on top of the panel may accidentally flip switches or restrict airflow.
Don’t Paint Over the Panel
As tempting as it is to paint the panel’s color, it’s really not a good idea to do so. Paint can block the ventilation, which can cause the panel to overheat and increase the risk of an electrical fire. Furthermore, some paint may be flammable, and a single spark could ignite the panel.
Having trouble with your electrical panel in Kailua-Kona, HI? Contact Big Island Electric, and we’ll send one of our expert electricians out today!
