What made you start thinking about the metal box on your wall? You may know it as a “breaker box” or “electrical panel,” but whatever it’s called in your house, it serves an invaluable function. This crucial structure is the heart of your home’s electricity, and each room and outlet are connected through a network of wires and switches that make troubleshooting electrical problems a bit easier. Whether you’re trying to figure out why a breaker keeps tripping or trying to master home maintenance as a first-time homeowner, this guide is going to walk you through the basics of electrical panel maintenance in a way that’s easy to understand.
The Main Breaker
Inside your electrical panel, you’ll notice dozens of switches. They may be labeled, which is great, but if they aren’t don’t panic just yet. There is a big switch at the top of the box that appears larger than the others. This is your main breaker, and it controls power to your entire house.
If you ever need to shut off all the electricity, the main breaker is the switch you want to go for. There will be a number printed on it, usually 100, 150, or 200. This number tells you the maximum electrical current your home can handle at once, which is vital to understand in the digital era where we’re seemingly always in need of a new place to plug something in.
Circuit Breakers
The smaller switches underneath the main breaker are all linked to individual circuits. Think of these like “rooms” for electricity, which actually correspond to real rooms and outlets in your house. Each circuit controls a certain appliance or outlet, like your fridge, dishwasher, or microwave.
When a circuit trips, it switches to the “off” position to prevent an electrical fire. Annoying as this may be, it’s actually a life-saving feature and doing exactly what it’s meant to do.
Breakers that take up one slot on the panel are typically 120-volt breakers; breakers that take up two panels are usually 240-volt breakers and used for larger appliances, such as your washer and dryer or air conditioner.
There’s not a whole lot of maintenance you need to worry about; this system is meant to work on its own. What you should do is take note of any circuits that frequently trip. Determine whether you’re overloading them based on their voltage, or contact a professional to take a look.
Hidden Components
We’ve covered the front-facing side of your panel in-depth because this is the only part a homeowner should see. All of the hidden elements, like bus bars and wires, are meant to be handled by professionals only.
There are dozens of elements tucked safely inside your electrical panel, and routine maintenance for you only involves keeping track of your home’s electrical performance. If you notice strange buzzing sounds, lights flickering or dimming, or frequent shutoffs, then it’s a good time to call in an expert.
Always act quickly when you notice a problem to avoid disaster. The Whipple Service Champions in Salt Lake City, UT are here to make electrical panel maintenance easy, so call today.
