Circuit Breaker Replacement & Upgrade Service
Your circuit breaker box is an easy thing to ignore. It’s probably in some obscure part of your home. It just doesn’t stand out. But, it is the nerve center of your home’s electrical system. That’s a huge function in the operation of your home. Yes, your breaker box and its panel of electrical circuit breakers might go unnoticed for years. But, when a breaker or the panel needs attention, it can immediately become the highest priority in your life. So, you should monitor your breaker panel for necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement.
Click to Jump to Section:
- How Do Circuit Breakers Work?
- What Is the Circuit Breaker and What Does It Do?
- How Will I Know When It’s Time to Replace My Circuit Breaker?
- Warning Signs You Need to Replace a Circuit Breaker
- Where Do the Circuit Breakers Need to Be Installed?
- How Do I Replace a Circuit Breaker?
- Cost to Replace a Circuit Breaker Panel
- Contact the Professional Electrician in New Jersey for Circuit Breaker Replacement & Upgrade
Our New Jersey master electricians can help install or replace the circuit breaker. Call today to schedule an appointment.
How Do Circuit Breakers Work?
Here are the basics of managing your circuit breakers and breaker panel in your home, including what you should know about how to replace circuit breakers:
What Is the Circuit Breaker and What Does It Do?
Your circuit breakers are the switches on your breaker panel that automatically shut off the electricity to a particular circuit that is wired to outlets, lighting fixtures, and appliances in a section of your home.
When a circuit is overloaded due to too much electrical power being drawn on a circuit or there is a short in the circuit, the breaker will trip to stop the electricity from flowing on that circuit. A breaker may also trip even if there is no problem with the circuit.
If you see a breaker that looks broken, cracked, or melted, if there is broken circuit breaker wiring, or if there is a tripped circuit breaker for no apparent reason, call a licensed electrician to examine the breaker, identify the problem and correct it.
How Will I Know When It’s Time to Replace My Circuit Breaker?
We’re frequently asked: Do circuit breakers go bad? Here are the quick, easy steps to find out if you need a new breaker:
- Turn off and unplug all electrical devices and appliances running on the circuit.
- Flip the circuit breaker switch to the OFF position, and then firmly turn it back ON.
- Plug in just one electrical device that uses little power to see if the breaker will trip.
If the breaker trips while very little electricity is being used from the circuit, then there is probably a short circuit. Call a licensed electrician for an appointment to inspect the circuit and breaker.
Warning Signs You Need to Replace a Circuit Breaker
Here are some serious indicators that you need to replace a circuit breaker promptly:
- Your home is older with old breakers.
- The circuit breaker keeps tripping.
- There is a tripped circuit breaker for no reason.
- The circuit breaker feels hot.
- A circuit breaker has a burning odor.
- You hear a circuit breaker humming.
Where Do the Circuit Breakers Need to Be Installed?
New circuit breakers are installed on your breaker panel in the breaker box. The breaker box is usually located in a work or storage space in the home, such as one of these areas:
- Basement
- Attached garage
- Laundry room
- Utility closet
- Bathroom
When replacing circuit breakers, especially if you have an older home without these updates, you can expect your professional electrician to advise replacing your old outlets with Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI). These are necessary safety units near sinks, plumbing fixtures, coffee makers, fish tanks, and other areas near water.
How Do I Replace a Circuit Breaker?
If you notice any of the symptoms listed above indicating that you have a faulty circuit breaker in your home, it means your home is at increased risk of a house fire. Trying to change circuit breakers yourself is not recommended. It’s a serious safety risk and can cause damage to your electrical appliances and other equipment. So, the safest and best way to replace a circuit breaker in your home is simply to call a licensed electrician for assistance.
Cost to Replace a Circuit Breaker Panel
The cost to replace your circuit breaker panel will vary based on the type of electrical service coming into your home: 100 amp or 200 amp service. The cost of the breaker box for the 200 amp service is significantly higher. If multiple breakers also need to be replaced, that will add to the cost. You should have a licensed and bonded electrician perform this work and be sure to get a firm estimate upfront.
When You Need a Professional Electrician in New Jersey
DK master electricians are all licensed, bonded, fully insured, and industry-certified. We provide a comprehensive range of electrical services for our residential customers. We offer same-day service for some smaller repairs and installations.For an electrical circuit breaker or related problem in your home, call DK Electrical Solutions at (609) 796-4177, or contact us here on our website to schedule service.
