If your switchboard is more than 25 years old, it may be worth being inspected
If you're concerned with the safety of your homes old switchboard you should have it inspected.
A registered electrician will alert you to any potential hazards and provide you with a quote to bring your switchboard up to today's electrical standards.
Why do I need to upgrade my switchboard?
The amount of modern-day electrical appliances and lights in the average home has increased year on year. A home built 50 years ago was never expected to carry the electrical load demanded of it today. The additional load being drawn through these older parts puts your family and home at potential risk of electrocution or fire.
Have you noticed lights flickering or dimming?
You may have loose wires at the switchboard, the light switch or the wiring inside the walls may have degraded. Loose or degrading wiring can cause electrical fires, so it's important not to ignore what you may perceive as a livable annoyance. This annoyance may be a symptom of a serious issue.
Is there an appliance which has had a short circuit?
Short circuits are more commonly noticed in the kitchen where multiple appliances are being used at once.
You may have noticed burn marks on an outlet or a burning smell, perhaps your microwave has stopped working altogether.
These signs indicate a shorted or overloaded circuit and we recommend you call an electrician immediately.
Do not attempt to use that circuit until it has been investigated.
Does your switchboard look crowded, messy, or just old?
A switchboard upgrade isn't always done in the name of safety. Perhaps you have been doing some renovations, or even just painted the hallway; an old switchboard can be an obvious, bulky eyesore.
Modern switchboard enclosures are sleeker and have a lower profile.
When should I have my switchboard upgraded?
If you are experiencing regular tripping, outages or can hear buzzing; have an electrician take a look. They will let you know if it is safe, or if you should start to plan for a re-wire and switchboard upgrade.
If you can afford it, re-wire your home and upgrade your switchboard at the same time. This saves time, money and the effort of patching and painting more than once.
It's always a great idea to combine your upgrade with any redecorating you may have planned. You may need to patch and paint around the new switchboard, and should you have re-wire, there may be holes made to access hard to reach cables.