Meter Base & Panel Changes

Need a meter base or electrical panel installed or updated?

Are you remodeling your home and need a new meter base or electrical panel installed? Has the city or utility company required that you upgrade your meter base or electrical panel for your older home? No problem! Action Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Electric can have you fixed up in no time!

What Is A Meter Base?

The meter base is the unit that holds the utility companies meter. It is usually outside. It is placed between the utility companies wires and your homes electrical system. The actual meter calculates the amount of electricity that passes through it so that the utility company can tell how much to charge you.

Meter Bases don't have to be replaced very often, but do on occasion.

The following are reasons why a meter base may need to be replaced:

1. Your meter base may be old and outdated - possibly not up to current city electrical code.
2. It many not pass under current National Electric Code (NEC), which means it most likely isn't up to city code. In the event a home is sold, the new owner may request for it first to be replaced.
3. If a permit is pulled with a city for other electrical work being performed at the home, the city may require that the meter base be brought up to current code as well.
4. Changing the size of the electrical service in the home can also require a new meter base be installed.
5. When upgrading the electrical panel in the home, it may be necessary to replace the meter base as well.

What is a panel?

The electrical panel is known by several different names: breaker box, electric box, electric board, breaker board, service box... All of which describe the same thing. Most folks refer to it as the "panel".

Your panel, depending on when your home was built, may be located in a variety of different places. In newer homes it's probably in your garage or outside, in older homes it may be in a closet or room. No matter where it is, it is recommended that you keep the area easily accessible, with not less than 3-feet of clearance around it. You should know where your panel is, and know how to operate it in case of an emergency.

The panel controls the electricity coming from the utility company into your home. More specifically, the breakers that are attached to each circuit regulate the amount of electricity or AMPS. If a problem arises like an overloaded or short circuit, the breaker will trip, preventing electricity flowing into that circuit, and preventing to potential of serious damage or fire. Once the issue is resolved, the breaker may be turned back on to restore the electricity flow to the circuit again.

The panel is the heart of any electrical system. A good panel can prevent serious damage and protect against hazards. If you are unsure about the state of your panel, Give Action Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Electric a call today and we will be more than happy to discuss it with you.

You may think about replacing your panel if you observe any of the following conditions:

1. It is older than 15 years - if unsure of age of panel, what is the age of your home?;
2. The home has an old style fuse box instead of a breaker panel;
3. There is corrosion visible anywhere on the panel or panel cover;
4. Several different brands of breakers are installed - look for different colors or manufacturer labels;
5. Rusting has occurred or is visible anywhere in the panel;
6. You planning to remodel your home or add new circuits.

There are several brands of electrical panel and breakers that are known to have significant fire hazard risks. These include cetain Federal Pacific Electric (FPE), Zinsco, Sylvania Zinsco, and Kearney electrical components. As with all electrical components, safety is the number one concern. If you may be concerned about the safety of your meter base or electrical panel, or have any questions, please contact Action Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Electric. We love to answer questions!