Electrical panel are such an important piece of equipment in your house that many homeowners understanding the impact it has on their electronics and safety, are making the right decision of hiring an electrician to handle the installation process themselves. A proper installation isn’t just about safety of your family and electronics; this is tied up to your insurance and safety inspections. If you try to do it yourself and something goes wrong, you won’t be able to file any claims with your insurance, and there are other issues that follow a non-professional panel installation.
With all that, many homeowners wonder what the process of an electrical panel installation looks like, if it can be affected by winter and does it get more expansive depending on the weather or not. Let’s get into it.
Step 1: The Planning Stage
The first step in any electrical panel installation is a thorough assessment of your current system. A licensed electrician will:
Everything starts with a plan, and the installation process of an electrical panel isn’t an exception. You need an electrician to come over and take a look at your property for them to be able to make a plan.
- They will evaluate your existing panel and wiring.
- Nex they will figure out the correct panel size for your home.
- Then they will check for compliance with local Naperville electrical codes.
- They will also make a plan for any upgrades you might need to support your appliances, heating systems, or future electrical demands.
Winters in this area are heavy and cold. When it’s snowing it’s hard to work outdoors and this should be taken in consideration. You should expect delays.
Step 2: City Permits
The nest stage is the permits. You won’t be able to start any type of work without permits from the Naperville building department. You need these permits for the installation to meet the safety and conde requirements, and you also need them for the inspectors to be able to verify that the work is done correctly.
Wintertime will sometimes slow the permitting process too, so schedule it ahead of time.
Step 3: Power Shutdown
Safety is the top priority during panel installation. Your electrician will schedule a temporary power shutdown to safely replace or install the panel. This step includes:
When you have all your permits, your electricians will shut down the power for as long as the panel installation will last. This is for safety and it is discussed with the homeowner ahead of time.
In winter this is a little tricky and should be planned careful because this will impact the heating systems and other appliances and electronics you might have in your house.
Step 4: Removing the Old Panel
When the power, the next step is to remove the old panel. Here is when your electricians will deconned the circuits, they will label the wires to make sure they don’t forget which wire needs to go, and then they will remove the whole panel, and they will also inspect the wiring to make sure it’s in good conditions.
Step 5: Installing the New Panel
When the old panel is gone, the new panel will be installed. Yor crew will mount the panel on the wall, will connect all the wires they labeled so that they connect to the correct breakers and then they will install any other necessary grounding and bounding.
Step 6: Inspection and Testing
After installation, a licensed inspector will check the work to confirm:
- The panel and wiring meet all safety standards.
- Breakers and circuits function properly.
- Grounding and bonding are correctly implemented.
Electricians will then test your system to ensure that your home’s electricity is running safely and reliably.
Step 7: Final Steps and Clean-Up
The final stage involves:
- Reconnecting power.
- Ensuring all circuits are operational.
- Cleaning the work area and removing any old materials.
- Providing homeowners with guidance on panel use and maintenance.
Final Ideas
That’s about it! Here is what an electrical panel replacement takes. Wintertime is a little more challenging than other seasons of the year because of the power shutdown, but it’s not impossible if you work with professional electricians who can get the job done safe and quick! According to Naperville’s electricians at Cob Services, they can get a panel installed in under 2 days. Just make sure you hire an expert team.