Your home's electrical panel is a critical component that serves as the central hub for distributing electricity throughout your house. It controls the flow of electricity to different circuits and protects against overloads and short circuits by using circuit breakers. A well-maintained electrical panel ensures your home remains safe by preventing electrical fires and damage to appliances. Regular inspection and timely upgrades to the panel can improve energy efficiency and accommodate the increasing power demands of modern homes. In short, the electrical panel is vital for both safety and functionality in managing your home's electrical system.
It is generally located in your garage or utility room.
The main breaker allows you to shut off the power to the whole house. It is useful during any electrical work or for any emergencies.
The individual circuit breakers allow you to control power to specific areas of the house.
Your panel should be labeled to indicate which individual breakers correspond to different areas of your house.