When there is a power outage in your neighborhood, the only way to restore power to your home is to have a generator installed as a backup. But when the power goes out in your home only or in a specific part of your home, there is usually an easy fix. Resetting the electrical panel or a specific breaker therein allows you to resume daily tasks as usual.
Circuit Breaker
If you have a modern circuit breaker box, resetting a tripped breaker is simple. Open up the circuit breaker panel and take a look at the switches. Your electrician may have labeled the breakers so you can easily identify which switches distribute power to which areas of the home. If only one area of the home has lost power, you can simply switch off that breaker and switch it back on again. If not, try resetting all of the switches.
Fuse Box
A fuse box is different in that you cannot simply reset an existing breaker to restore power to a specific area of the home. Instead, you have to replace individual fuses, which means purchasing fuses at your local hardware store first. It’s generally simple to identify whether a fuse has blown; if it is a see-through glass fuse, it should be cloudy or otherwise warped. In most cases, you’ll simply pull out the old fuse and slip in a new one. Be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes and do not insert anything else into the fuse’s position to avoid the risk of electrical shock.
We recommend that you upgrade to a new circuit breaker box if you are still relying on an old fuse box as your service panel. Circuit breakers are simply easier to manage, and you won’t have to worry about keeping a stock of fuses on hand. Contact a licensed electrician to learn more about service panel upgrades in your area.
Are you in need of electrical services in Coeur d’Alene, ID? ACI Northwest is here to help with your home comfort needs or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice.