While performing home inspections in New Jersey, I find that many of the older homes have an electric service size that is too small for the size of the home. A home with an electrical service which is too small is not a safety concern but it is a concern of convenience. A small electric service may lead to blowing fuses or tripping of breakers. Increasing the electrical service size will mean replacing the wire from the street to the home, and probably the main electrical panel in the home. This is easy to accomplish if the wires are overhead but very difficult if the wires are run underground.
Increasing the size of the electrical service will also mean increasing the size of the main panel box. If the rating on the panel box is smaller then the wire entering it a fire and electrical shock hazard will exist. To determine if the existing panel box is properly sized we need to determine the number of high draw electrical appliances installed in the home and determine your future needs. Many homes can operate just fine with a 100amp panel while others will require a much larger service size. This is just one aspect that we will be looking at when we perform your New Jersey home inspection.
LookSmart performs New Jersey home inspections by John Martino a licensed NJ Home Inspector.