Circuit Breaker Replacement Costs
A circuit breaker will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and functionality of a building’s electrical system. The circuit breaker is designed to protect an electrical system against damages like an overcurrent, overload, or short-circuiting, which can cause serious hazards like fires.
Just like any piece of electrical equipment, a circuit breaker can wear out over time and must be replaced every 15-20 years. Circuit breaker replacements can cost between $200 and $500. As a property owner, it’s important to recognise when your circuit breaker may need replacing and the factors determining circuit breaker replacement costs.
What is a Circuit Breaker?
A circuit breaker is an electrical switch that controls the flow of electricity and power into a building. The primary function of a circuit breaker is to detect any faults, like overcurrent/overload or short circuits, and protect the electrical circuit from damage caused. When a building has too much current or experiences overload issues, a circuit breaker will cut the power until the problem is fixed.
Generally found in the garage, basement, or laundry, circuit breakers are an essential safety mechanism for every home. Particularly with the increased demand for electricity and appliances in a modern home, circuit breakers must operate seamlessly to prevent the risk of electrical hazards and fires.
Types of Circuit Breakers
Different circuit breakers are available to suit different needs and requirements in a home’s electrical system. The most common types of circuit breakers include:
Single-pole
The most common type, single-pole breakers protect one wire and typically rate for 15-30 amps. Single-pole breakers supply electricity for most devices and small appliances in a home.
Double-pole
Made of two single pole breakers to protect two wires and generally supply electricity for larger appliances like clothes dryers and water heaters – rating for 15-200 amps.
Residual Current Device (RCD)
An RCD is a specialised circuit breaker that detects any power current leakages and immediately cuts off the electricity supply.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
A GFCI is suitable for potentially wet areas, like the kitchen or bathroom. A GFCI breaker has the same functions as a standard circuit, in addition to cutting the power when electricity flows to a grounded element.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)
More sensitive than regular circuit breakers, an AFCI breaker detects when there is a sudden surge, or “arc”, in electricity and cuts the power current immediately.
Signs Your Circuit Breaker Needs Replacing
Most modern circuit breakers last 15 to 20 years. However, areas with frequent outages or power surges may need replacing sooner – it is vital to observe and note any signs that your circuit breaker may need replacing.
Signs that a circuit breaker needs replacing include frequent tripping in the electrical, flickering lights, bulbs burning out often, burning smells, the breaker won’t reset, or visible damage to the breaker. It’s essential to check your circuit breaker after any external factors like heavy storms, lightning strikes, and water damage to see if any damage to the breaker may have occurred.
If you’ve noticed any of the above signs contact a licensed electrician to assess and fix the electrical issues safely.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Circuit Breaker Replacement
Not all circuit breaker replacement jobs are the same; some are simple, whereas others are more complex. The variable factors that go into replacing a circuit breaker will influence the overall cost considerably.
Type of circuit breaker
Some circuit breakers are more expensive than others – the type of circuit breaker you need will significantly impact the overall cost of the replacement. It’s also worth noting that replacing main circuit breakers, like GFCI, AFCI, and RCD, will cost more than replacing individual breaker circuits, like single-pole or double-pole.
For example, a single-pole or double-pole circuit breaker generally costs ~$150, while a main or speciality circuit breaker can cost up to $300 to replace.
Number of breakers
Generally, most buildings have at least 20 circuit breakers and 1 to 2 circuit breaker panels. An average-sized residential building has between 20 and 30 circuit breakers – usually including single-pole, double-pole, and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breakers. Electricians can charge less per breaker when installing or replacing multiple circuit breakers at the same time.
Additional materials
Circuit breaker replacements can require additional materials, like new wiring, connectors, fasteners, and junction boxes – increasing the overall costs of replacing your circuit breaker.
Permits and inspections
In Australia, we have to comply with your local electrical codes for all electrical work – this can include potential permit requirements and regular inspections. Depending on the building, permits and inspections ensure the job is done safely and aligns with your area’s code. Permits and inspections come with an added fee, contributing to the overall costs of the electrical job.
Cost of electrician
We’ve also got to do the manual work! Labour costs/general costs of hiring an electrician will include call-out-fees and travel fees. You’re also paying for someone who knows what they are doing – as electricians, we follow stringent electrical regulations to ensure all electricians can safely and effectively work with residential and commercial circuit breakers.
At Radiance Electrical, our electricians are level 2 certified – which means we have the skills, knowledge, and training to not only fix and replace all circuit breakers and switchboards, but we can also deal with more complex electrical work related to connecting power to mains. If you’re in Sydney and are concerned about the costs of replacing or fixing your circuit breaker – give our team a call, and we’ll provide you a quote and breakdown of costs involved.
Fill out form or contact us directly
Contact Form
"*" indicates required fields