Bella Vista started as a planned resort and retirement community in the 1960s and grew into a city of its own, built around lakes, golf courses and steep, wooded hills. A lot of its homes date from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and many still have the panel they were built with.
That age matters. Panels from those decades are now forty or more years old, and a few brands from that era have a poor reputation. Add tall trees over the power lines and the occasional ice storm, and Bella Vista homeowners ask us about two things more than anything else: is my panel OK, and how do I keep the lights on in an outage?
Common jobs in Bella Vista
- Panel replacements in 1970s–90s homes
- Generator installation and transfer equipment
- Outlet and GFCI upgrades
- Lighting updates
- Whole-home surge protection
Bella Vista questions
Asked in Bella Vista.
Straight answers for Bella Vista homeowners. More in our 33-question Q&A.
My Bella Vista home still has its original panel. Should I replace it?
Have it looked at. A panel that’s forty years old isn’t automatically unsafe, but breakers wear out, and some brands from that era, such as Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco, have known problems. We’ll tell you honestly whether yours needs replacing.
What’s the safest way to run a generator in Bella Vista outages?
Use a properly installed transfer switch or a listed interlock kit, with the generator outside and away from windows. Never plug a generator into an outlet with a double-ended cord. That can backfeed the line and injure a lineworker.
Do some older Bella Vista homes have aluminum wiring?
Some homes built in the late 1960s and 1970s used aluminum branch-circuit wiring. It can be made safe with the right connectors and devices, but it shouldn’t be ignored. Warm outlets or flickering lights in a home of that age are worth a call.
Nearby
Also near Bella Vista.
- BentonvilleJust up I-49.Electrician in Bentonville, AR
- Pea RidgeAcreage, shops and barns.Electrician in Pea Ridge, AR
- RogersHome base.Electrician in Rogers, AR
Sparks, smoke or a burning smell? Turn off the breaker or the main if you can do it safely, then call 479-221-4909. If there’s fire or smoke, get out and call 911. If a line is down, stay clear and call your power company.