When Should You Upgrade Your Electrical Panel? Signs & Costs Explained

The main electrical panel is the most important part of an electrical system, as it’s responsible for distributing power to every part of the building. The circuit breakers in the panel are also crucial safety mechanisms that protect against damage and fires from electrical overloads. Upgrading your old electrical panel can significantly enhance electrical safety, as outdated panels and breakers can pose a major fire hazard. A panel upgrade also ensures that you’ll have sufficient power for your needs and is a great way to future-proof your home.

Why Electrical Panel Upgrades Matter

The amount of power you can safely use throughout a house at any given time is determined by the amperage of the electrical panel. If your panel doesn’t supply sufficient amps to meet your power needs, you can easily overload it and create the potential for an electrical fire. Old panels often also have other issues, like deteriorated wiring or faulty circuit breakers, that create a further risk of electrical fires.

Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs an Upgrade

Knowing the signs that it’s time to upgrade your electrical panel is key to avoiding potential safety hazards. It’s also important for avoiding issues that can result from the panel not supplying enough power to meet the demands of your home.

Frequent Breaker Trips

One sure sign that your electrical panel is outdated and no longer works properly is if different circuit breakers frequently trip. If only one breaker keeps tripping, the issue lies with that individual circuit. It could just be that you’re continually overloading the circuit by drawing more power than it can safely supply. Short circuiting can also occur due to an issue like a damaged wire, a malfunctioning appliance or a damaged power cord, resulting in a spike in power that trips the breaker.

If various breakers keep tripping, it usually indicates that there’s a wiring issue within the electrical panel that’s resulting in different circuits getting overloaded. Another possibility is that the panel isn’t distributing power evenly, which can also lead to frequent overloads.

Flickering Lights or Power Fluctuations

Another thing to watch for is if your lights frequently flicker or you notice power fluctuations when an appliance like your AC, refrigerator, freezer or electric water heater first turns on. This type of problem almost always indicates that the electrical panel is undersized and doesn’t supply enough amps to fully meet your home’s needs. What happens in this situation is that the appliance draws so much of the available power when first turning on that it leads to a temporary decrease in the power flowing through the other circuits, and this drop in power is what causes lights to dim or flicker.

Adding New Appliances or Home Additions

The time when you’ll often need to upgrade to a larger electrical panel is if you’re adding a central or ductless AC system to your home or you’re going to install maybe an EV charging station, hot tub or pool heater. All of these things run on 240-volt power and have fairly high amperages. Unless you have a fairly small house and only have one or maybe two other 240-volt circuits, there’s a good chance that your panel won’t be able to support the additional amperage of the new appliance.

If you’re putting an addition on your house, you may also need to upgrade your electrical panel to support the new circuits. Even if your panel has sufficient amperage for the new circuits, there may not be enough space in it for the additional breakers.

Older Fuse Box Replacement

If your house has a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker panel, you should upgrade to a new panel as soon as possible. Fuse boxes are extremely outdated, as they were almost completely phased out by the 1960s. Fuses and circuit breakers serve the same purpose of shutting off the power to a circuit if it gets overloaded. However, circuit breakers are far more reliable, which is why fuses were phased out in favor of breakers. The concern is that a fuse may not blow when the circuit gets overloaded, resulting in wiring overheating and potentially starting a fire.

Burning Smells or Hot Panels

One major concern is if you notice a burning smell coming from your electrical panel, the panel feels hot or you see any scorch marks on it. These issues indicate that wiring in the panel is overheating or did overheat at some point, meaning that it poses a significant fire hazard. If the panel feels hot or smells like it’s burning, you should immediately shut off the main breaker to stop the power from flowing. Once the power is off, you should then contact an emergency electrical service to have the panel inspected.

We recommend regularly inspecting your electrical panel so that you can ensure it’s still safe. In addition to smoke or scorch marks, you should also look for any signs of rust or corrosion within the panel. Corrosion can create increased electrical resistance that leads to wiring overheating or the current arcing and sending out sparks. Both rust and corrosion can also damage breakers, potentially resulting in them failing and not tripping when an overload occurs.

Schedule Professional Electrical Panel Services

When you need any electrical services in Johnson City, TN, or the surrounding areas, Hometown Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC is the company to trust. From safety inspections and electrical panel upgrades to repairs and installations, our expert team is ready to safely and reliably handle all of your electricity needs. Our local, family-owned and -operated company takes pride in providing industry-leading services at affordable prices and in ensuring our customers are 100% satisfied. If you have a major electrical project, like a panel upgrade, we have financing options available on approved credit. We’re also available 24/7 to quickly handle any type of electrical emergency. To schedule an electrical panel inspection or any other service, contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re concerned about the condition of your electrical panel, you can count on us for a full safety inspection and honest advice. Being informed about your electrical system and getting an expert to clear up anything you’re confused about is also important for being able to spot potential safety hazards and other issues.

What are the most common signs an electrical panel needs to be upgraded?

Common signs that you should upgrade your electrical panel include flickering lights, power fluctuations and circuit breakers frequently tripping.

How long does an electrical panel upgrade usually take?

It normally takes experienced electricians between four and eight hours to upgrade an electrical panel, as long as the existing wiring is still in good condition. Larger or more complex jobs could take up to two full days.

Are outdated fuse boxes considered a safety hazard?

Yes. Fuse boxes can be a major safety hazard, as they don’t always work as effectively as modern circuit breakers. The risk of fire is why many insurance companies won’t insure buildings with fuse boxes.

Can an upgrade to my panel support new appliances or renovations?

Yes. Upgrading to a larger electrical panel helps ensure your electrical system can support the power demand of new appliances or additional circuits when renovating or adding onto your house.