Commonly known as a circuit breaker panel or box, an electrical panel is the powerhouse for your home. It is responsible for providing power to all your home’s outlets, appliances, and lighting. The breakers in the panel allow the prevention of electrical fires by automatically turning off during an overload.
What an electrical service panel upgrade looks like:
It usually involves an electrical panel upgrade service professional visiting your house to install a newer, better panel after removing the old one. Sometimes your house’s grounding system or meter socket may need to be upgraded, too.
Finding the best panel size for your home:
The size of the panel will be determined based on your house’s energy consumption needs.
Let’s analyze some panel sizes to help you figure out which upgrade you should get:
| Panel Size | Use & Capacity |
| 60-Amp | Limited capacity, found in older homes |
| 100-Amp | Can only power low-demand devices |
| 125-Amp | Commonly found in apartments and small homes |
| 150-Amp | Can only fulfill moderate electrical needs |
| 200-Amp | Ideal for modern homes and can power a huge range of appliances |
| 400-Amp | Used in very large homes with excessive electrical demands |
Choosing between the two most common panel sizes:
With 100-amp and 200-amp being almost similar, most homeowners find it hard to choose the best panel size for their house. Electrical panel upgrade services share a rule of thumb. If your household needs to run upgraded systems like advanced heating or other energy-intensive device systems, then go for a 200-amp electrical service panel upgrade.
Signs you should consider electrical panel upgrades:
If you want to keep your family safe from potential electrical issues that could escalate to a life-threatening level, then you should consider the following reasons:
a. Circuit breaker tripping too often:
A sign of an overloaded system is very frequent circuit breaker trips. This happens when your system cannot handle multiple high-voltage devices simultaneously. This is also a sign that your house’s electrical panel upgrades are long overdue.
b. Safety codes not up-to-date:
An outdated panel is in no position to fulfill the safety needs of your house by being non-compliant with NFPA 70 and OSHA codes. Getting an updated panel that meets these electrical codes can also boost your house’s market value.
c. Overheated panel:
A panel that doesn’t match your house’s needs is very likely to be warm upon touch because of its faulty wiring and poses a serious risk to your safety. In such cases, homeowners are advised to look up ‘electrical panel upgrade near me’ and find their nearest professional.
d. Humming sounds from the panel:
A damaged circuit breaker or a loose connection could be the underlying cause of humming or buzzing sounds coming from your electrical panel. These also indicate that your panel needs to be upgraded, as it cannot handle the burden of your house’s electronic devices.
e. Scorching around the panel:
An indicator of a potential fire hazard is frequently observed burning odors coming from your overheated panel, as well as scorch marks seen in its vicinity due to damaged wiring.
| Know your facts: The Electrical Safety Foundation suggests that in 2017, 8200 homes were affected by electric fires in the US alone. |
f. Recent renovations:
If you had your house remodeled or renovated recently and got high-voltage appliances, an upgraded panel is a must for you. Even though your panel may be intact now, it will soon start showing signs of damage and overload. So, it is better to get one with better capacity to make this transition seamless.
Conclusion:
If you have recently started noticing the given signs in your circuit breaker, don’t waste time and seek professional help today to get the electrical panel upgrades that your house needs.
FAQs:
Will upgrading the electrical panel increase my house’s value?
Yes, a new electrical panel that is suitable for your house’s needs not only increases it’s energy efficiency but also boosts its market value for future resales.
Should I upgrade my electrical panel to 200-amp?
If your current panel doesn’t allow you to run advanced systems seamlessly, go for a 200-amp upgrade.
Can I upgrade my electrical panel myself?
No, because it is unsafe to work with a high-voltage system without the proper expertise and safety guidelines.
How time-consuming are electrical panel upgrades?
The usual time required for upgrading electrical panels is 4 to 8 hours.
How to find the best smart electrical panel?
For this, you can look up ‘electrical service panel upgrade near me’ and get a professional opinion on the right panel choice for your house.