How To Know When It’s Time To Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

Most of the time, electrical panels go unnoticed. However, this unobtrusive electrical device plays a major role in your home’s safety. If it isn’t working right, the safety of your loved ones could be at risk.

At Central Oregon Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, we can help Bend and Redmond homeowners figure out the best electrical panel upgrade for their home’s size and electrical needs. Learn more by giving us a call today.

Why Your Electrical Panel Matters

Your electrical panel is like the beating heart of your home’s electrical systems. Power enters your home through the electrical panel and is distributed to different appliances and outlets. 

A power surge can fry your appliances and lead to a fire. The electrical panel protects your home by stopping consistent overcurrent and short circuits from causing problems. When power levels fluctuate, it trips the breaker and cuts off power to that zone. 

If your electrical panel isn’t working properly, it can lead to damaged appliances and faulty wiring. Worse still, malfunctioning panels increase the likelihood of fires and electrocutions. Because of this, it’s essential to schedule electrical panel replacement and repair services as soon as you notice a problem.

Signs You Need To Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

There are a few common indicators that you need to upgrade your electrical panel. If you experience flickering lights or burning smells, give our experienced electricians a call right away.

Frequent Breaker Trips

It’s normal to have a breaker trip every once in a while. If your breakers trip all the time, it may mean that there is an underlying electrical problem that needs to be repaired.

Flickering or Dimming Lights

Another one of the most common signs you need a new electrical panel is flickering or dimming lights. This symptom means that there is something causing your home’s power to fluctuate, so you need to diagnose the issue.

Burning Smell or Warm Panel

Your panel should never feel warm to the touch. If you notice warmth or a burning smell, your electrical components may be malfunctioning and causing the panel to overheat. This is a major electrocution and fire risk, so call for emergency services.

Use of Fuses Instead of Breakers

If you have a fuse box, it’s time to get an electrical panel upgrade. Fuses aren’t inherently dangerous, but there are major safety issues related to the way they are used. Rather than having a break switch on and off, fuse boxes rely on a fuse actually blowing. Sometimes, people replace the fuse with a penny because they don’t have a replacement fuse. However, a penny can’t just blow like a fuse when there’s too much power. Instead, it creates a permanent short circuit. As a result, fuse boxes can increase the risk of overheating, melting, and fires.

In more recent decades, builders have started opting for breaker panels instead of fuse boxes. If you still have one of these older systems, it’s time to schedule an upgrade.

Panel Is 20–30+ Years Old

As electrical panels start to age, they are more likely to develop faulty components. For your family’s safety, it’s a good idea to upgrade a breaker panel that is already 20 to 30 years old. Before we perform the upgrade, we can also check to make sure your home’s electrical wiring and outlets are still functioning properly.

Adding New Appliances or EV Charger

Your breaker panel is designed to support a certain electrical load. If you install an EV charger or get new appliances, you’ll need to get a new electrical panel that has a higher capacity.

Benefits of Upgrading Your Panel

If you are experiencing electrical issues, one of our skilled electricians can evaluate your home and help you determine when to replace electrical panels and other systems. Once the replacement is complete, you can enjoy a few important benefits.

• Increased Safety: By updating your electrical panel, you can protect your family from fires, electrocutions, and other electrical hazards.
• Better Energy Efficiency and Reliability: Newer panels have a higher level of energy efficiency. Switching to a new panel also means fewer breakdowns and more reliable, consistent energy. 
• Improved Home Value: Safer, more energy-efficient electrical systems can increase your home value.
• Enhanced Capacity: Older electrical panels simply weren’t designed for all of today’s modern appliances, EV chargers, smartphones, and gaming systems. In one survey, 29% of homes had 100-amp panels. While this may work for smaller homes with minimal electrical needs, you may need a larger capacity if you have home additions or new devices. By upgrading your panel, you can ensure your system can handle all of your family’s electrical needs.

Why Hire a Professional Electrician

If you need an electrician for panel upgrades in Bend, OR, our team can help. People turn to our team for electrical upgrades for a few important reasons. 

• Peace-of-Mind Licensing: You should never try to perform electrical work on your own. Because we have experienced, licensed electricians, you can enjoy having code-compliant, high-quality results.
• Easy Permits: Thanks to our local experience, we understand what type of permits are required. We handle the paperwork, so you don’t have to worry about whether your work is up to code or not.
• Improved Safety: Your electrical systems can cause a fire if they aren’t properly repaired and installed. By partnering with our team, you can ensure your family is protected and avoid the safety risks associated with DIY repairs.
• Local Expertise: Since 1993, our experienced team has provided the top-rated home services in Redmond, Bend, and the surrounding areas. Over the years, we’ve become a trusted part of the community.

Ready for an Upgrade?

It can be difficult to figure out when you need an electrical panel upgrade. If you are dealing with unusual electrical issues or can’t remember the last time the panel was replaced, our team can help. We’ll inspect your electrical systems for undersized wiring capacity, corrosion, inadequate grounding, and wear. 

Then, we’ll walk you through our recommendations and how the repairs will work. If you need an electrical panel upgrade, we’ll give you a transparent, upfront quote before performing the replacement. From a money-back guarantee to same-day services, we do everything possible to ensure homeowners have an easy experience.

Schedule your electrical panel inspection today!