Your Home’s Electrical Panel: Understanding Circuit Breakers and When to Consider an Upgrade

When it comes to electrical systems, your home electrical panel plays a key role in protecting your home. If a circuit is overloaded, the breaker trips. This protects your family and home from overloaded circuits, shorts, and other safety issues. 

Unfortunately, many homes in Central Oregon don’t have the electrical panel capacity they need. If you have an outdated or undersized panel, it’s important to get an update. Additionally, panel upgrades are essential if you plan on getting new appliances or renovating your home.

For more information about electrical panel safety, reach out to Central Oregon Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical today.

What Is an Electrical Panel and What Does It Do?

The electrical panel is like the central command center of your home’s electrical system. Also known as a service panel or breaker box, the electrical panel is responsible for distributing power throughout your home. It contains circuits that connect to different appliances or areas. 

Electrical panels are uniquely designed with circuit breakers. These circuit breakers are a safety feature that prevents overloaded circuits, fires, damage to your appliances, and other electrical hazards. When there is a surge of electricity in a specific circuit breaker, the breaker trips. This stops the electrical surge from flowing into your home and creates an added level of protection. 

Often, you’ll hear people talk about the safety of a fuse box vs a breaker panel. Unlike the breaker design, fuse boxes had actual fuses that connected the fuse box to the rest of the home. When power surged, the fuse would actually blow and have to be replaced. 

There isn’t anything inherently dangerous about using fuse boxes to prevent power surges. The real safety problem was due to user error. When a fuse blew, many people would replace it with pennies or other non-fuse items. While this allowed electricity to flow again, it completely negated the safety benefits of using a fuse box. If a power surge occurred, the penny would not blow or trip, increasing the likelihood of a fire.

Because of this, modern homes are designed with a circuit breaker panel instead of a fuse box. If you still have a fuse box, it’s a good idea to reach out to our team to discuss getting an upgrade.

How Circuit Breakers Work?

Each year, there are around 51,000 home electrical fires. These fires lead to around $1.3 billion in property damage, 1,400 injuries, and 500 deaths every year. 

Your breaker panel is your home’s frontline defense against overheating and electrical fires. Each breaker is set up to connect to a specific area or appliance. When everything is functioning normally, the breaker forms a connection through which the electricity can flow. If there is a fluctuation in electricity, it trips and breaks the connection. This stops the electrical surge from reaching the rest of your home, preventing electrical fires and overheated wiring.

Breakers can trip for a few common reasons. 

Overloaded Circuit

An overloaded circuit can occur if there are more appliances and devices plugged into a circuit than the circuit is designed to handle. When this happens, the excess current makes the wiring overheat. Eventually, this can lead to a fire.

Even if you don’t have too many devices plugged into a circuit, it can still become overloaded. High-wattage devices, like microwaves and hair dryers, pull a lot of energy. If two high-wattage devices are used at the same time, it can overload the circuit.

Short Circuit

Short circuits happen when a hot wire touches a neutral wire. Often, this happens when the wires become loose. Short circuits can cause sparks and are an electrical hazard, so they should be dealt with promptly.

Ground Fault

With a ground fault, a hot wire touches a grounded object, such as a metal appliance. When this occurs, the electrical current can flow out of your electrical system. Besides posing a fire hazard, it can also shock anyone who comes in contact with the electrical current.

As a homeowner, you should reach out as soon as you notice any issues with ground faults, short circuits, or overloaded circuits. Any time your breaker trips frequently, it indicates that there is an underlying problem that needs to be repaired right away.

Signs Your Electrical Panel May Need an Upgrade

There are a few common signs of a failing electrical panel that you should watch out for. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s time to invest in an electrical panel upgrade.

• Your Home Still Uses a Fuse Box: Fuse boxes are more likely to have safety hazards because of user error. They were largely phased out around the 1960s and 1970s, so any existing fuse box is also unlikely to have the right electrical capacity for modern families.
• Your Panel Is More Than 25 to 30 Years Old: Over time, older panels may start to malfunction. At the very least, they have an electrical capacity that wasn’t intended for today’s gaming consoles, high-tech appliances, and smart devices.
• You Experience Frequent Breaker Trips: Breakers shouldn’t trip all the time. If they do, there’s an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.
• Your Lights Flicker or Dim When Appliances Turn On: Flickering lights often indicate an overloaded circuit. This is especially common with older panels that don’t have the right electrical capacity.
• There Is a Buzzing or Burning Smell From the Panel: A burning smell or buzzing noise may indicate a faulty circuit breaker, loose connections, wiring issues, or overloaded circuits.
• You Are Adding High-Demand Systems: If you are adding an upgraded HVAC system, a new hot tub, or an EV charger, you may need to get an electrical panel upgrade to match your home’s new electricity demand.
• A Home Renovation or Addition Is Planned: Whenever you increase the electrical needs of your home, you need to adjust your home’s electrical systems to match.

An electrical service panel replacement is essential if you have an aging panel or need a higher supply of energy. Aging panels pose a potential fire hazard. Additionally, they may not comply with modern code requirements. To make sure your family and home are safe, give Central Oregon a call today to assess your circuit panel and electrical systems.

Why Electrical Panel Upgrades Are Important?

By learning when to upgrade an electrical panel, you can protect your family and your belongings from fires and electrical hazards. With a panel upgrade, you can make sure your home’s electrical system is able to manage today’s energy demands. This is especially important if you have an older panel, are installing new appliances, or want to add on to your home.

Electrical panels are a key safety system. They allow you to use energy as efficiently and securely as possible. Through the electrical panel, you can avoid overloads and fire risks. Because of these safety features, a panel upgrade may be required to meet modern insurance requirements.

Additionally, improved electrical safety may increase your home value and help with future upgrade plans. Solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicles all require a higher electrical capacity. If you want to make any of these home upgrades, you’ll likely need to install a new panel.

What’s Involved in an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

When our team comes out to assess your home for an electrical panel upgrade, we’ll go through the following steps. 

• Electrical Load Calculation: First, we’ll calculate the ideal electrical capacity for your home. We will also talk to you about any appliance upgrades or additions you will be making, so you’re ready for your future needs as well.
• Main Service Panel and Breaker Replacement: Then, we will remove your old panel and replace it with a new one.
• Local Permits: Throughout the process, we’ll work with your city and county permitting department to make sure you’re up to code. We have more than 30 years of experience working in Central Oregon, so we understand the permitting requirements involved in performing local electrical work.

In most cases, we can complete the entire upgrade in just four to six hours. While this timeline can vary based on the complexity of your electrical system and any existing issues, it rarely takes us longer than a day to complete the work.

Electrical panel upgrades aren’t DIY projects. The electrical panel is an important safety device for your home and is responsible for handling a significant amount of electricity. If it isn’t installed properly, it can put the health and safety of your loved ones at risk. Because of this, electrical panel replacements should only be handled by licensed, experienced electricians. 

COH’s certified electricians specialize in safe, code-compliant panel upgrades. Call today to learn more.

Common Questions Homeowners Ask

Over time, we’ve heard a few common questions about electrical panel upgrades. 

Do I need to upgrade if everything seems to be working fine?

While there is generally no requirement to upgrade your electrical panel, there are many circumstances where it is a good idea. For example, you should upgrade your panel if you’re increasing your home’s electrical needs with a new appliance or renovations. 

Similarly, you should strongly consider replacing an outdated electrical panel. Some older panels, like Zinsco or Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels, pose safety risks. While it might not be a legal requirement, electricians recommend replacing these older panels to protect your home. Additionally, all panels need to be replaced after 30 to 40 years to meet today’s modern electrical needs and avoid fire risks.

How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost?

While home electrical panel replacements can cost as much as $6,700, they typically cost between $1,300 and $3,000. This amount can vary based on whether you need the meter box replaced or the panel relocated. You’ll also pay more for a 300-amp or 400-amp service than you would pay for a 200-amp service. To find out the price range you can expect, schedule a free estimate with our Bend electricians today.

How long does it take to upgrade a panel?

The timeline can vary based on the complexity of the installation, other services required, and the number of technicians present. In general, it takes around four to six hours for Central Oregon’s electricians to complete this task. 

When it comes to electrical work, it pays to work with a local team. Each area has different code and permitting requirements, so you need to find an electrician who understands local needs and can avoid permitting delays. 

What size panel does a modern home need?

Many older panels need to be replaced because they simply weren’t designed to match the electrical demands of today’s homes. At a minimum, your home should have a 100-amp panel. However, 100-amp panels are only an option for extremely small homes. If you have many large appliances or a big home, a 400-amp service may be a better option. When our team comes out for a free estimate, we’ll evaluate your home to determine the best electrical service panel replacement for your needs.

When To Call a Professional

Unfortunately, electrical malfunctions can occur without causing any obvious signs. As soon as you notice signs of a problem, it’s essential to reach out right away. Even minor problems can quickly become dangerous if they aren’t dealt with. 

You should reach out to Central Oregon immediately if you notice any of the following issues.

• Recurring tripped breakers
• Burning odors
• Scorch marks near the panel or outlets
• A warm or hot panel
• Flickering or dimming lights
• Sparks 
• Rust or water damage

At Central Oregon, we can handle all of your emergency electrical repairs. We can also conduct a full inspection to make sure your circuit breaker panel is up to date and operating safely. 

Book an electrical panel assessment today to learn more.

Learn More About Electrical Panel Upgrades

To ensure the safe distribution of power in your home, you may need an electrical panel upgrade. With safe electrical systems, you can ensure the safety of your home and have better peace of mind. An upgrade can also help you prepare for future renovations, new appliances, or a larger family. 

If you need a higher electrical capacity, we can help. At Central Oregon Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical, we can help with all of your panel inspections, upgrades, and rewiring needs. We’ve served Redmond and Bend homeowners with top-rated services since 1993. From a cost-effective membership plan to circuit breaker repairs, we offer the high-quality results residents are looking for.

Whether you’re dealing with an older home or are planning a new addition, Central Oregon can make sure your electrical panel is ready for the future. Reach out today for a professional assessment in the Redmond, Bend, and Madras area.