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 If you have an outdated or undersized panel, it’s important to get an update.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, you may need a panel upgrade if new appliances or renovations significantly increase your home’s electrical demand.

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

When Does an Electrical Panel Need To Be Upgraded?

You may need an electrical panel upgrade if the panel has suffered from physical damage, your home’s electrical demand has increased, the panel has insufficient capacity, or the unit is outdated or faulty. 

When determining the size of your new panel, we’ll look at your available breaker space, current load, and load management. Our team will also consider your future load, so you get a panel that matches your home’s ongoing needs.

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 excessive current in a specific circuit, the breaker trips. This interrupts the flow of current through the affected circuit 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 an overload or short circuit occurred, the fuse would actually blow and have to be replaced. 

Older homes may still have fuse-based electrical systems. A fuse box does not automatically mean the system is unsafe or requires immediate replacement, but its condition, available capacity, wiring, modifications, and ability to meet current electrical demands should be evaluated by a qualified electrician.

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 too much power flowed through the circuit, 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.

What Are Major Components in Your Electrical Panel?

In order to function, each component in the electrical panel must be functioning at its best.

• Main Breaker: The main breaker can disconnect power to the home’s electrical panel and provides overcurrent protection for the service conductors based on the system’s design and rating.
• Individual Breakers: Each individual breaker is connected to specific appliances and circuits. They trip to protect the circuit from becoming overloaded.
• Bus Bars: These are heavy, copper or aluminum strips within the panel that are designed to carry electricity from the main breaker to the individual breakers.
• Grounding and Bonding: Grounding and bonding provide important paths for fault current and help reduce shock and other electrical hazards.

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. Standard circuit breakers primarily protect wiring and circuits from excessive current caused by overloads or short circuits. When current exceeds the breaker’s designed limits, it opens the circuit. Breakers are not a substitute for surge protection, which is designed to limit transient overvoltage.

Breakers can trip for a few common reasons. Because there are multiple reasons why a breaker might trip, this symptom occurring doesn’t automatically mean that you need a breaker panel upgrade.

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. While some symptoms indicate a safety issue or problem, others are signs the electrical panel needs an upgrade or a larger capacity.

Signs of Safety Issues and Other Problems

These symptoms indicate that the electrical system should be inspected promptly. They do not necessarily mean the entire panel must be replaced.

• The electrical panel is warm to the touch.
• You notice a burning odor.
• Strange sounds are coming from the panel.
• Your lights keep flickering or dimming.
• Sparks occur when you plug in appliances.

Capacity and Upgrade Triggers

Meanwhile, your electrical panel capacity or panel design may need to be upgraded in the following situations.

• Your home still uses a fuse box.
• You are adding high-demand systems, such as an HVAC system, new hot tub, or other appliances.
• You are installing a home addition.
• Your electrical panel is already 25 to 30 years old, and either lacks the capacity you need or has performance issues.
• You are installing a solar system.
• Your home needs a panel upgrade for an EV charger.

An electrical panel replacement may be necessary if an older panel is damaged, has known safety concerns, or no longer meets the home’s electrical needs. As panels age, condition, components, capacity, previous modifications, and equipment type become increasingly important inspection factors.

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 Are Electrical Panel Upgrades 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 may require a higher electrical capacity. Whether these additions require a new panel depends on your existing electrical capacity, available breaker space, equipment requirements, and other loads.

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.
• Utility Coordination: For panel, meter, and service upgrades, we’ll coordinate with your local utility provider to ensure a safe, streamlined process.
• Grounding and Bonding: Our team will carry out grounding and bonding to protect your system.
• 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.
• Inspection and Testing: Our team will thoroughly test and inspect your upgraded system to verify that it is functioning at its best.
• Circuit Labeling: If new circuits are added, we’ll ensure they’re labeled in accordance with the NEC and local building codes.

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.

When Do You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade vs. Electrical Service Upgrades?

An electrical panel upgrade typically involves replacing or modifying the distribution panel and breakers. An electrical service upgrade increases or changes the home’s electrical-service capacity and may involve the panel, meter equipment, service conductors, utility coordination, and related components.

You may want to upgrade your electrical service if you’re installing an EV charger, hot tub, or solar panels and require the added capacity. Additionally, you may need a panel upgrade for heat pump, air conditioner, or furnace installations.

It’s also important to note that having a full electrical panel with no available breaker spaces doesn’t automatically mean your service must be upgraded. 

A full panel does not automatically mean the home’s electrical service must be upgraded. Depending on the existing equipment and load calculation, an electrician may be able to use approved breaker configurations, install a subpanel, add load-management equipment, or recommend another solution without increasing the service capacity.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Electrical Panel?

As a general rule, you can repair the panel if the problem is isolated, there is no physical damage, and the issue was a single event. Similarly, repairs make sense if the problem is something basic, like a loose connection. 

A full replacement may be needed if you have outdated equipment, experience frequent tripping, or notice physical damage. Panel replacements are also important if you need to upgrade the panel’s capacity.

Is a Panel Upgrade Necessary?

When evaluating electrical panels in Central Oregon homes, our electricians look beyond the panel’s age. We inspect the panel and main breaker, connections, branch circuits, grounding and bonding, available breaker space, and overall electrical load before recommending repairs, a panel replacement, or a service upgrade. For a better understanding of when upgrades are necessary, check out the following basic guide.

EV Chargers

Installing a Level 2 EV charger does not automatically require a panel or service upgrade. An electrician should perform a load calculation and evaluate service capacity, available breaker space, charger requirements, and other household loads. In some homes, load-management equipment can help accommodate EV charging without increasing service capacity.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps may necessitate a panel upgrade if you are replacing a gas, propane, or oil furnace with a heat pump. Cold-climate heat pumps that are energy efficient and not designed with backup heat strips may not require a new panel, especially if you are replacing an older heat pump.

Solar Panel Systems

You may need to set up a new panel for a solar panel system if your inverter exceeds the amount of power that can be safely fed into your panel. However, your installer may sometimes be able to perform a line-side tap to avoid this issue.

Generators

Generators may require new panels if the existing panel doesn’t have space for a transfer switch or can’t be safely isolated from the grid. Whole-home generators are more likely to require an updated panel than partial-home generators. You may be able to use your current setup if you opt for a manual transfer switch. 

Hot Tubs

A hot tub adds a significant electrical load, but it does not automatically require a panel or service upgrade. The electrician should evaluate the equipment’s electrical requirements, available service capacity, panel space, and existing household load.

Renovations

Home additions may require a panel replacement if they involve multiple high-draw appliances, larger or additional HVAC equipment, or a large square footage increase. However, an addition that has few electrical connections, lighting, or appliances may not necessitate a new panel.

What Homeowners Can Safely Check

As a homeowner, you can safely troubleshoot using the following tips. If these do not fix the problem, you’ll need to reach out for professional help.

• Check the outside of the panel for signs of rust, scorch marks, or heat.
• Verify that breakers are correctly labeled and haven’t been tripped.
• Note buzzing noises, burning smells, flickering lights, or other problems that are occurring within your home.
• For your safety, never remove the panel cover or attempt electrical repairs on your own.

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 physical warning signs that something is wrong with your panel.

• Burning Odors: These smells can occur if wire insulation is burning or there is any arcing.
• Scorch Marks Near the Panel or Outlets: Melted plastic, scorch marks, and similar symptoms indicate that there was overheating.
• A Warm or Hot Panel: You may notice this symptom if the main panel is failing or there is an electrical overload.
• Buzzing or Humming: These noises may occur due to electricity jumping across loose or damaged wire connections.
• Rust and Water Damage: These symptoms indicate that moisture is present, which can damage connections and potentially cause an electrical shock.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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. Certain legacy panel and breaker designs, including some Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) and Zinsco equipment, warrant professional evaluation because of documented concerns associated with particular equipment and installations. The panel’s specific model, condition, modifications, breaker performance, and overall electrical system should be assessed before recommending replacement.

 and should be evaluated by a qualified electrician. It may also be necessary to replace older panels that are damaged or lack the appropriate electrical capacity.

How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost?

The exact cost of your panel will depend on the scope of the project. For example, it can vary based on whether you need the meter box replaced or the panel relocated. The condition of your existing system, the panel and service size, meter replacements, additional equipment requirements, permitting, location, wiring updates, grounding, and other factors can impact the final price. 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?

Electrical panel upgrade timelines vary based on the scope of work, existing equipment, utility coordination, permitting and inspection requirements, and whether the electrical service is also being modified. Our team can provide a project-specific timeline after evaluating the home.

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. 

How do I know if I need a 100-amp or 200-amp service?

There is no single service size that is right for every home. A 100-amp service may be sufficient for some homes, while others may need 200 amps or more depending on their electrical demands. Rather than relying on home size alone, an electrician should perform an electrical load calculation that considers lighting, appliances, HVAC equipment, EV charging, and other current and planned electrical loads. This helps determine the appropriate service capacity for your Bend or Redmond home without recommending an unnecessary upgrade.

How long do electrical panels last?

It depends on the brand, maintenance history, and usage patterns. Many panels last 25 to 40 years, but they can last significantly more or less than this estimate based on wear and other factors.

Do I need a panel replacement if I get a new EV charger?

Not always. It depends on the size of your current panel. You may also be able to use a smart load management device to manage high-draw appliances with your existing panel.

Do I need an electrical panel upgrade for a heat pump?

Not always. Whether a heat pump requires an electrical panel upgrade depends on the equipment’s electrical requirements, your existing service capacity, available breaker space, current household load, and whether auxiliary electric heat is included. An electrician can perform an electrical load calculation to determine whether your existing panel can support the new heat pump or an upgrade is necessary.

Does a full electrical panel mean I need a service upgrade?

Not necessarily. Running out of breaker spaces is different from running out of electrical capacity. Depending on the panel, existing load, and planned equipment, an electrician may be able to install a subpanel, use an approved panel configuration, or add load-management equipment. A load calculation helps determine whether additional service capacity is actually required.

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. 

When evaluating electrical panels in Central Oregon homes, our electricians look beyond the panel’s age. We inspect the panel and main breaker, connections, branch circuits, grounding and bonding, available breaker space, and overall electrical load before recommending repairs, a panel replacement, or a service upgrade.

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.