Most panel problems show up as small annoyances first. Here are five signs it's time to start planning an upgrade, plus one that means you should call now.
1. Breakers trip when large appliances run together
If the breaker trips when the air conditioner and oven are both running, or the dryer and a space heater, your panel may not be able to support how you use your home.
2. You still have a 100-amp panel or a fuse box
Fuse boxes and 100-amp panels were designed for much lower demand than modern homes place on them. If yours is one of these, an upgrade is worth considering, especially before adding new loads.
3. You're adding an EV charger, heat pump, or ADU
These are large, continuous loads. Your panel may need more capacity, or at least a load calculation to confirm that it has enough.
4. The panel is unlabeled or has doubled-up breakers
If you can't tell which breaker controls what, or two wires are sharing a breaker built for one, the panel is telling you it's out of room or hasn't been maintained.
5. The panel is old or a known problem brand
Older panels, and certain brands such as Federal Pacific and Zinsco, can have breakers that fail to trip. Have an electrician check the make and condition of your panel.
What a full panel assessment checks
If any of these signs sound familiar, or you've just bought an older home, an electrician's panel assessment looks at:
- The brand and age of the panel and breakers
- Whether the panel is properly labeled
- Signs of overheating, scorching, corrosion, or moisture
- Doubled-up or improperly installed breakers
- Wiring type, including aluminum branch wiring or older cloth-insulated wiring
- Grounding and bonding
- Whether the panel has room for the loads you plan to add
When to get an assessment, even without warning signs
- You've bought, or are buying, an older home
- You're preparing to sell and want no surprises
- You're planning a heat pump, EV charger, ADU, or remodel
- The panel hasn't been looked at in many years
The urgent one: burning smell, scorching, or heat
A burning smell near the panel, scorch marks, a panel that is hot to the touch, buzzing and sizzling sounds, or moisture and rust in or around the panel are signs of a potentially dangerous problem. Don't wait for the next convenient day.
- Don't open the panel
- If it's safe to do so, turn off the affected circuits or the main breaker
- Call a licensed electrician right away
- If you see smoke or flames, leave the home and call 911
If you noticed one or more of the first five, it doesn't mean an emergency, but it does mean it's time to get an assessment and a written quote for an upgrade.
Want a professional opinion?
Call us any time, day or night, at (425) 615-5000, or book online. Written pricing before any work begins.
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