When Should You Upgrade Your Electrical Panel?

There are seven critical signs that you may need to upgrade your home’s electrical panel:

One of the most frequent questions we're asked by Cleveland area homeowners is, "When should I upgrade my home's electrical panel?

1. Your home is over 40 years old. Older homes may have an electrical panel that can not handle the power demands of modern appliances and electronics. Upgrading to a new 200-amp panel is recommended for safety and capacity.
2. You experience frequent circuit breaker trips or flickering lights. This is not just an inconvenience, it’s a warning sign. It indicates your panel is being overloaded and cannot handle the electrical demand, which is a potential fire hazard. Upgrading to a new panel is a crucial step for your home’s safety.
3. You have an old fuse box instead of a circuit breaker panel. Fuse boxes are outdated and should be replaced with a modern circuit breaker panel. Several brands, such as Federal Pacific Electric, have been recalled and are considered dangerous.
4. You smell burning odors or see scorch marks near the panel. This is a severe fire hazard, indicating electrical faults that need immediate attention.
5. You are planning a significant home renovation or addition. This will increase your home’s power needs beyond what an older, smaller panel can handle safely.
6. You want to install new large appliances like an electric vehicle charger. Older panels may not have sufficient capacity for these power-hungry devices.
7. Your home inspector or electrician recommends an upgrade during an inspection. You can trust their advice, giving you the confidence to make the necessary upgrade for your home’s safety and modern power demands.

If your home’s electrical panel is having issues keeping up with your power needs or is over 25-30 years old, upgrading to a new 200-amp electrical panel with more circuits is advisable for safety and to meet modern power demands.

What should you do if you're not sure you need a new electrical panel?

If you're not sure whether you need a new electrical panel or if you're experiencing any of these issues with your home's electrical systems, schedule a whole-home electrical inspection.

• A $99 safety inspection catches problems before they cost thousands.
• A complete safety check by a licensed electrician
• A written report of findings (yours to keep)
• Peace of mind that your family is safe.

If you experience any of these seven warning signs, call 216-545-1776 to speak with our Customer Service team about electrical service or a quote to upgrade your panel.