The electrical panel is the heart of your home’s power system. It sends electricity safely to all parts of the house. However, as more appliances and devices contribute to modern electrical demand, old panels can hardly support this load most of the time. Knowing when to upgrade will help protect your home from fire risks and outages that could result in expensive repairs.
Here are the most apparent signs that you are confused about whether the panel is enough to meet your home needs or not.
Signs Your Electrical Panel May Need an Upgrade
- Frequent Breaker Trips: Your system is demanding more power than the home was designed to supply through the panel. In most cases, your breaker trips because it is overloaded.
- Flickering or Dimming Lights: You could have lights on the same circuit as a refrigerator or air conditioner. Your electric panel may not be distributing power efficiently; however, this can easily be solved by changing circuits within the house.
- Your Home Still Has a Fuse Box: Fuse boxes are old. They do not have modern safety features. Installing a breaker panel is an important upgrade and improvement in the protection of homeowners
- Burning Odors or Hot Breakers: A warm panel, buzzing noises coming out of it, or a burnt smell are serious red flag(s). This issue needs to be addressed by a licensed electrician immediately.
- Adding New Appliances or Renovations: Most of the time, new HVAC, EV charger, hot tub installation, or simply home renovation needs more electrical capacity than what an old panel can deliver.
Why Panel Upgrades Matter
An old panel is more than just an inconvenience. It can be dangerous. Overloaded systems mean electrical fires, damage to appliances, and even outages that happen without any warning. A sudden outage in the middle of work or while watching your favorite show! Upgrading ensures your system meets today’s safety standards and supports the growing electrical needs of modern homes.
Check our detailed service offer for professional panel upgrades HERE
Trust a Licensed Electrician for Your Upgrade
Electrical panel upgrades are not DIY projects. A licensed electrician will size it properly, install it to code, and make sure it works reliably for years to come. At Nipper Electric, our experienced team keeps Virginia Beach homeowners safe, efficient…and fully powered.
Contact Nipper Electric today for your next panel upgrade!
