Before you decide to upgrade your electrical panel, you should begin by learning a little bit about it. An electrical panel is the place where your home’s electrical system connects to the power supply of your utility company. Your electrical panel will have a series of circuit breakers (typically a breaker for each circuit within your home). The electrical panel controls the amperage of electricity that is distributed throughout your home. Most wiring, outlets, fixtures, and appliances are designed to handle a specific amount of electricity. If that amount is exceeded, these components can overheat and cause a fire. So, your circuit breakers monitor the amperage running through your system and will cut off power to an area if the amount of electricity in that circuit exceeds safe levels.

From the outside, your electrical panel may look unchanged, but it is susceptible to the same wear and tear as any home appliance. The signs of a faulty or underperforming electrical panel can be subtle. It’s important to catch the signs that you need an electric panel upgrade early. When your electrical panel is outdated, your entire electrical system will be less safe than it should be. Some signs that your electrical panel needs to be upgraded include the following:

• If you hear crackling coming from your electrical panel
• If you notice corrosion or rust on your circuit breakers
• If the inside of the electrical panel is warm
• If appliances are not running at full power
• If you do not have GFCI outlets in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and other areas with water sources
• If you use extension cords to plug things in on a regular basis
• If your home has 60-amp electrical service
• If your home has 100-amp electrical service, but certain appliances still trip your breakers
• If your home has an outdated fuse block or split bus panel