Should You Repair Or Replace Your Raleigh Home's Electrical Panel?
Does your home still have an outdated electrical panel? Do you continually trip circuit breakers? Is your insurance company refusing to renew your home insurance policy? Then your home may need to have its electrical panel upgraded. Updated circuit breaker panels are more convenient and are built to far higher safety standards than outdated panels.
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home's electrical system, and when it's not working right, everything else suffers. Whether you need an upgrade to handle modern demands, a replacement for an aging panel, or repairs to fix current issues, Dawson's Electric & Air is here to help keep your Raleigh home safe and powered up.
Ready to upgrade your electrical panel? Call us at 919-887-8284 or reach out online to schedule your service today.
How Do I Know If I Need An Electrical Panel Upgrade?
Knowing whether you need an electrical panel upgrade isn't always obvious, but several clear signs point to it being time. Your home's electrical demands have likely grown since your panel was installed, and recognizing when it can't keep up anymore protects both your family and your investment.
- Frequent Breaker Trips: If you're constantly resetting breakers or can't run multiple appliances at once without losing power, your panel is telling you it's overwhelmed and can't handle your home's current electrical load.
- Age Of Your Panel: Panels built before 1980 weren't designed for today's electrical demands. If yours is over 25-40 years old, it's likely time for an upgrade even if you're not experiencing obvious problems yet.
- Adding New Appliances: Planning to install an EV charger, hot tub, central AC, or switch to electric appliances? These high-demand additions require substantial capacity that your current panel might not have.
- Home Renovations: Finishing a basement, adding a home office, or building an addition increases your electrical needs. Upgrading your panel before starting these projects prevents costly delays and ensures you have the power you need.
- Insufficient Amperage: Modern homes typically need 200-amp service. If your main breaker shows 100 amps or less, you're probably running close to capacity and should consider upgrading for safety and flexibility.
- Rising Energy Bills: An inefficient, outdated panel works harder to distribute power throughout your home, which can drive up your utility costs. A modern panel operates more efficiently and helps keep your bills in check.
Have you noticed any of these issues? It's time to modernize your home's electrical system! Give us a call at 919-887-8284 to get started!
What Are The Signs That My Electrical Panel Needs To Be Replaced?
Your electrical panel gives clear warning signs when it's failing or becoming dangerous. Recognizing these signals early helps you avoid serious problems like electrical fires or complete system failure. Here's what to watch for around your home.
- Burning Smell Or Scorch Marks: Any burning odor near your panel or visible scorch marks around breakers indicates dangerous overheating. This is a serious fire hazard that requires immediate attention from a licensed electrician.
- Buzzing Or Crackling Sounds: Electrical panels should operate silently. Buzzing, crackling, or sizzling noises point to loose connections, failing breakers, or other internal problems that need professional diagnosis and repair.
- Warm Or Hot Panel: Touch your panel carefully—if it feels warm or hot, something's wrong. Overheating indicates the panel is struggling under the load and poses a significant fire risk that shouldn't be ignored.
- Rust Or Corrosion: Moisture damage shows up as rust or corrosion on your panel. This compromises the safety and integrity of your electrical system and means the panel should be replaced before it fails completely.
- Flickering Or Dimming Lights: Lights that flicker when you turn on appliances or dim when the AC kicks on signal that circuits are overloaded, and your panel can't properly distribute power throughout your home.
- Still Using A Fuse Box: If your home still has a fuse box instead of circuit breakers, it's well past time for a replacement. Fuse boxes are outdated, unsafe for modern electrical loads, and should be upgraded immediately.
If it's clear your electrical panel is giving up the ghost, call us at 919-887-8284 to start the replacement process!
Electrical Panel FAQs
Most residential panels hold between 20 and 42 circuits, depending on the panel's physical size and design. The number of available circuit slots determines how many breakers you can install. If your panel is full and you need more circuits, we can add a subpanel or upgrade to a larger panel.
Most modern homes need 200-amp service to handle today's electrical demands. Smaller homes with gas appliances might get by with 100-150 amps, while larger homes or those with EV chargers and multiple HVAC systems may require 300-400 amps. We'll assess your specific needs and recommend the right size.
Costs vary based on whether you're upgrading amperage or just replacing the panel, your home's wiring condition, and what size panel you need. A straightforward replacement typically runs less than a full service upgrade, which requires utility coordination and additional electrical work. We provide upfront, flat-rate pricing after evaluating your specific situation, so you'll know exactly what to expect before we start any work.
Electrical panels typically last 25-40 years, depending on the quality of the original installation and how well they've been maintained. Even if your panel isn't showing obvious signs of failure, age alone is a good reason to have it inspected. Panels nearing the end of their lifespan are less efficient and may not meet current safety standards, making replacement a smart investment.
No, electrical panel work should always be handled by a licensed electrician. This isn't a DIY project—it involves working with your home's main power supply, requires permits and inspections, and must meet local electrical codes. Mistakes can result in serious injury, fires, or code violations that create problems when you sell your home. Let us handle it safely and correctly.
A fishy or burning odor near your electrical panel can be a serious warning sign. Often, it comes from overheating or failing electronic components, such as breakers, wiring, or other panel equipment.
If you notice this odor, turn off the power to the affected areas if it's safe to do so and call a licensed electrician immediately. Electrical issues like this can be a fire hazard and should never be ignored.
What's The Difference Between A Panel Upgrade & A Panel Replacement?
People often use these terms interchangeably, but they're actually different services. Understanding the distinction helps you know exactly what your home needs and why we're recommending a particular solution for your electrical system.
- Panel Upgrade Increases Amperage: An upgrade means increasing your electrical service capacity, typically from 100 amps to 200 amps. This gives you more power to handle additional appliances, devices, and modern electrical demands throughout your home.
- Replacement Swaps The Panel: A replacement involves installing a new panel without changing the amperage. You might need this if your current panel is damaged, outdated, or uses dangerous components, but your existing capacity is adequate.
- Upgrades Often Include Service Changes: Upgrading amperage usually requires coordination with your utility company to increase the electrical service coming into your home. This is a bigger project involving new wiring and sometimes a new meter.
- Both Improve Safety: Whether you're upgrading or replacing, you're improving your home's electrical safety. New panels meet current codes, include modern safety features, and eliminate the fire hazards associated with old, failing equipment.
- Cost Differences: Replacements are generally less expensive since they don't involve increasing service capacity or utility coordination. Upgrades cost more but give you the additional capacity needed for home additions, renovations, or new high-demand appliances.
- We'll Recommend What You Need: During our inspection, we'll evaluate your current system, discuss your electrical needs, and recommend whether an upgrade or replacement makes the most sense for your home and budget.
Whether you're looking for an upgrade or a replacement, we can help! Give us a call at 919-887-8284 today!
What Size Electrical Panel Do I Need For My Home?
Choosing the right panel size ensures your home has enough electrical capacity without overpaying for more than you need. The answer depends on your home's size, your current appliances, and any plans you have for the future.
- Most Modern Homes Need 200 Amps: The standard for homes built since 2015 is a 200-amp panel. This handles typical household loads, including HVAC, kitchen appliances, laundry, electronics, and leaves room for future additions without maxing out your capacity.
- Smaller Homes May Use 100-150 Amps: If you have a smaller home with gas appliances and no plans to add major electrical loads, a 100-150 amp panel might suffice. However, upgrading to 200 amps future-proofs your home.
- Larger Homes May Need More: Homes over 3,000 square feet with multiple HVAC systems, extensive smart home technology, or plans for EV charging and other high-demand features might require 300-400 amp service for adequate capacity.
- Consider Your Future Plans: Think about what you might add down the road—electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, hot tubs, home additions. It's much cheaper to install adequate capacity now than to upgrade again in a few years.
- Account For All Your Loads: We calculate your electrical load based on square footage, number of circuits, major appliances, HVAC systems, and any special equipment. This ensures your new panel can handle everything you need it to power.
- We'll Size It Right: During your consultation, we'll assess your home's specific needs and recommend the appropriate panel size. You'll get exactly what you need—no more, no less—for safe, reliable electrical service.
Keep Your Raleigh Home Safe With Professional Electrical Panel Services
Your electrical panel deserves the same attention and care you give the rest of your home. Whether you need an upgrade to handle growing demands or a replacement for an aging system, we're here to help.
Call us at 919-887-8284 or message us online to schedule your electrical panel inspection today.
