Upgrading your electrical panel is a crucial decision that can significantly improve the safety, functionality, and value of your home in Ulster County, New York. The main panel, also known as the distribution board or breaker box, is responsible for distributing power to various circuits throughout the house. However, as your energy needs grow, your existing distribution board may no longer be able to keep up. Knowing when to upgrade your distribution board is key to maintaining safety and ensuring that your home can accommodate modern energy demands. Archimedes Electrical can help you to meet those demands. Here are the most common signs that indicate it’s time to upgrade your main electrical board.
Your Electrical Panel is Overloaded
One of the primary reasons to upgrade your breaker box is if it is overloaded. Over time, the number of devices and appliances continues to increase. Older boxes, especially those with lower amperage, could struggle to support the growing power demands.
If you’ve recently added new, high-energy appliances, such as a smart thermostat, water heater, or electric vehicle (EV) charger, your household needs may have changed. These devices demand more power, and an older or smaller distribution board might not be equipped to handle them. For example, EV chargers can draw substantial power, and if your existing distribution board is not able to supply enough electricity, you could face disruptions, overloads, or even damage to your appliances.
Your Electrical Panel is Old or Outdated
Main boards, like any part of your house, have a lifespan. If your main board is more than 25 years old or you live in an older home with a fuse-based system, it may be time for an upgrade.
Older distribution boards may not meet modern safety standards and can have issues such as worn-out wiring or faulty breakers. If your house still uses a fuse box or has a distribution board that is decades old, upgrading to a modern circuit breaker system is essential for the safety of your household. Modern systems are more reliable and have advanced safety features that prevent overheating or electrical fires.
Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips or Blown Fuses
Frequent tripping of circuit breakers or blown fuses is another clear indication that your main box may need an upgrade. Breakers trip or fuses blow when there is an overload or a short circuit. While occasional trips can happen when running high-powered appliances, if you find that it’s happening regularly or in unrelated areas of the house, your current box may be struggling to handle the load.
You’re Adding a Major Home Addition or Renovation
If you’re planning to add a major addition, such as finishing a basement, building a new room, or expanding your kitchen, an upgrade to your main board may be necessary. Any time you significantly increase the square footage or add new systems (such as dedicated circuits for appliances), your existing distribution board may no longer have the capacity to support these changes.
Your Home Has a 60-Amp or 100-Amp Panel
Houses built before the 1960s may still have older 60-amp or 100-amp electrical breaker boxes. While these were once adequate for the energy needs of smaller homes, they are no longer sufficient for modern households. With the increasing use of high-power devices, larger appliances, and modern equipment, a 60-amp or 100-amp breaker box is often no longer capable of safely supplying enough power.
A typical modern home requires at least a 200-amp electrical panel to handle the energy load of everything from heating and cooling systems to smart home devices, entertainment systems, and large kitchen appliances. If your house has a 60-amp or 100-amp breaker box, it is time to consider upgrading to a 200-amp panel to safely meet your energy demands.
Upgrading your main panel is an essential step in ensuring the safety, functionality, and future-proofing of your home’s energy system. If you experience frequent circuit breaker trips, have an outdated or undersized breaker box, or are adding major appliances or an addition, an upgrade may be necessary. A higher-capacity panel provides the reliability needed to keep your household running smoothly during power surges and ensures that your system can handle future technological demands. If you suspect that you need an upgrade, consult with a licensed electrician at Archimedes Electrical to assess your needs and ensure a safe, compliant, and efficient home energy system! Upgrading can also help accommodate the growing power demands of modern technologies, such as electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Here are 5 reasons to invest in an EV charger at home.
Archimedes Electric happily provides services in these areas of Ulster County, New York:
- Kingston
- Stone Ridge
- High Falls
- New Paltz
- Gardiner
- Saugerties
- Phoenicia
- Port Ewen
- Ellenville
- Ulster Heights