Electrical Panel Replacement Littleton, CO

Is It Worth Upgrading An Electric Panel?

Electrical panels are the hub of all things electrical in your Littleton home. Each circuit connects to the panel, which then powers various electronics throughout your home. Everything from your washer and dryer to the HVAC unit, lights, and outlets are all connected! When your electrical panel fails to deliver enough power, or circuits demand more power than the panel can safely support, you have problems.

In today’s world, our homes have many more electrical devices than when most homes in our area were built. Phones, TVs in every room, EVs…the list goes on of what we have in the modern area. If you have an older panel (think 20+ years old), chances are it wasn’t designed with the modern home in mind.

Electrical panels and wiring also degrade over time, so even if you aren’t planning on adding a jacuzzi or a new EV charger, it can still make a lot of sense to replace them when the time comes – for safety and convenience, if nothing else.

Common reasons to upgrade or replace your electrical panel include:

• Home expansions or remodels
• Overpowered equipment
• Age-related issues
• Code requirements

Top Reasons for Electric Panel Upgrades

A top reason we see our electricians called out for an electric panel replacement is home add-ons. Wiring an additional room may require a separate circuit or a new box that can handle additional circuit breakers. You may find that current rooms may require an upgraded panel once you start replacing receptacles or adding additional plugs. These types of projects usually require additional circuits or higher amperage than your current electrical panel supplies. In some situations, you may want to add specialized circuitry, like ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuits.

Another sign that can indicate it’s time to upgrade your electric panel is when it can’t handle the load. Circuit breakers that continuously trip when you turn on electrical devices are a telltale sign. You may also notice that the lights dim after turning on some electronics. This means you have an overloaded circuit. Getting an electrician to perform an upgrade could fix these issues.

Technology is always improving. One downside to this is that gear can become outdated, including your electrical panel. Very old boxes might still be using antiquated fuses instead of circuit breakers. If your panel is over 25 years old, you might consider an upgrade. Newer panels are more efficient, and they provide better safety than older models.

Updated building codes may require a panel upgrade in your home. You may find yourself needing an electrician to perform an upgrade if you are refurbishing or selling your home. Outdated components, overloaded circuits, or even the current panel location might be an issue. An upgrade can address these problems, improving your home’s value and increasing electrical safety.