7 signs you need an electrical panel upgrade
2 Sept 2026The Mullins Electric Team2 min read
- Upgrades
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home's wiring. When it's outdated or overloaded, you'll usually get warning signs long before anything fails. Here are the seven we see most.
1. Breakers trip all the time
An occasional trip is normal. Regular trips when you run the microwave and the hair dryer together mean the circuit, or the panel, is overloaded.
2. Lights dim or flicker
If lights dim when the AC, fridge or a space heater starts, the panel may not be supplying enough current.
3. You still have fuses
Fuse boxes aren't automatically dangerous, but they are usually undersized for modern homes and many insurers charge more for them.
4. The panel is a known problem brand
Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) and Zinsco panels have well-documented failure histories. If you have one, have it evaluated.
5. It's warm, buzzing or smells like burning
This one isn't a sign to plan an upgrade: it's a sign to call an electrician today.
6. You rely on power strips everywhere
Too few circuits and outlets usually means the panel has no room left to grow.
7. You're adding something big
An EV charger, heat pump, hot tub, or finished basement can push an older 100A panel past its limit.
What to do next
An electrician can run a load calculation and tell you whether you need a full upgrade or just a few changes. Ours are free.