Your home or office’s electrical panel is the main hub for all the electrical needs in the building. Wiring from your panel extends throughout your home to provide electricity for lights, televisions, computers, electrical appliances, EV charging stations, and even hair dryers and vacuums. These panels are generally easily accessible, but in order to make sure that the panel is correctly serviced, you should always hire an experienced Lafayette electrician to make an inspection.

Travis’ Electrical Services can help you with a variety of needs for your panel, including:

• Installing new panels
• Upgrading panels in older homes or buildings 
• Relocating the panel to another part of the home
• Installing or fixing breakers
• Troubleshooting disconnects
• Installing or repairing meter bases

Your electrical panel helps regulate your home’s electricity. The circuit breaker within the electrical panel will be tripped if it notices that the electricity is going to overload your home’s electrical system. Overloads can result in fires and cause big problems for you and your home.

Below we have four reasons you should upgrade your electrical panel:

• Old Electrical Panel – Electrical panels that are old are only supposed to last about 25 years. When your home has a panel that is older than that, it’s at risk of a major failure.
• Circuit Breaker Trips Often – When your system is working the way it is supposed to, the circuit breaker won’t interrupt the electrical flow of your home very often. But, if your circuit breaker is constantly tripping, your electrical panel may need an upgrade.
• Burning Smell – If you noticed a burning smell, it could be your circuit breaker over heating or over loading. Cut the power and call an electrician immediately.
• Panel Feels Warm – You don’t need a fire to warn of a potentially harmful electrical problems. If you notice that your electrical panel feels warm, this is a red flag that their may be damaged or frayed wires behind the panel. Call us for expert electrical panel upgrades.

The cost of upgrading an electrical panel depends on a range of factors, including your location, the condition of your existing panel, the capacity of the new panel, and more. 

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common factors that go into the cost of an upgrade:

• Panel Size: The most common upgrades involve moving from an older 100-amp panel to a modern 200-amp panel, but you might need a different panel depending on your needs.
• Labor Costs: Most of the cost of upgrading an electrical panel comes from labor. The process usually involves several hours of work, including disconnecting and removing the old panel, installing the new one, reconnecting everything, and ensuring it meets code standards. 
• Permit & Inspection Costs: In many areas, upgrading an electrical panel requires a permit and subsequent inspections to ensure the work was done properly and meets code requirements.

Remember costs may vary. Before deciding to upgrade your electrical panel, it’s a good idea to get a quote from our team so you can make an informed decision based on your specific requirements.

• 60-Amp Electrical Panel: These can be found on older homes from the 1950s or earlier. Most homes will upgrade from this amperage since it is usually not sufficient for modern appliances.
• 100-Amp Electrical Panel: This is the current minimum amperage set by the National Electrical Code. This size is common for smaller homes or residences that rely on gas power.
• 150-Amp Electrical Panel: This can be found on some newly constructed homes, but it is rare.
• 200-Amp Electrical Panel: This is the modern standard for newly constructed homes.
• 400-Amp Electrical Panel: This is best for large homes with large electrical demands.

It may be time to get a new panel if you notice that your lights are starting to flicker, if you live in an older building, or if you are preparing an addition or new construction. If you are considering a panel upgrade or installation, do not hesitate to work with Travis’ Electrical Services.

Our Lafayette electrical contractors can help you safely address concerns with your panel and provide you with competitive pricing and outstanding customer service. Your issue may lie within the wiring as well. We take care of home wiring and rewiring with professional efficiency and care.