The electrical panel is the one part of your home's electrical system that everything else depends on. When it is undersized, worn out, or one of the recalled brands, it limits what you can add to the house and, in the worst cases, fails to protect it. Here are the signs we look for on service calls across St. Charles County and St. Louis.
1. Breakers trip when normal things run together
A microwave and a toaster on the same kitchen circuit, a hair dryer and a space heater in the same bedroom, or the air conditioner kicking on while the dryer runs. Occasional trips can mean a single overloaded circuit, but a panel that trips across many circuits is out of capacity.
2. It is rated 60 or 100 amps
Look at the main breaker at the top of the panel. Homes built before the 1980s frequently have 60 or 100-amp services. Today's standard is 200 amps, which is what an EV charger, a heat pump, an electric range, and a hot tub reasonably need.
3. It is a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania, or Pushmatic panel
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels were installed in enormous numbers in St. Louis County and older parts of St. Charles from the 1950s through the early 1980s. Testing has shown their breakers can fail to trip on a fault. Many Missouri insurers will not write or renew a policy until they are replaced. If the label says Federal Pacific, FPE, Stab-Lok, Zinsco, or GTE-Sylvania, contact us.
4. It is a fuse box
Fuses work, but a fuse box almost always means a 60-amp service, no room for new circuits, and a temptation for someone to install a larger fuse than the wire can handle.
5. Rust, scorching, buzzing, or heat
Any of these at the panel is a safety issue, not a capacity issue. Turn off the main if it is safe to do so and request immediate service.
6. You are adding a big load
EV chargers, hot tubs, heat pumps, electric ranges, tankless water heaters, and finished basements all add load. A load calculation tells us whether your existing service can take it. Sometimes it can. Often it cannot.
7. Double-tapped breakers and no open slots
If a previous electrician landed two wires on one breaker because the panel was full, the panel is telling you it is done growing.
What the upgrade involves
A 200-amp upgrade typically takes one day. We pull the permit, coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with Ameren Missouri, replace the panel and often the meter base and service entrance cable, add whole-home surge protection, label every circuit, and meet the inspector. Power is off for roughly four to six hours.
Learn more about panel upgrades or schedule an evaluation.
Talk to a licensed electrician
Questions about your home or building? Request a quote or schedule online. Flat-rate quotes, no pressure.
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