Your electrical panel is the heart of your home's power system — and in many older California homes, it's quietly overdue for an upgrade. Here are the warning signs worth paying attention to, and why they matter more than ever.
Common warning signs
Watch for breakers that trip often, lights that flicker or dim when appliances kick on, a panel or outlets that feel warm, a burning smell, or scorch marks. If you still have a fuse box, or a panel from a brand known for safety recalls, that's reason enough to have it evaluated. And if your home has a 100-amp service, it may simply be too small for how families use electricity today.
Why it matters more now
Homes are drawing more power than they were designed for — EV chargers, heat pumps, induction ranges, batteries, and solar all lean on the panel. Adding any of these to an undersized or aging panel isn't just inconvenient, it's a safety and code issue. Upgrading to a modern 200-amp panel gives you the headroom to add what you need safely.
What an upgrade involves
A panel upgrade is a permitted job that involves coordinating a brief shutoff with your utility, replacing the panel and main breaker, bringing grounding and bonding up to current code, and passing inspection. Done by a licensed electrician, it's routine — but it's not a DIY project, and it's not something to hand to an unlicensed handyman.
Safety first
Electrical problems are the kind you don't want to "wait and see" on. If you're noticing any of the signs above, get it looked at by a licensed pro before it becomes an emergency.
Paxton Energy is a licensed C-10 electrical contractor serving Greater Los Angeles. We'll evaluate your panel honestly and tell you whether it needs work — and if it doesn't, we'll tell you that too. Get in touch for an assessment.