Signs Your Older Salt Lake City Home Needs an Electrical Panel Upgrade
If your Salt Lake City home was built before the 1990s and still runs on its original electrical panel, there is a good chance it was never designed for the way we use power today. Flickering lights, breakers that trip when the microwave and the space heater run together, or a panel that feels warm to the touch are all signs the system is working harder than it should. An upgrade is often the fix, and it is one of the smartest investments an older home can make.
At Central Electric, we work on homes across the Salt Lake Valley every week, and panel questions come up constantly in neighborhoods with mid-century housing stock. Here is how to tell when it is time.
Your Panel Cannot Keep Up With Modern Demand
Older homes were commonly wired for 60 or 100 amps. A modern household running central air, an EV charger, a kitchen full of appliances, and a home office often needs 200 amps to run comfortably. If you are relying on power strips and extension cords in every room, or you cannot add a circuit without something else going dark, the panel is the bottleneck. Upgrading the service is what makes projects like an EV charger installation or a kitchen remodel possible without constant nuisance tripping.
Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore
Some symptoms point to a panel that has moved past inconvenient and into a genuine hazard. Watch for breakers that trip repeatedly for no clear reason, a burning smell or scorch marks near the panel, buzzing sounds, or rust inside the box. Homes from certain eras may also have panel brands that are now known to be unreliable and are flagged during inspections. If you notice any of these, stop resetting the breaker and have a licensed electrician look at it promptly.
Aluminum Wiring and Aging Systems
A number of Salt Lake area homes built in the late 1960s and 1970s were wired with aluminum branch circuits, which can loosen and overheat at connections over time. A panel upgrade is often the right moment to evaluate that wiring and bring the whole system up to current code. It is also the point where we can add modern breakers and surge protection that older panels simply cannot accommodate.
Why an Upgrade Pays Off in Salt Lake City
Beyond safety, a right-sized panel adds real value here. Buyers and inspectors scrutinize electrical systems closely, and a documented 200-amp upgrade removes a common sticking point at resale. It also future-proofs the home for the electrification a lot of Utah homeowners are moving toward. When you are ready to plan one, our residential electricians in Salt Lake City can assess your current load and recommend the right service size for how you actually live.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my home has enough amps?
Look at the main breaker in your panel. The number printed on it, often 100 or 200, is your service size. If it reads 60 or 100 and you run heavy modern loads, an assessment is worthwhile.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
Most residential panel upgrades are completed in a single day, though coordinating the utility disconnect and reconnect and any permit inspection can add time. We handle that scheduling for you.
Is a permit required in Salt Lake City?
Yes. Panel upgrades require a permit and inspection. A licensed electrician pulls the permit and ensures the work passes, which protects you at resale.
Not sure whether your panel is due for an upgrade? Call Central Electric at 801-467-5479 or reach us through our contact page and we will take a look.
