Understand the basics of electrical panels and replacement considerations
Between lighting, appliances, heating and cooling equipment, homes rely on electricity for a significant portion – if not all – of their energy needs. But unless you recently needed to shut off the power to make repairs or install household electrical equipment, you may rarely think about how you manage the electricity in your home.
The electrical panel — sometimes called a breaker box or fuse box — acts as a central hub that distributes electricity from the service line coming into your home to feed all parts of the house through circuits and wires. Unlike other electrical infrastructure such as power lines and utility poles, the electrical panel is the property of the homeowner or property owner and not the electric utility.
If you are looking to add new electrical equipment Or appliances to your homeIt is important to determine whether or not an electrical panel upgrade is required. Here’s what homeowners need to know to be ready to improve their homes.
Make sure the size of your electrical panel
New York’s housing stock ranges from new construction to historic properties dating back centuries. Newer homes will likely have electrical panels with larger capacity (measured in amps) to meet the electricity demand typical of modern life. While older homes may have a smaller panel capacity, especially if you use fossil fuel heating systems that only require a relatively small amount of electricity to ignite the combustion process at startup and power fans and pumps needed to distribute the heat around your home.
The surest way to determine the size of your board is to inspect the equipment yourself. Electrical panels are usually located inside the home near where the home’s electricity meter is located on the outside. This may be in the basement, utility closet, or garage.
Note that some homes may also have subpanels that receive power from the main electrical panel. They are often installed in a new addition or at a location with increased electrical needs such as a workshop or outbuilding. When determining the full electrical capacity of your home, you will need to find the main panel.
Once you have located the main electrical panel, open the panel door and check if the capacity is listed on the main breaker or fuse switch. The main crusher is usually located at the top of the panel and is larger than all the other crushers. The total amps may also appear on the label on your electrical panel or meter. With older panels, it is not uncommon for the ampacity not to be listed, which is when electrician services come to check the amps on your electrical panel.
Depending on the age and size of your home, your electrical panel can range from 60 to 400 amps.
A 200-amp panel is the standard for modern homes, although some newer, larger homes may be equipped with 400-amp service capacity (which can be split between two subpanels). This is usually enough to power all systems in the home with electricity.
If your panel is less than 60 amps, you may already be experiencing problems with overloaded circuits in your home such as tripped breakers and you should consider upgrading your service. If your panel has less than 200 amps and you are looking to upgrade to a heat pump for your hot water or space heating needs, a service upgrade may be necessary for this equipment to function properly.
When should you upgrade the electrical panel?
There are several scenarios when upgrading an electrical panel (Opens in a new window) They can be required for safety or to accommodate home upgrades. Flickering lights or frequently tripped circuit breakers are clear signs that the home electrical system is not adequately meeting demand. If the panel is nearing the end of its life (25 to 40 years).) or less than 100 ampsIt’s a good idea to scan it to detect potential issues and set a schedule for a future upgrade.
When pursuing home improvements or replacing equipment, a panel upgrade may be necessary if there are not enough open circuits to take advantage of. For homes with 100-150 amps, adding appliances, installing EV chargers or switching to all-electric heat pumps (Opens in a new window) It can exceed the available capacity on the board. For homeowners who are thinking long-term about their energy upgrades, upgrading to a 200-amp panel is usually enough to power an all-electric home.
Upgrading electrical panels often costs between $3,000 and $5,000. It is possible for a home to already have a 200 amp service level, even if the panel is 100-150 amps and only requires a larger panel. But a complete upgrade may include replacing the electricity meter and service wire along with the main electrical panel, which may increase the cost of the project. To avoid this cost and improve home energy use, homeowners may consider using a smart panel. These systems can manage the electrical loads in a fully electrified home with a lower total capacity. For example, a smart panel can turn major equipment such as electric vehicle chargers or water heaters on and off as needed to prevent a home’s maximum load from exceeding limits that might require a utility service upgrade.
Moving forward with an electrical panel upgrade involves working with a licensed electrician, and perhaps with local utilities if electrical service needs to be upgraded as well.
Financing home electrical upgrades
There are federal and New York State incentives available to help cover the cost of electrical panels or circuit upgrades, depending on the scope of the project and household income.
Homeowners can claim an IRA tax credit of up to $600 for electrical upgrades that support the installation of new electrical equipment. Note that the maximum IRA tax credit is 30% of the project cost.
Income-eligible New Yorkers may be eligible for upfront discounts on the cost of electrical upgrades if completed as part of a larger project. For example, the Appliance Upgrade Program covers up to 100% of the cost of upgrading electrical panels and wiring if necessary to install an energy-efficient heat pump clothes dryer.
Likewise, the EmPower+ program provides funding to upgrade electrical panels and wiring when a catalytic home energy upgrade is completed, such as the installation of heat pumps or heat pump water heaters.
