Do your lights flicker when an appliance starts? Have you noticed unusual warmth around your breaker box or a burnt smell near the panel? These changes deserve attention, especially if your home’s electrical system has not been evaluated since you added major appliances or remodeled.
For homeowners in Georgetown, Sun City, Serenada, and surrounding Central Texas communities, an electrical inspection can answer two important questions: Is the existing equipment safe, and does the home have enough electrical capacity for how you use it today?
Flickering lights, repeated breaker trips, unusual panel heat, and burning odors are reasons to call an electrician. They do not automatically mean you need a larger panel. The right solution may be a repair, a dedicated circuit, panel replacement, or a service upgrade from 100 amps to 200 amps.
Burning Smell From Your Electrical Panel? Act Immediately
A burning or melting-plastic smell near your electrical panel is an urgent warning sign. Do not remove the cover, reach inside, or repeatedly reset breakers to see whether the problem goes away.
If you notice smoke, sparks, active crackling, or a persistent burning smell suggesting a fire, leave the area and call 911 from a safe location. Do not approach a hot or smoking panel to shut off the power.
Even if an odor stops, have the source evaluated before resuming normal use. The Electrical Safety Foundation identifies burning odors and flickering or dimming lights as possible signs of serious wiring problems.
1. Your Lights Frequently Flicker or Dim
A single flickering bulb may have a problem with the bulb, fixture, or dimmer. Flickering across several rooms, especially when large appliances start, deserves a broader electrical evaluation.
Pay attention to whether the issue is new, worsening, or happening alongside breaker trips or unusual sounds. Share those observations with your electrician without trying to reproduce the problem.
An inspection can help determine whether the cause involves an individual circuit, a connection, an appliance, or the incoming electrical supply. Increasing the service amperage alone will not correct every cause of flickering lights.
2. Your Panel Cover Seems Unusually Warm
An electrical panel that seems unusually warm should be professionally evaluated, particularly if the warmth is new or accompanied by an odor, discoloration, or noise. Do not deliberately touch the cover or breakers to test their temperature.
Some heat is produced during normal electrical operation. Warmth alone does not prove that a panel is overloaded or needs replacement. Schneider Electric’s circuit breaker temperature guidance explains that touch is not a reliable way to determine whether a breaker is operating within its permitted temperature range.
An electrician can assess the equipment under appropriate conditions and determine whether the concern involves a connection, damaged equipment, excessive loading, or normal operation.
3. Breakers Keep Tripping
A breaker that repeatedly trips is signaling a problem that needs diagnosis. Possible causes include an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance, or a wiring fault.
If one kitchen circuit trips when multiple countertop appliances run together, the solution may involve that circuit rather than the entire electrical service. Repeated main-breaker trips warrant evaluation of the broader system.
Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips again, and never install a higher-rated breaker just to stop tripping. The breaker must be properly matched to the circuit wiring and equipment. The ESFI electrical fire safety checklistrecommends having a licensed electrician verify correct breaker and fuse sizing.
4. You Notice Discoloration, Damage, or Unusual Sounds
Visible scorching, corrosion, evidence of water entry, and new buzzing or crackling around the breaker box are reasons to arrange professional attention. Do not open the panel to investigate.
The electrician should determine the extent and cause of any damage before recommending repairs or replacement. A panel with damaged components may need replacement even when the home already has sufficient service amperage.
5. You Are Adding Major Electrical Appliances
Electrical needs can change substantially when you add equipment such as:
- A Level 2 electric vehicle charger.
- An electric range or clothes dryer.
- Electric water heating.
- A hot tub or workshop equipment.
- Additional HVAC equipment or a home addition.
For example, a Georgetown homeowner planning an EV charger and an electric kitchen renovation should have the combined demand reviewed before installation. Small electronics and LED lighting usually play a much smaller role than heating, cooling, cooking, and vehicle charging.
ENERGY STAR recommends reviewing panel capacity and planned electric appliances with a licensed electrician. Some projects require new circuits or outlets; others also require increased service capacity.
100-Amp vs. 200-Amp Service: What Actually Changes?
Amperage describes electrical current capacity. Moving from 100A to 200A service increases the amount of current the service is rated to supply, allowing greater simultaneous demand when the complete system is properly designed and installed.
A 100-amp service is not automatically unsafe or inadequate. The appropriate size depends on the home’s calculated electrical load, equipment condition, and planned additions.
| Option | What it addresses |
|---|---|
| Panel replacement at the existing service size | Equipment condition or panel configuration without necessarily increasing incoming capacity. |
| Service upgrade from 100A to 200A | Greater incoming current capacity when supported by the complete service installation. |
| Additional circuit or subpanel | Circuit needs or breaker space, subject to available service capacity. |
An electrician should evaluate demand using an appropriate load calculation. Simply adding together the numbers printed on all the breakers does not determine the home’s required service size.
A new panel labeled “200A” also does not establish that the property has 200A service. The service conductors, metering equipment, main disconnect, and utility supply must be suitable for the intended installation. Utility guidance such as PG&E’s residential project resources distinguishes panel replacement from service changes and describes the coordination involved. Your Georgetown-area project must follow the requirements of its own utility and permitting authority.
What to Expect From a Panel Evaluation
When arranging an electrical panel evaluation, explain the symptoms you have noticed and any upgrades you are considering. Useful questions include:
- Is the problem in the panel, an individual circuit, or the incoming supply?
- Does the existing service have enough capacity for my planned appliances?
- Would a repair or additional circuit solve the issue?
- Does the proposal include a service upgrade or only panel replacement?
- What utility coordination, permits, inspections, and power interruption will the work involve?
For homeowners in Sun City or Serenada planning a renovation, reviewing electrical needs early can help avoid redesigning the project after appliance selections are finalized.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electrical Panel Upgrades
Does every older Georgetown home need a 200-amp panel?
No. Age alone does not establish the need for 200A service. The decision should consider equipment condition, calculated demand, and future plans.
Can a subpanel increase my home’s total electrical capacity?
A subpanel can provide additional circuit space, but it does not increase the capacity of the incoming electrical service. Available capacity must still be evaluated.
Will a panel upgrade lower my electric bill?
A standard panel upgrade does not inherently reduce electricity consumption. Its purpose is to address equipment needs or support the electrical loads your home requires.
How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost in Georgetown?
Pricing depends on whether the work involves panel replacement alone or a full service upgrade. Equipment, panel location, service wiring, utility requirements, and the scope of related repairs can all affect the estimate. An on-site evaluation provides a more useful price than a generic national average.
Schedule an Electrical Panel Evaluation With StarFire Electric LLC
If you have noticed electrical warning signs or are preparing for a major appliance installation, start with a professional evaluation of your existing system.
Call StarFire Electric LLC at 830-220-1993 or visit the website to request service. Tell us what you are experiencing and what you are planning so we can help determine the right next step for your home.