Too Hot to Handle: Is Your Electrical Panel Keeping Up With Summer Load?

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Ahh, summer in Washington. The sun is (mostly) out, the air conditioners are humming, the grill is sizzling, and your electrical panel? Well... it's sweating bullets behind the drywall.

As temps creep higher and households crank up everything from portable AC’s to backyard pool pumps, your electrical system is silently begging for a break. And if your panel is older than your Spotify playlist—or worse, your first email address—it might be time to take a closer look.
 

The Summer Strain Is Real

Your panel isn't just some metal box with switches. It's the brain of your home’s electrical system, routing power safely and efficiently to every device, appliance, and glowing string light you plug in. But it's got limits—especially if it was installed when "plugging in your phone" meant charging a Nokia.
In summer, usage goes way up:

 

• Central AC’s pull 15-60 amps on startup

• Portable AC’s draw 10-12 amps

• Pool pumps: 10-16 amps, depending on horsepower

• EV chargers: 30-50 amps

• Plus the fridge, oven, microwave, and your teenager’s army of gaming gear...

 

A panel that handled things just fine in the winter might now be teetering on the edge of its capacity.

Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Here are some red flags that your panel is waving frantically (probably while producing sparks):

• Lights dimming when large appliances start

• Breakers tripping more often than your dog at the vet

• Warm or buzzing breakers

• Burn marks or smells near the panel

• Extension cords running EVERYWHERE because you're out of outlets

 

None of these are "just summer things." They're warnings. Your panel isn’t keeping up.
So What Does a Panel Upgrade Actually Mean?

Glad you asked. A panel upgrade is like trading in your 2002 minivan for a 2025 all-electric pickup—sleek, modern, and way more capable. We remove your old panel and replace it with a brand-new, code-compliant, properly sized panel that can handle today’s power needs (and maybe a few tomorrows). Depending on your setup, we might also:

• Replace or upgrade your service entrance wiring

• Coordinate with your utility for meter replacement or upgrades

• Add surge protection to protect your electronics from summer storm spikes

 

We can also do a Panel Rejuvenation if your box is newer but just needs a little TLC—think new breakers, updated labeling, cleanup, and thermal scanning to make sure nothing’s running hot under the hood.

Yes, There Are Permits (and Yes, We Handle Them)

In Washington State, L&I (Labor & Industries) requires permits for panel upgrades or service modifications. We handle all that. No guesswork, no red tape for you. Just a permitted, inspected, safe installation. The way it should be.

Don’t Wait for the Heat Wave to Blow Your Breakers

Your panel won’t send you a calendar invite when it's had enough. One day, everything goes dark and your ice cream melts while you’re on hold with emergency service. Don’t let it come to that.

At Empowering Electrical Solutions, we offer free panel evaluations and honest feedback. If your panel's in great shape? We’ll tell you. If it needs attention? We'll explain why and what your options are.

Call it a mid-summer checkup, but think of it like sunscreen for your home’s power system. Keeps things cool, running smooth, and helps prevent those "uh-oh" moments when you least expect them.

Give us a call, shoot us a text, or send a carrier pigeon. Just don’t ignore your panel this summer. It’s trying its best, but it might be too hot to handle.