Is 100 Amps Enough to Power a House?

If Your Home Uses a 100 Amp Panel, It’s Likely Time to Upgrade

While many homeowners have chosen to upgrade, homes in Vancouver still commonly make use of 100-amp electrical panels to supply power to their residents. However, those with 100-amp panels may have noticed signs that their panels aren’t keeping up anymore with the demands of the modern household. When hiring us for electrical projects, homeowners will often ask us: Do I really need to upgrade my electrical panel? Is 100 amps enough for a house?

At TCA Electric, we commonly upgrade electrical panels from 100 to 200 amps. As years go by, electrical demands increase, and 100-amp panels have begun to lag behind. You may be wondering if it’s time to upgrade your home—here’s why you may want to consider an electrical panel replacement if your home still uses 100 amps.

Is 100 Amps Enough for a Modern House?

While there is no universal answer to this question, the trend is clear: for most modern homes, 100 amps will not be enough to meet the electricity demands of its residents. This is typically the case, and will only become more commonly the case with each passing year. The reason for this is simple: we use more electricity now than we used to. While households in years past could get by with 100 amps of electricity, this becomes increasingly difficult as power demands increase. 

Why Have Household Power Demands Increased?

In modern households, there are more demands made on your electrical panel than ever before. This is because more devices than ever require electricity. New appliances are added to homes all the time; energy is required to charge portable devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops; and many of the most popular home upgrades rely on electricity, such as EV charging stations.

Where previously 100 amps could support the electricity demands of a household, these electrical panels are becoming overloaded increasingly often. Electrical panels with 100 amps of power used to be the standard, but nowadays 200 amps is increasingly the expected norm.

Why Is It Important to Upgrade My Electrical Panel?

As panels begin to reach their capacity, electrical problems become more common. While many of these problems are simply annoying—lights dimming or flickering, breakers frequently tripping—there are dangers to nearing your electrical panel’s capacity, as well.

An electrical panel’s function is to be the first line of defense against overloads and other dangerous electrical problems. As your home starts to approach the maximum capacity of your electrical panel, it becomes more and more likely that your electrical panel may be damaged or otherwise not function properly. This means it’s crucial to upgrade your panel to provide more of a buffer between the usage level of your home and your panel’s maximum capacity.

Related post: Why Upgrade an Electric Meter and Panel to 200-Amp Service?

Upgrade Now to Avoid Future Headaches!

It’s easier to upgrade your panel now than it ever has been before. It’s also best to upgrade your panel promptly to avoid problems that may arise otherwise. For example, in addition to the hazards described above, most potential homebuyers now consider 200 amps to be the standard. If you’re looking to sell your home in the near future, a 100-amp electrical panel may be a major hindrance. 

Upgrading your panel to 200 amps sooner rather than later means you and your family will have more time to enjoy your newly upgraded electrical service. It can also make further electrical upgrades to your home possible, such as an EV charger or smart home upgrade.

TCA Electric Is Your Service and Panel Upgrade Specialist!

At TCA Electric, we specialize upgrading homes from 100 to 200 amps. We’ve performed this service numerous times for homeowners throughout Vancouver, helping to bring our customers greater convenience and peace of mind. 

If your home is showing signs of needing a higher-capacity electrical panel, don’t delay this important upgrade. Contact TCA Electric today to get started!

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