If you’ve ever wondered whether your home’s electrical panel is keeping up — or quietly working against you — here’s the complete guide we wish every Wichita homeowner had before they needed one.

Why panels need upgrading in the first place

Most homes in older Wichita neighborhoods were wired for a fraction of the electrical load we use today. A panel built for window units and a handful of outlets wasn’t designed for central air, an electric range, a home office full of electronics, and an EV charger all drawing power at once. Add in normal wear on breakers and connections over 30–50 years, and an aging panel becomes less of a convenience issue and more of a real safety one.

Warning signs your panel is overdue

A few things worth taking seriously: breakers that trip repeatedly under normal use, a panel that feels warm to the touch, any burning smell near the panel, visible rust or corrosion inside the cabinet, flickering or dimming lights when appliances kick on, and simply running out of open slots for new circuits. If your panel is a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) or Zinsco brand — common in homes built from the 1950s through the 1970s — that’s worth a look regardless of symptoms, since both brands have well-documented breaker failure issues.

100A, 150A, or 200A — how much do you actually need?

100-amp service was standard for decades and is still fine for smaller homes with modest electrical needs. Most upgrades today land on 200 amps, which comfortably covers central HVAC, an electric range and dryer, and room to add an EV charger or a generator transfer switch later without another upgrade. If you’re planning a larger addition, a shop, or multiple future EV chargers, it’s worth discussing 320-amp service or a sub-panel during your assessment.

What the upgrade actually looks like, start to finish

A typical panel upgrade runs through five steps: an on-site assessment of your current panel and circuit load, pulling the required permit with the City of Wichita, coordinating a brief power shutdown with Evergy for the service connection, the physical swap and circuit transfer (usually the bulk of a single day), and a final inspection before everything is closed up and labeled. Most straightforward residential upgrades are done in a day, with power restored well before evening.

What it costs

Panel upgrade pricing depends on your home’s current amperage, panel location, whether your service line from the street needs upgrading too, and current permit fees — so we’d rather not throw out a number that doesn’t apply to your house. The most useful next step is a free, no-pressure on-site assessment where we can give you an exact, written quote.

Questions about your own panel? Just reply — we’re happy to help, no appointment required.

Ask us about financing for residential work — 0% interest for the first 3 months, or pay-over-time options through our partner, Wisetack.

— The Elite Electric Company Team