Your electrical panel is the brain and the heart of your electrical system. If something goes wrong, the breakers that make up your panel trip, shutting off the at-risk circuit to keep you safe. If you want to add to your electrical system, you’ll probably need to add a new circuit to do it, and you can do that by adding a new breaker into your panel. However, what if all of your breakers that are already installed are full and operating?

This problem happens a lot, especially in homes where people are adding things like air conditioners or home theater systems. Your electrical system often needs to grow when you add more appliances, lights, or other gadgets that use power in your home.

Don’t worry, you might not be out of options. Check out our blog to learn about three ways you can still add to your electrical panel, even if you don’t have an open breaker spot.

Install a Tandem Breaker

One of the beautiful things about circuit breakers is that their size is standardized, so any breaker will fit in a standard breaker slot. A tandem breaker is no different, but instead, it gives you two different breakers in the space that would normally be occupied by just one. That means one breaker slot can actually give you two different electrical circuits that operate independently, all with this one simple upgrade.

Tandem circuit breakers are something that should not be installed by just anyone. In fact, you should only install a tandem breaker yourself if you know what you are doing. We strongly advise leaving any sort of panel service to a trained electrician unless you have experience working with breakers and have the proper tools to do the job safely. Tandem breakers are generally designed for use with lower-capacity circuits, and as such typically only come in 15 and 20-amp varieties. Therefore, you shouldn’t use them in situations that might require a higher amount of electrical current, such as 30 or even 50-amp circuits.

While this fix is pretty simple, it’s important to know that tandem breakers work best for electrical wiring jobs that don’t use a lot of power, unlike a clothes dryer or water heater. Adding a tandem breaker for things that don’t need much power, like extra lighting in a bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom, makes sense and can help stop short circuits or breakers from tripping. But if you’re adding something big that uses a lot of power—like an air conditioning system or big appliances—talk to a licensed electrical contractor first. This helps avoid putting too much load on your system.

Also, tandem breakers need to fit your breaker box, and it’s really important that the panel is grounded right to be safe. Any improper wiring can cause corrosion inside the panel or even start a fire. These jobs also need to follow the National Electrical Code (NEC) rules. If they don’t, it could affect your home insurance.

Add Another Breaker

Sometimes, your breaker box might have extra spaces that are covered up. Look at the bottom of your electrical breaker box. If you see spots that look like a breaker could fit, but they’re covered by thin metal, you have room to add more. You might need a screwdriver or other tool to take off the metal cover. This will show a spot where you can put in another breaker. Be careful when you do this so you don’t hurt your other breakers. It’s a good idea to turn off the main power switch at the top of the panel before you open the new breaker spot.

Adding a new circuit to your electrical panel is serious work—wiring is very important, and even small mistakes can cause big problems. We really think you should let a professional do any circuit wiring to make sure everything is connected right and follows all the rules.

In some homes, especially those with unfinished areas like the basement or garage, there might still be open breaker slots. This makes it easier to add a breaker. This works well if you want to add more electrical circuits in places like the bedroom, living room, or kitchen for more lights, outlets, or devices.

But it’s really important to use the right tools, like a test light, and follow safety rules. Putting in a new breaker without turning off the main power could cause a big power outage, short circuit, or even a fire. Also, you might need to cut into drywall or other parts of your house, depending on where the electrical panel is. That’s why it’s best to let a professional do this kind of home improvement, especially if you’re adding things that use a lot of power like a ceiling fan, new garage doors, or air conditioning units.

Upgrade Your Panel

If all your breaker spots are full and you can’t use a tandem breaker, it might be time to get a whole new electrical panel. Upgrading your panel lets you add more breakers, so you can use more electricity and safely add more things to your home’s power system. As we use more and more electricity, and many older homes still have old panels, a full upgrade might be the best way to make your home ready for the future!

This might also be better if your panel is old, worn out, or showing signs of damage. As your electrical system gets older, parts wear out and stop working right. When they don’t work right, they can be dangerous and cause all sorts of problems, from breakers turning off too much to electrical fires. If your home is over 30 years old and still using the original electrical panel, you should talk to a pro about getting a new panel.

A panel upgrade lets you handle more circuits, which is good for modern things that use a lot of power like air conditioning, clothes dryers, or water heaters. It also makes sure your home follows new electrical rules, which have changed a lot since older systems like Zinsco panels. New panels also have safety features like surge protectors and special breakers that help stop short circuits, arc faults, and fire hazards.

Upgrading makes your home safer and might make it worth more if you sell it. Homes with new electrical systems are more attractive to buyers, especially when it comes to things like energy efficiency and managing electrical load in important rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.

Need your electrical panel replaced or a new circuit installed? You need help from the team at Service Today! Dial (888) 586-2135 to request an estimate today.