If your lights dim when the AC kicks on, you are not imagining things – your electrical panel may be telling you it is working at (or beyond) its limit. In Southwest Florida, that problem shows up faster than many homeowners expect. Between high-demand cooling, pool equipment, newer kitchen appliances, and storm-driven power events, the panel that was “fine for years” can become the bottleneck for comfort and safety.
Why electric panel upgrades for Florida homes matter
Florida homes tend to ask a lot from their electrical systems. Air conditioning runs hard and long, especially in places like North Fort Myers and Cape Coral. Add in a pool pump, an electric range, a tankless water heater, or a garage freezer and you have steady, heavy loads that were not part of the plan in many older homes.
Then there is the weather factor. Lightning, utility switching, and hurricane-related outages can create power quality issues that stress panels and breakers over time. Even when nothing “fails” outright, heat, corrosion, and repeated surge events can shorten the life of components. An upgrade is not only about adding more circuits – it is often about putting a fresh, code-compliant foundation under everything in your home that uses electricity.
Signs your panel is undersized or past its prime
Some warning signs are obvious, like breakers that trip often. Others are subtle and get brushed off as normal.
Frequent breaker trips usually mean one of two things: the circuit is overloaded (common with modern appliances on older wiring layouts) or there is a legitimate electrical fault that needs diagnosis. Either way, a panel evaluation is a smart first step.
Heat is another red flag. If the panel cover feels warm, you notice a faint burning smell, or you see discoloration around breaker positions, you should treat that as an urgent safety issue. Florida garages and exterior walls can get hot enough already – the panel should not be adding to that.
Age and brand history matter, too. Many Florida homes built decades ago still have 100-amp service, fuse boxes, or older breaker panels that were never designed for today’s loads. If your panel is original to the home and the home is 25-40+ years old, it is worth having it inspected even if you are not seeing major symptoms.
What “panel upgrade” actually means
Homeowners sometimes hear “panel upgrade” and assume it always means jumping to the biggest option available. In reality, the right upgrade depends on your home’s load, your future plans, and the condition of the existing service equipment.
A typical upgrade can include replacing the main breaker panel (the box with the breakers), increasing the service size (often from 100 amps to 200 amps), replacing the meter base if it is outdated or damaged, and updating grounding and bonding so the system meets current electrical code. In some cases, the panel itself may be in decent shape but the bus, breakers, or connections have corrosion or heat damage – that still points to replacement rather than “patching.”
For Florida homes, it is also common to pair a panel upgrade with surge protection and – if you are planning for outages – generator readiness. Those are not automatically part of a panel upgrade, but it is usually the most cost-effective time to plan for them.
Choosing the right service size: 150 amps vs 200 amps
Most homeowners end up choosing 200-amp service because it provides breathing room for modern living. That said, not every home needs it, and there are trade-offs.
A smaller home with gas appliances, no pool, and limited future expansion may be well served with 150 amps if the load calculation supports it and the wiring layout is cleaned up. The benefit is sometimes lower project complexity.
If you have or want any combination of a pool, electric water heating, EV charging, a workshop, or a future addition, 200 amps is typically the practical move. The real value is not just “more power.” It is having enough capacity that circuits can be properly distributed so you are not stacking loads in ways that cause nuisance trips and heat buildup.
Permits, inspections, and Florida code realities
An electrical panel replacement is not a DIY project, and in Florida it is not a “swap it and forget it” job. Permits and inspections are part of doing it correctly, and they protect you as the homeowner. A permitted upgrade helps ensure the grounding, conductor sizes, and service connections are correct, and it also creates documentation that can matter for insurance and future resale.
Southwest Florida also adds practical considerations. Panels installed outdoors or in garages need to be properly rated for the environment and installed in a way that minimizes moisture exposure. Clear working space around the panel is required, and older homes sometimes have the panel located where it would not meet today’s clearance rules. In those cases, relocation may be part of the project. Relocation can add cost, but it can also improve safety and accessibility.
Storm readiness: what a panel can and cannot do
A new panel does not stop outages. If the utility goes down during a hurricane, your panel cannot “create” power.
What it can do is help your home handle rough power conditions better. Newer equipment, solid connections, and modern breakers reduce the chance of overheating and failure during high-demand periods. If you add whole-home surge protection at the panel, you improve your odds against damage from transient voltage spikes that can happen during storms and restoration events.
If you are considering a generator, the panel upgrade phase is a great time to talk about load priorities. Many homeowners do not need to run everything during an outage. They want the refrigerator, some lights, Wi-Fi, and maybe a small portion of the AC system depending on generator size. Planning that up front helps you avoid paying for capacity you will not use.
What to expect during the upgrade process
Most panel upgrades follow a predictable path. First, a licensed electrician evaluates the existing service, identifies any hazards, and performs a load calculation based on the home’s square footage and the appliances you actually have. If you are planning future additions – like an EV charger or pool heater – that gets factored in.
Once the plan is set, the job is scheduled with the permit and the utility coordination in mind. You should expect a power shutoff during the work. Many upgrades are completed in a day, but timing can vary depending on whether the meter base or service mast needs work, whether the panel must be relocated, and how quickly inspections and utility reconnects can be completed.
During the work, circuits are transferred to the new panel, labeled clearly, and tested. A good labeling job is not a small detail – it is what makes future troubleshooting faster and safer.
Cost factors: why estimates can vary
Homeowners often ask for a “typical price,” but panel upgrades can vary widely because the scope is not the same from home to home.
Service size is one factor, but not the only one. If the existing wiring is tidy and the panel location is compliant, the project is usually straightforward. If there is aluminum branch wiring, corrosion damage, double-tapped breakers, or unsafe past modifications, the electrician may need to correct those items to deliver a safe final result.
Relocation adds labor and materials. So does replacing the meter base, upgrading the service entrance conductors, or repairing stucco and mounting surfaces. Adding surge protection or generator interlock equipment changes the scope as well. The best estimates are the ones built from an on-site evaluation, with clear, transparent pricing that spells out what is included and what is not.
Common mistakes to avoid
One common mistake is upgrading the panel but ignoring the loads that created the problem. If you keep running multiple high-demand appliances on undersized or poorly distributed circuits, you may still trip breakers – even with a new panel. A panel upgrade is the right time to correct circuit allocation and, when needed, add dedicated circuits.
Another mistake is choosing the cheapest breakers or mixing incompatible components. Panels and breakers are designed as systems. Using the right components, installed to manufacturer specs and torqued properly, is part of long-term reliability.
Finally, do not skip surge protection because you “already have power strips.” Point-of-use strips can help sensitive electronics, but whole-home surge protection at the panel addresses surges where they enter the system. In Florida, that is often where the bigger risk lives.
When to pair a panel upgrade with HVAC planning
In Southwest Florida, HVAC is usually the largest electrical load in the house. If you are replacing your AC system, adding a mini-split, or upgrading to a higher-efficiency unit, it is smart to look at the electrical side at the same time. New equipment may require updated breaker sizing, disconnects, or wiring. Planning both projects together can prevent expensive do-overs.
If you are not sure whether your panel can support future HVAC changes, a load calculation and a quick site visit can answer that before you commit to equipment.
Getting it done safely and cleanly
Electric panel work is one of those home projects where “almost right” is not good enough. You want licensed professionals, clear communication about what will be replaced, and a finished installation that is neat, labeled, and inspection-ready.
If you are considering electric panel upgrades for Florida homes and want a local team that handles Southwest Florida’s heat, storms, and permitting process every day, Infinite Electric & Air can walk you through options, pricing, and a scope that fits your home.
A good panel upgrade should feel boring afterward – your AC runs, breakers stay put, and you stop thinking about your electrical system because it is simply doing its job.