Is Your Reno Home's Electrical Panel a Fire Hazard? 7 Signs You Need an Upgrade Now

Date: January 15, 2026 Author: Silver State Electric Team Category: Home Safety & Maintenance

Your electrical panel is the silent, beating heart of your home. Tucked away in a garage, a basement, or a utility closet, it works tirelessly day and night to distribute power to every light, appliance, and device you own. Because it sits out of sight, it is often out of mind—until the lights go out, or worse, until you smell smoke.

In Reno and Sparks, where many of our charming neighborhoods like the Old Southwest, Midtown, and older parts of Sparks date back to the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, this "out of sight, out of mind" mentality can be dangerous. The electrical infrastructure that was perfectly adequate for a home in 1975 is often woefully insufficient—and potentially unsafe—for the high-energy demands of 2026.

At Silver State Electric, we believe that safety starts with awareness. An outdated electrical panel isn't just an inconvenience; it is a potential fire hazard ticking inside your walls. In this guide, we will walk you through the critical signs that your home’s electrical system is crying out for help.

The "Time Capsule" Problem: Why Age Matters

Think about how life has changed in the last 50 years. In the 1970s, a typical household might have had a refrigerator, a color TV, a few lamps, and maybe a window air conditioner. Today, that same home is powering central HVAC, multiple computers, large flat-screen TVs, smart home hubs, high-efficiency washers and dryers, and increasingly, electric vehicles.

The load on your home’s electrical system has skyrocketed, but the capacity of the original panel has stayed the same. Many older homes in our area were built with 60-amp or 100-amp services. While that was plenty of power back then, a modern home typically requires a minimum of 200 amps to operate safely and efficiently.

Furthermore, circuit breakers are mechanical devices. Like any machine, they wear out over time. The springs inside them can weaken, the contacts can corrode, and their ability to trip quickly during a fault can diminish. A 50-year-old breaker is simply not as reliable as a new one.

The "Red Flag" Brands: Federal Pacific & Zinsco

Before we even look for symptoms of failure, we need to talk about two specific brands of electrical panels that are notorious in the industry. If your home was built between 1950 and 1980, there is a significant chance you have a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok or a Zinsco panel.

These panels are not just "old"; they are defectively designed.

• Federal Pacific (FPE): These panels are infamous for their "no-trip" defect. In testing, FPE breakers failed to trip during a short circuit up to 60% of the time. Instead of cutting the power to prevent a fire, they jam, allowing the wire to overheat and ignite.
• Zinsco: These panels have a design flaw where the breakers can melt onto the bus bar (the main metal strip that conducts electricity). This means the breaker can appear to be "off" but is actually still conducting electricity, posing a massive shock and fire hazard.

If you see the name "Federal Pacific," "Stab-Lok," or "Zinsco" on your panel, stop reading and call us immediately. These panels are considered such a high risk that many insurance companies in Reno will refuse to renew your policy until they are replaced.

7 Signs You Need an Upgrade

Even if you don't have one of the "red flag" brands, your panel may still be struggling. Here are the seven most common signs that it’s time for an upgrade:

1. Breakers Trip Frequently

A circuit breaker is designed to trip when the circuit is overloaded to protect the wire from melting. If you find yourself constantly resetting a breaker—especially when you use a hair dryer or the microwave—it’s a sign that your system is overloaded and cannot handle your daily usage.

2. Flickering or Dimming Lights

Do your kitchen lights dim when the refrigerator compressor kicks on? Does the living room lamp flicker when the AC starts up? This "voltage drop" indicates that your panel is maxed out and struggling to distribute power effectively.

3. The "Octopus" Outlet

Take a look at your power strips. Are they daisy-chained together? Do you have splitters plugged into splitters? Relying heavily on extension cords and power strips is a clear sign that your home lacks the necessary number of dedicated circuits.

4. Warmth or Burning Smells

Go to your panel and place your hand on the metal cover (do not touch the wires inside). It should feel cool to the touch. If it feels warm, or if you smell a fishy, acrid, or burning plastic odor near the panel, you have a serious emergency. This indicates a connection is overheating and melting insulation.

5. Rust or Corrosion

Water and electricity do not mix. If you see rust stains on the bottom of your panel or corrosion on the breakers, it means moisture has infiltrated the box. This is common in outdoor panels or basement installs. Corrosion increases resistance, which creates heat and leads to failure.

6. No Main Breaker

Modern panels have a single large "Main" switch at the top that cuts power to the entire house. Many older "split-bus" panels do not have this; instead, you have to turn off up to six different breakers to kill all power. These are outdated and no longer meet code requirements.

7. You Are Planning Major Additions

If you are thinking about adding a hot tub, a sauna, a central AC unit, or an EV charger, you need to check your capacity first. Most older panels simply do not have the physical space or the electrical amperage to support these high-draw appliances.

The Benefits of a 200-Amp Upgrade

Upgrading your panel isn't just about avoiding disaster; it’s about improving your home’s value and functionality.

• Enhanced Safety: New panels come with Arc-Fault (AFCI) and Ground-Fault (GFCI) protection, which are far superior at preventing fires and shocks than standard breakers.
• Increased Value: A new 200-amp service is a major selling point. Home inspectors will flag an old panel immediately, often forcing sellers to lower their price or pay for repairs at closing.
• Future-Proofing: You will have plenty of room for future upgrades, whether that’s a solar battery system, a workshop, or the latest smart home tech.

The Silver State Electric Difference

We know that having your power turned off for a day is stressful. That’s why we have streamlined our panel upgrade process to be as efficient and painless as possible.

We handle all the permitting with the City of Reno, Sparks, or Washoe County. We coordinate with NV Energy to schedule the disconnect and reconnect. We use only the highest quality equipment from trusted brands like Square D and Eaton—never cheap knock-offs. And most importantly, our experienced team works with precision to ensure your power is back on the same day, leaving your home safer than we found it.

Conclusion: Don't Wait for the Smoke

Your electrical panel is the one appliance you can't afford to ignore. If you recognized any of the signs in this list, or if your home is over 40 years old and has never had an inspection, don't wait.

Protect your investment and your family. Contact Silver State Electric today to schedule a comprehensive panel inspection and safety assessment. Let’s make sure your home’s heart is beating strong for the next 50 years.