Heavy-Ups and Electrical Service Upgrades in Delaware
Your electrical service is the total amount of power your home can draw from the utility at once. It is set by the service cable coming to the house, the meter equipment, and the main panel. Many older homes have less capacity than today's appliances, heating and cooling systems, and electric vehicles call for.
A heavy-up raises that capacity by replacing the service equipment with larger, modern components. HomeMax uses licensed electricians for heavy-ups in homes across Kent and Sussex counties, including Dover, Millsboro, and Dagsboro.
Why Homes Outgrow Their Electrical Service
A heavy-up usually follows a change in how your home uses power. Common reasons include:
- Adding a Level 2 EV charger, or chargers for two vehicles
- Switching to a heat pump or adding electric heat
- Building an addition, finishing a basement, or setting up a workshop
- Replacing gas, oil, or propane appliances with electric models
- Installing a hot tub, pool equipment, or an electric tankless water heater
- Living with older, lower-amp service that limits what you can add
What the Heavy-Up Process Involves
Every heavy-up starts with a load calculation that totals what your home uses now and what you plan to add. That result sets the new service size. The work typically includes a new meter base, new service entrance cable, a new main panel, and updated grounding and bonding. Existing circuits are then moved into the new panel, checked, and labeled.
Because the service connects to the power grid, the electric utility has to be involved. The utility disconnects power so the old equipment can be safely removed, then reconnects the home once the new equipment is installed and inspected. Depending on the setup, the utility may also upgrade the line or meter on its side.
Heavy-Up, Panel Replacement, or Neither?
A heavy-up and a panel replacement are related but not the same. A panel replacement swaps a worn or outdated panel while keeping the same service size. A heavy-up increases the service size, which usually means a new panel along with new meter equipment and service cable.
Not every new appliance requires either one. A load calculation sometimes shows that your existing service can handle a new charger or heat pump, or that a load management device can share capacity between two large loads. HomeMax will tell you when a smaller solution meets your needs.