A very common question many people ask is whether or not they need to upgrade their electrical service. All structures have a limited electrical capacity. When a service is upgraded or changed, that capacity is increased, allowing the potential for more circuits to be installed and used.
Many homes and businesses still have their original 100 amp service, so when it comes time to remodel or add and addition, there is often little or no room in the distribution panel to install the required additional circuits. The amount of electricity available to use is limited by the capacity of your main breaker. So when major appliances that need electrical power are added, or the size of the building is increased, the electrical capacity of your service needs to be increased as well.
In addition, many electrical services have been hanging on the side of building for a long time, subject to deterioration caused by the environment and weather. Some have become damp and corroded, some have been overloaded over the years and due to overheating, joints and connections have become loose. Some services still rely on fuses, which, because of their age, are corroded, overstuffed and overheated. These conditions are dangerous and good reasons to invest in changing your service.