Does the electrical in my house need updating?

hot tub 60 amp breaker image

ChoobiesMo

I had an AC installed last year, which required a new electrical panel. I was told recently that the power in my house is "maxed out". What does this mean, and what do I need to do to make it not maxed out? We don't get power outages, but I did notice that the lights dim when someone turns on a hair dryer.

We also could use more outlets as the house was built in the 60s before we had so many electrical gadgets. Should this all be done at the same time?

Answer
Nancy's answer was a little over-zealous.
People ask me all of the time if their house needs to be rewired. First of all, not every outlet, switch and light fixture can be accessed without ripping out drywall or plaster, secondly, the cost/benefit is usually not worth it-- unless there is a known problem. If every house in America built before 1965 HAD to be rewired, we would suffer an economic collapse.
What I usually tell them is "update by adding". Typically, a 1960's house (in Midwest America) will benefit by adding;
Bathroom circuit (a hair dryer alone can "fill up" a 15 Amp circuit).
Microwave circuit
Computer circuit (they won't pull much power but they should be on a grounded circuit seperate from other appliances).
Circuit for any known big loads like an extra fridge/freezer in the garage.
"Circuit" means a new wire (with one or more outlets) run all the way back to the breaker box and placed on it's own breaker.
Also, consider replacing those old, loose, scratched up outlets and switches. It is the electrical connections THROUGH these that typically cause problems. So, it looks better AND you have new/tight connections.
In the early 60's they started installing grounded wiring in houses, so your house may or may not have grounded circuitry. Either way, it's recommended for human safety to have GFI (ground fault interrupters) outlets installed in the outlets by sinks, outside, in garage as required by modern code.
You said that you had a new electrical panel installed. I hope that means you had your old one REPLACED with a larger panel. If you meant that they added a small sub-panel beside it then this is what they meant by "maxed out": They had no place in the old panel to place the new breaker for the A/C unit. This is standard procedure for A/C guys and is Ok IF DONE RIGHT. However, you won't have room to update and add a few new circuits until you get a panel change.
Depending on the size of your house and other factors (gas heat?) you may or may not need a Service upgrade- ie) from 100 Amps to 200 Amps. Ask you friendly neighborhood electrician.
So, if you haven't added a bunch of big loads like a hot tub or baseboard heaters or been tripping the main breaker then;
You probably just need a new breaker panel and a few new circuits

What size wire would you need to run 60 amp breaker for a hot tub that's a 100 foot run?

jeffman79

Answer
For a run that long, you will need to run #4 AWG. This will compensate for the voltage drop. Hope this helps.

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