Panel upgrades for homes carrying more than they were built for.
A house wired in the seventies was not planned around two air conditioners, a hot tub and a car charger. When the panel is the bottleneck, everything downstream of it is too.
When a panel actually needs replacing
The common signs are breakers that trip with no obvious cause, lights that dim when the AC starts, a panel with no free slots, or a brand that insurers have opinions about. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels come up a lot in older Houston-area subdivisions and they are worth looking at even if nothing has gone wrong yet.
An upgrade usually means going to a 200-amp service, replacing the panel and breakers, relabelling every circuit properly, and coordinating the meter release with the utility. It is permitted work and it gets inspected.
We also do the smaller version of this. If your panel is sound and you just need a couple of circuits added or a breaker replaced, we will say so rather than sell you a full replacement.
- 200-amp panel replacement and service upgrade
- Breaker replacement and clear circuit labelling
- Federal Pacific and Zinsco panel replacement
- Permit, utility coordination and inspection handled
Licensed, bonded and insured. TX Electrical Contractor License #34414.
Electrical Panel Upgrade: common questions
How do I know if my panel needs upgrading?
Frequent unexplained breaker trips, dimming when large appliances start, no spare breaker slots, or a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel. Any of those is worth an inspection.
How long is the power off during an upgrade?
Most of a working day. The utility has to pull and reset the meter, so the exact window depends on their schedule as well as ours, and we will tell you what to expect before the day.
Is a permit required?
Yes. A service upgrade is permitted and inspected work in this area. We pull it and meet the inspector.
Do I need 200 amps, or is 100 enough?
It depends on what you run. A small home with gas heat and no EV can be fine on 100. Add a car charger, a second AC or an electric range and 200 becomes the sensible number.
Not sure whether your panel is the problem?
Send us a photo of the panel door open and we can usually tell you a lot before we ever drive out.