Electrical upgrades and repairs

What's covered

• Panel & Service UpgradesAn upgrade starts with a load calculation: what the house draws today and what you plan to add, such as a heat pump, an EV charger, a hot tub or an addition. A panel replacement swaps an old fuse box or a full panel for a new one with room for more circuits. A service upgrade also increases the size of the supply from the utility, which means coordinating a disconnect with the utility and an inspection by the local electrical authority.
• Home RewiringOlder homes often still have knob-and-tube wiring, early aluminum branch circuits or two-prong ungrounded outlets. They were not designed for modern loads, and many insurers ask about them. Rewiring replaces these circuits with new cable fished through walls and ceilings, using small access holes where possible. It can be done all at once or floor by floor, and the quote should say how much wall and ceiling repair is included.
• EV Charger InstallationA Level 2 home charger needs a dedicated 240 volt circuit sized for the charger. The first question is whether the panel and service have room for it. If they do not, the options include an energy management device that pauses charging when the house is drawing a lot, or a service upgrade. The distance from the panel to the parking spot, and whether the run is indoors, outdoors or underground, drive most of the cost.
• Lighting InstallationRecessed pot lights are the most common lighting job, either in an open ceiling during a renovation or retrofitted into finished ceilings with slim LED fixtures. Other work includes replacing fixtures, adding switches and dimmers, under-cabinet and pendant lighting in kitchens, and exterior and landscape lighting. The quote should list the number and type of fixtures, the switching and any drywall patching.
• Generators & Transfer SwitchesA standby generator starts on its own when the power goes out and connects through an automatic transfer switch. A portable generator can power selected circuits through an inlet and a manual transfer switch or interlock, which costs far less. Either way, the transfer device keeps the generator from feeding power back into the utility lines. Sizing depends on what you want to run during an outage, and gas or propane hookups and permits belong in the quote.
• Electrical Repairs & TroubleshootingMost electrical repairs start with finding the fault: an overloaded circuit, a loose connection, a failing breaker, a damaged cable or a wiring mistake from an earlier renovation. A burning smell, scorch marks, a warm outlet or a breaker that trips right after being reset are signs to stop using that circuit and have it checked. The quote should say what was found and what the repair involves.
• New Circuits, Outlets & GFCIRenovations and new appliances often need new circuits: kitchen counters, induction ranges, heat pumps, hot tubs, workshops and home offices. Electrical codes call for GFCI protection near water and outdoors, and in many places AFCI protection on bedroom and living area circuits. Adding outlets in finished rooms means fishing cable through walls, so access and wall repair are part of the price.
• Electrical InspectionsAn electrical inspection looks at the service and panel, grounding and bonding, the type and condition of the wiring, outlets and switches, GFCI locations, and signs of overheating or amateur work. It is useful before buying an older home, when an insurer asks about knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, or before a major renovation. The written findings should rank what needs attention now and what can wait.

How the work is handled

• Capacity Before UpgradesBefore an EV charger, heat pump or new circuits go in, the existing load is calculated. Sometimes an upgrade is needed, sometimes load management or rebalancing is enough.
• Written ScopePanel size, circuits, wire runs, devices and fixtures, permits, utility coordination, inspection and wall repair, all written down before work starts.
• Permits and InspectionsMost electrical work needs a permit and an inspection by the local authority. The quote says which apply and who takes care of them.
• Clear OptionsWhen more than one approach can work, such as a service upgrade versus load management, you see both along with the trade-offs.
• Homes and Small BuildingsHouses, condos, cottages, plexes, small apartment buildings and small commercial spaces.
• Form Only, Your PaceSend the details when it suits you. Nobody calls you before you ask for a quote.

Every written quote covers

• Load calculation where needed
• Scope and materials in writing
• Permits and inspection flagged
• Utility coordination spelled out
• Wall and ceiling repair stated

Cities