The warning signs
A few symptoms show up again and again: breakers that trip regularly, a panel that feels warm or hums, lights that dim when the AC or microwave starts, scorch marks or a burning smell at the panel, and a house so short on outlets that power strips are everywhere. Any one of these is worth a look; several together mean it's time.
Older homes and obsolete panels
Plenty of Columbia-area homes were built when 100-amp service or a fuse box was standard. Some have panels from brands — Federal Pacific (FPE) and Zinsco are the common ones — that are known to fail to trip properly, which is a genuine fire risk. If that's what's on your wall, replacement isn't just about capacity; it's about safety.
Home rewiring & older-home safety →Modern loads change the math
EV chargers, heat pumps, induction ranges, and hot tubs all draw heavy, sustained power. A panel that was fine for decades can be pushed past its limit by a single new addition. Before installing an EV charger, for example, a licensed electrician confirms the panel can carry it — and flags an upgrade early if it can't.
EV charger installation →What the upgrade involves
A typical residential upgrade moves you to 200-amp service, brings the meter, mast, and grounding to code, and is inspected. We pull the permit and coordinate the brief power disconnect and reconnect with the utility, so the whole job is documented and done right — usually in a single day.
Panel repair & upgrades →