ServicesPanel Upgrades
Panel Upgrades in River Oaks
We replace worn or undersized electrical panels with new equipment sized to how your home actually uses power. That means steady circuits on the hottest afternoons, room for efficient appliances you may add later, and a tidy, labeled panel you can read at a glance.
Knowing When a Panel Replacement Makes Sense
Every circuit in your house begins at the panel. If it is undersized, worn out or holding breakers that have lost their grip, the trouble appears all over the house: breakers that run warm, lights that flicker as the air conditioner starts, and no space for a new appliance circuit.
A new panel by itself will not shrink your electric bill, and we will never claim it does. It gives efficient equipment the capacity to run as intended. Heat pumps, induction ranges, heat pump water heaters and EV chargers each need their own dedicated circuits. Tight, clean connections in a correctly sized panel also end the steady heat loss at loose terminals, which is wasted energy as well as a safety concern.
In some homes the panel is in good shape and the problem is a single worn breaker or a loose lug. When that is the case we tell you, and an electrical repair or a torque and clean may cover it.
What Comes With Your Panel Upgrade
A load calculation on paper
We add up what your house uses today and what you intend to add before suggesting a size. The numbers are shared with you, so the panel matches real needs instead of an estimate.
Permit and inspection handled
We file the permit and book the inspection the local jurisdiction requires. The job is not done until it passes.
Working with the utility
Nearly every panel change requires cutting power at the meter. We schedule the disconnect and reconnect with the utility so that task never falls on you.
Fresh breakers and a grounding review
Each circuit connects to a new breaker sized to its wire. We inspect grounding and bonding and bring anything short of current code up to standard.
A neat, clearly labeled panel
Wiring is routed cleanly, the cover sits flush and every breaker gets a typed label naming the room it feeds. Where the job calls for it, we patch the wall around the panel, and we haul off the old equipment.
Signs Your Panel Needs Attention
- Breakers that trip under normal use
- If the microwave and the window unit cannot run together, or a breaker trips every summer afternoon, the circuit or the panel is carrying more than it was built for.
- Warmth, buzzing or a scorched smell
- A panel cover that feels warm or a faint burnt odor near it points to a failing connection. Turn off what you can on that circuit and book a visit soon.
- No open spaces left
- A full panel, or one crowded with doubled-up tandem breakers, leaves no clean way to add a circuit for an EV charger, a heat pump or a remodel.
- Lights dim when large equipment starts
- A brief dip when the AC compressor kicks on is common. Lights that dim noticeably or for long stretches suggest the service or panel needs a closer look.
- Rust, water stains or an outdated brand
- An outdoor panel exposed to Texas storms can corrode at the bus. Some older panel brands also have a record of breakers that do not trip reliably.
What to Expect on Panel Upgrade Day
- 1
Visit and load review
We examine your panel, meter base and service entrance, ask what you expect to add in the coming years and work through the load calculation. You receive a written estimate that lists every item.
- 2
Permit and booking
After you approve, we file the permit and pick a shutoff date with the utility. We let you know how long you will be without power so you can plan.
- 3
Swapping the panel
On the scheduled day we cover the floor and wall near the panel, cut the power and replace the panel, the breakers and any grounding that needs it. Most single-panel jobs wrap up within a working day, and we restore power before leaving whenever the utility permits.
- 4
Inspection and tour of the panel
Once the inspector approves the work, we show you around the new panel, including the main breaker, the labels and the empty spaces saved for future circuits.
What Moves the Cost of a Panel Upgrade
Every panel job is priced from what we find at the service visit, and you see the line items before any work begins. The panel itself is only part of the cost. What surrounds it often matters more.
- Panel size and service amperage
- Moving to a larger service may mean a new meter base and service entrance cable, not just a new panel box.
- Condition of existing wiring
- Aluminum branch wiring, cloth-insulated cable or brittle connections behind the old panel can need repair before the new one goes in.
- Location and access
- Relocating a panel, or working in a tight closet or on an exterior wall that needs restoration, adds labor.
- Grounding and code corrections
- Missing ground rods, undersized bonding or other items the inspector will flag are added to the scope so the job passes the first time.
Panel Upgrade Questions
- How long will my power be off?
- For a typical panel swap, plan on most of a working day without power. The exact window depends on the utility's disconnect and reconnect schedule. We confirm it with you before the job date so you can plan meals, medications and work from home.
- Do you pull the permit?
- Yes. We file the permit, schedule the inspection as required by the local jurisdiction, and meet the inspector. You receive the passed inspection along with your paperwork.
- Will a new panel lower my electric bill?
- Not directly. The savings come from what a properly sized panel makes possible, such as a heat pump, a heat pump water heater or off-peak EV charging, and from replacing loose, heat-wasting connections. We will be straight with you about which of those applies to your home.
- What size panel do I need?
- That comes from the load calculation, not a rule of thumb. If you are planning an EV charger installation, a generator or a home battery backup system, tell us at the service visit so we leave room for it.
- Can you add surge protection at the same time?
- Yes. A whole-home surge protector mounts at the panel, so pairing it with the upgrade saves a second trip. We cover the details on our surge protection page.
Ready for a Panel That Keeps Up
We will look at your current panel, run the numbers and give you a written estimate you can take your time with. The first step is a service visit.