01 / Panel upgrades
Room in the panel for what you run now
A 60 or 100 amp service was fine for the house it was put in. Add a heat pump, an induction range or a car and it runs out of room. We replace the panel, and the service when it needs it, in a day.
Signs it's time
When a panel is telling you something
- You still have fusesScrew-in fuses work, but many insurers want them gone, and there's no room to add a circuit.
- Breakers trip when two things runThe kettle and the toaster, or the dryer and the air conditioner. A sign the circuits are overloaded.
- No empty spaces leftDoubled-up breakers or a panel with no free slots means the next circuit has nowhere to go.
- A big new load is comingHeat pump, EV charger, induction range, hot tub or a finished basement suite.
- Warm, buzzing or rustyHeat or a smell near the panel, a buzz from a breaker, or rust inside the box. Call us rather than opening it.
- Your insurer or a buyer askedA home inspection flagged the panel brand or the service size. We'll tell you what is really needed.
What's involved
From quote to sign-off
The power is off for part of one day. We tell you the hours ahead of time so you can plan around the fridge and the work-from-home calls.
Permit and utility
We file the permit and book the disconnect and reconnect with the utility.
Power down
Utility disconnects. Old panel out, circuits labelled and traced one by one.
New panel in
New panel, grounding and bonding, meter base if needed. Power back on before we leave.
Inspection
We book the inspection and meet the inspector. You get the paperwork for your files.
Typical prices
What panel work usually costs
Ranges from our recent Hamilton jobs, before HST, including the permit. Your written quote replaces these with real numbers.
| Job | Typical range | Usually takes |
|---|---|---|
| 100 A to 200 A service upgradeNew panel, meter base and mast | $3,800 to $6,500 | 1 day on site |
| Fuse box to breaker panel, same sizeService stays as it is | $2,200 to $3,400 | 1 day |
| Panel replacement, same serviceWorn or flagged panel brand | $2,000 to $3,200 | 1 day |
| Subpanel for a garage or basementIncludes the feeder | $1,200 to $2,400 | 1 day |
Next step
Not sure what size your service is? That's normal.
Send a photo of the panel with the door open when you ask for a quote. It tells us most of what we need.