ServicesPanel Upgrades
Panel Upgrades in Grand Prairie, Sized for What Your Home Runs
We replace worn or undersized electrical panels so your home can run the AC, a car charger and the rest of the house without breakers tripping. We look at your load, pull the permit, and schedule the swap for a mild stretch of weather before summer loads hit.
When It's Time to Replace the Panel
Every circuit in your home runs back to one metal box on the wall. Once that box is old, packed full or undersized for what you use, you'll notice it. Breakers trip, the cover runs warm, and there's no space for a new circuit.
Not every problem means a new panel. Sometimes a loose connection or one bad breaker is the whole story, and we'll tell you that and point you to our electrical repair work instead. When the panel is worn out, full, or short on capacity, an upgrade is the fix that holds.
Timing matters here. In North Texas the AC runs hard from late spring into fall, and that is when a weak panel gives out. We like to do panel work in the cooler months so you go into summer with a box that can carry the load.
What We Do on a Panel Upgrade
- Sizing from your actual load
- Before picking a panel, we total up the big draws in your home: AC, range, dryer, water heater, pool pump and any EV charger. The panel size comes from that math, not a rule of thumb.
- New panel and breakers
- We remove the old panel and set a new one with fresh breakers. Each circuit is landed, labeled and tightened to spec.
- Ground and bond inspected
- A panel is only as safe as its ground. We look over the rods driven outside, the jumper tying into your water piping and the main grounding conductor. Anything missing or corroded gets replaced during the job, and we show you what we found.
- Service connection work
- If the amperage goes up, the meter base or service wires may need to change too. We coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with the utility where that is required.
- Permit and inspection
- We file for the permit and meet the inspector on site, following whatever the local jurisdiction requires. You don't have to call anyone.
Signs Your Panel Needs Attention
Breakers trip when the AC kicks on
If the lights dim or a breaker trips every time the compressor starts, the panel or a circuit is near its limit. That gets worse in July, not better.
Warm cover or a burning smell
A panel cover that feels hot, or a faint smell of melting plastic, means a connection is overheating. Shut off that breaker if you can and get it looked at soon.
No open slots left
Tandem breakers stacked everywhere and nothing left for a new circuit is a sign the panel is too small for your home now.
Rust or water marks inside
Moisture gets into outdoor panels and meter bases over time. Rust on the bus bar or breakers weakens connections.
You're adding something big
An EV charger, a hot tub, a shop in the garage or a generator often needs more capacity than an older panel has.
Fuses or a problem panel brand
Old fuse boxes and some older panel brands have known problems with breakers that fail to trip. We'll tell you plainly if yours is one of them.
What Moves the Price
Every panel job is priced from what we find at your home, so we look before we quote. The scope is written down before work starts. The things below are what make one job bigger than another.
Amperage and panel size
Staying at the same amperage costs less than stepping up. A larger service can mean a new meter base and heavier service wire.
Condition of what's behind it
Corroded grounding, brittle wire at the panel or aluminum branch circuits add work. We show you what we find before adding anything.
Location and access
An outdoor panel on an open wall is quicker than one inside a finished closet or behind drywall that has to be opened.
Permit and utility steps
Permit fees and any utility disconnect are part of the job. Some upgrades need more coordination than others.
How a Panel Upgrade Goes
- 1
Service visit and panel check
We take the cover off, look over the breakers, wiring and grounding, and work out your load. Then you hear from us whether it's a repair or a new panel.
- 2
Scope in writing and a date
The scope is written down before anything starts. We get the permit and choose a day, ideally ahead of summer heat or winter cold.
- 3
The day of the swap
The power stays off for most of the day while the panel is replaced. You get the window in advance so you can plan for the fridge, medical devices and working from home.
- 4
Inspection and handoff
Every circuit gets tested, we meet the inspector and show you around the new labeled panel. Then we clean up and take the old panel away.
Common Panel Upgrade Questions
Will you get the permit?
Yes. We take care of the permit and book the inspection the way your local jurisdiction wants it done. The job isn't finished in our eyes until the inspector approves it.
How long will I be without power?
A simple panel change takes most of a day. When the service size changes and the utility needs to disconnect and reconnect, it can take longer. You'll know the expected window before the work day.
Does an EV charger mean I need a new panel?
That comes down to how much spare capacity your home has. We check the current load before we recommend anything. Many panels can add a charger circuit as they are, and some can't. The charger work itself is covered on our EV charger installation page.
Will you do a panel upgrade in midsummer?
Yes, but the AC will be off that day. If your panel isn't failing, we'd rather book a cooler stretch so your home doesn't heat up.
Is this a good time to add surge protection?
Yes. A whole-home surge protector goes in at the panel, so adding it during the upgrade avoids a second visit. Bring it up at your service visit, or see our surge protection page.
Get Your Panel Ready for the Next Season
Tell us what your home runs and what's been tripping. We'll set up a visit, look at the panel and give you a straight answer on whether it needs replacing.