“Good work, reasonable, prompt AND pleasure to work with. Highly recommended.”
Job: Outlets, GFCIs, meter box and breakers to bring an old house up to code
ML
Marc L.
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA · Panel Upgrades
Electrical Panel Upgrade in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia rowhomes got their wiring in a different century. Electrical Hazards, Inc. upgrades tired 60 and 100 amp services block by block across the city.
Lic. #37352
City of Philadelphia L&I
ICC Certified
Commercial Electrical Inspector
Built to the NEC
Code-compliant installs
Philadelphia Area
Philadelphia County
Know the Signs
Is Your Philadelphia Rowhome Running on an Old Panel?
Many Philadelphia rowhomes and twins still run on the service they got decades ago. You often find a 60 or 100 amp panel, or even a fuse box, in a corner of the basement near the front wall. Back then, a house needed lights, a fridge and maybe a window unit. Now the same service feeds central air, a dishwasher, a microwave, laundry and a home office. The signs show up fast: breakers that trip on hot afternoons, lights that dim when the AC starts, and outlets that run out before the rooms do. Older rowhomes also tend to have fewer circuits, so one breaker may feed half a floor. When that circuit overloads, everything on it goes dark at once.
What We Find in City Basements
- 60 and 100 amp services
- Fuse boxes still in use
- Few circuits feeding whole floors
- Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels
- Weathered service cable out front
How We Do It
How a Panel Upgrade Works in Philadelphia
Every panel upgrade in the city needs an electrical permit from the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Electrical Hazards, Inc. holds City of Philadelphia electrical contractor license #37352, files the permit, and meets the inspector from the licensed inspection agency when the work is done. Before we quote, we run a load calculation so your new service fits what your home actually uses. Rowhome basements are tight, so we plan the panel location, working space and cable routes before shutoff day. Many upgrades also need PECO to disconnect and reconnect the service, and we schedule that with them for you. If the meter socket, service cable or grounding is worn, we include it in the same visit, so you only lose power once.
Philadelphia Upgrade Steps
- Load calculation before the quote
- L&I electrical permit filed
- Panel spot and clearance planned
- PECO disconnect scheduled
- Agency inspection, then labels
Why It Pays Off
Ready for AC, EV Charging and the Next Owner
A new panel does more than stop trips. It gives you room for the things Philadelphia homeowners want now, like central air in place of window units, an induction range, a heat pump or an EV charger for the car parked out front. It also helps when you sell. Buyers and their home inspectors look closely at old panels and fuse boxes, and some insurers ask about them before they write a policy. A modern, labeled panel with a passed L&I inspection takes that issue off the table. If you are renovating a rowhome, do the panel early so the electrician running new circuits has a place to land them. That keeps the whole project moving.
Good Reasons to Upgrade Now
- Swapping window units for central air
- Adding an EV charger or induction range
- Starting a rowhome renovation
- Getting ready to sell
- Insurance questions about the panel
Talk to a Philadelphia Electrician
Call Electrical Hazards, Inc. at (267) 977-2106 or send a photo of your panel. We will check your service, explain your options in plain words, and give you a written quote that covers the permit. We serve every part of the city.
Step by Step
Your Philadelphia Panel Upgrade, Step by Step
01
Basement Visit
We look at your panel, meter and service cable, and run a load calculation.
02
Quote & L&I Permit
You approve the written quote, and we file the electrical permit with L&I.
03
PECO & Install Day
We schedule the PECO disconnect, install the panel and reconnect every circuit.
04
Inspection & Labels
We meet the licensed inspection agency and label each breaker before we leave.
Why Us
Why Philadelphia Homeowners Choose Us
We work in Philadelphia homes every week. Here is what that means for your upgrade.
Philadelphia Lic. #37352
ICC Certified Commercial Electrical Inspector on our team
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm
NAT-F164781-2 · lead-safe practices in pre-1978 homes
City Licensed
We hold City of Philadelphia electrical contractor license #37352.
Rowhome Experience
We plan around tight basements, shared walls and indoor meters.
Permit to Inspection
We handle the L&I permit and the final inspection.
City Experience
We know Philadelphia rowhome wiring and L&I permits.
Services
More Electrical Services in Philadelphia
Panel work often goes hand in hand with these services.
Service Entrance Cable
Replace weathered cable running down the front wall.
Learn moreGrounding & Bonding
Fix grounds clamped to old water pipes.
Learn moreRewiring Older Homes
Replace knob-and-tube and cloth wiring in older rowhomes.
Learn moreNEC Code Corrections
Fix items from L&I or home inspection reports.
Learn moreReviews
What Philadelphia Customers Say
“TOTALLY SATISFIED. Great price, work was completed on time and very professional.”
Job: New 220-volt line
S
Sean
Philadelphia, PA
“It's all I was looking for: great price, professional, and done right…”
Job: 220-volt line
S
Sean
Philadelphia, PA · repeat customer
Service Area
Philadelphia Neighborhoods We Serve
We upgrade panels across Philadelphia, including Southwest and West Philadelphia, Kingsessing, Cobbs Creek, University City, South Philadelphia, Fishtown, Germantown, Mount Airy, Roxborough and Manayunk. We also serve nearby Lower Merion, Upper Merion, Wayne and Berwyn.
Southwest PhiladelphiaWest PhiladelphiaKingsessingCobbs CreekUniversity CitySouth PhiladelphiaFishtownGermantownMount AiryRoxboroughManayunk
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues panel permits in Philadelphia?
The Department of Licenses and Inspections. We file the electrical permit, schedule the licensed inspection agency that inspects for the City, and meet the inspector at your home.
My meter is in the basement. Is that a problem?
Not usually. Many older rowhomes have indoor meters. We check the meter socket and the clearance around the panel and plan the work around them.
How long will my power be off?
Most rowhome panel swaps take part of one working day. If PECO needs to disconnect the service, we confirm their schedule and give you the date ahead of time.
Can a rowhome really support 200 amps?
Often, yes. The load calculation tells us what size fits your home and plans, and we confirm the service cable and meter can carry it.
Do you work in every Philadelphia neighborhood?
We serve homes across the city. Call us with your address and we will confirm.
Request a Callback
Leave your name and number, tell us a little about the job, and one of our electricians will call you back.
- (267) 977-2106
- 145 W Swedesford Rd #1123, Wayne, PA 19087
- Philadelphia Electrical Contractor Lic. #37352
- mal@electrical-hazards.com