Circuit 1
Fuse boxes
Plug fuses and a small panel were normal in houses built before the 1970s. We replace them with a breaker panel, sized after a load check, and write a directory card for every circuit.
A load check before the quote
Every circuit traced and labeled on the new directory card
Permit and utility steps handled where required
When to call
Signs it is on your house
A panel with screw-in fuses
Round plug fuses instead of breaker switches.
Fuses that blow with the dryer and the oven
A sign the service or the circuit is small for the load.
A larger fuse where a small one blew
The fuse should match the wire, not the nuisance.
Discolored or warm fuse holders
If you smell burning or see sparks, call 911 for a fire. If it is safe, turn off the breaker.
Power strips running a whole room
Extra lines added over the years.
A letter from your insurer or a line on the report
The most common reason people call us.
What the visit includes
What the visit includes
In this order.
- 01
Step 1: We open the box
Each fuse size is checked against its wire, and the box is checked for damage.
- 02
Step 2: The load check
We add up what the house runs now and what you plan to add.
- 03
Step 3: The written scope
Panel, breakers, labor, permit and utility steps on separate lines.
- 04
Step 4: Permit and utility
Filed where the city asks. The utility disconnects and reconnects when the service changes.
- 05
Step 5: The swap
Power is off while the panel is changed. Every circuit is traced and labeled.
- 06
Step 6: Inspection and the letter
A short letter lists what was done, for your closing file or your carrier.
How pricing works
What moves the number for this circuit
The written quote is the price. Nothing on this page is.
What moves the number
Two houses with the same box can cost different amounts.
Whether the meter base and mast change
How far the panel sits from the meter
Plaster or drywall where cable must be extended
How many circuits need separating
Permit and inspection fees
What the quote lists
Equipment, labor, permit and utility steps on separate lines, for the circuits you choose.
Not included: drywall repair and paint
Not included: utility fees, passed through
Not included: circuits you leave for later
When you get it
In writing, after the walk-through and before any work. We do not price a panel from a photo.
The visit has a fee, told to you when you book
It comes off the work if you go ahead within 30 days
Questions
Questions about fuse boxes
Is a fuse box unsafe?
Not by itself. Fuses protect the wire when they are the right size. The risk is a fuse that is too big and a box that is full or damaged. We check both.
Will my insurer want it replaced?
Some do, and the rules differ by company. Ask your agent. We cannot promise what a carrier will accept, but we can write what we found and what we changed.
Is the power off the whole time?
It is off while the panel is swapped. We plan the window with you and tell you before the day.
Do I need a permit?
Panel changes usually do. We file it where the city asks, and an inspector looks at the work.
What if I smell burning?
Call 911 if there is fire. If it is safe, turn off the breaker at the panel and leave it off. Then call us.
Next step
Send us the fuse box
Photos of the report or the inside of the panel are fine.