Virginia Electrical and HVAC Contractor License 2705181607Virginia License 2705181607
Electrical Panel Repair and Upgrade in Northern VirginiaElectrical Panel Repair and Upgrade
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home, and it is the one part of the system everything else depends on. Repairs, replacements and full service upgrades across Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and Prince William Counties, permitted and inspected on every job.Repairs, replacements and full service upgrades. Permitted and inspected, every job.
Everything in Your Home Runs Through One Grey Box
Every light you switch on, every appliance you run, and every device you charge draws its power through the panel. When it is healthy nobody thinks about it. When it is not, it is the single point everything else fails behind.
Why Two Panel Quotes for the Same House Do Not Match
Because a panel upgrade is often a service upgrade, and the two words get used as if they mean the same thing. Here is everything between the street and your circuits. A quote covering the orange boxes is a panel swap. A quote covering the navy ones as well is a service upgrade, and it will always cost more, because it is more work rather than a bigger margin.
What a panel swap touchesWhat a service upgrade addsThe utility's to schedule, not ours
What to ask whoever is quoting you. Does the price include the meter base. Does it include the service entrance conductors. Does it include a new grounding electrode system, or is it reusing what is there. Is a utility disconnect and reconnect needed, and who is booking it. Four questions, and they will usually explain the whole gap between the cheapest quote and the dearest one. Sometimes the cheap quote is right because your service is fine and only the panel needs changing. Sometimes it is cheap because it stops at the grey box.
Signs Your Panel Needs Attention Now
Breakers keep tripping
Once is a fault on a circuit. Every week is the panel telling you it is carrying more than it was built for.
Flickering or dimming
Lights that dip when the AC or the dryer starts point at the service or the connections in the panel rather than the fitting.
Burning or buzzing
Any smell or hum at the panel means heat where there should be none. That is an urgent call, not a scheduled one.
Rust or scorch marks
Moisture and heat both leave marks. Either one means the inside of that cabinet needs looking at now.
Twenty five years or older
A panel typically lasts twenty five to forty years. Past that it is not automatically dangerous, but it is worth knowing what you have.
Federal Pacific or Zinsco
These brands are known to fail under overload and pose fire hazards. If you have one, it should be replaced as soon as possible.
Adding a big load
An EV charger, a heat pump, a hot tub or a kitchen remodel all ask the panel a question it may not be able to answer.
The Real Risks of Putting It Off
Fire
An overloaded or failing panel is a heat source inside a metal box attached to your wall.
Shock hazard
Corroded terminations and missing bonding both put voltage where it does not belong.
Damaged appliances
Loose connections and poor grounding are hard on anything with a circuit board in it.
Insurance trouble
Some insurers will not write, or will not renew, on certain panel brands.
A stalled home sale
A buyer's inspector will find it, and it becomes a negotiation at the worst moment.
No room to grow
A full panel means every future addition starts with this job anyway, at a time you did not choose.
Our Electrical Panel Services
Panel inspection and diagnosis
Cover off, terminations checked, load measured, and a straight answer about whether this is a repair or a replacement.
Circuit breaker replacement
A breaker listed for your panel, torqued to spec and tested, when the breaker is genuinely the fault.
Panel upgrades
A larger, modern panel with room to grow, AFCI and GFCI protection where code calls for it, and everything labelled properly.
Meter base installation
The part most panel quotes leave out, and one of the main reasons two quotes for the same job do not match.
Service disconnect installation
An exterior disconnect, which many jurisdictions now want and which firefighters and utility crews both rely on.
Safety assessment
A written read on the whole system when the panel turns out to be the symptom rather than the cause.
Panel Gallery
What Panel Work Actually Looks Like
Meter bases, main disconnects, breaker layouts and finished cabinets. Swipe through, or use the arrows, to see the parts of the job a quote is usually describing.
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What Sets Us Apart on a Panel Job
Permitted and inspected, every time
We pull the permit on every panel job and book the inspection. If an inspector wants something changed, we come back and change it at no charge. That is the promise, rather than a pass rate nobody can verify.
Master Electricians do the work
Under Virginia contractor license 2705181607. A service change is not a helper job and we do not treat it as one.
Ten year warranty on our panel work
On the workmanship, alongside whatever the equipment manufacturer offers on the panel itself.
The honest version of the recommendation
Sometimes the panel is fine and the fault is on a circuit. Sometimes a repair is throwing money at something that needs replacing. You get told which one you are in, including when it is the cheaper one.
Most panel upgrades are done in a single day. Financing is available on request, and the veteran discount program applies.
Get Your Free Panel Estimate
Tell us what the panel is doing and roughly how old the house is. Or call 703.225.8222 and we will work it out on the phone.
Verified Reviews
What Your Neighbors Are Saying
Electrical Panel Questions, Answered
What does an electrical panel do?
Your panel distributes power throughout your home and protects every circuit from overload by cutting the power the instant there is a problem. It is the single point that feeds, and safeguards, everything electrical in the house.
How do I know if my panel needs repair or replacement?
Common warning signs include flickering lights, breakers that trip again and again, a burning smell, buzzing sounds, or outlets that stop working. Any of these is worth a professional look before it becomes a hazard.
How long does an electrical panel last?
Most panels last between 25 and 40 years, depending on use, environment, and maintenance. If yours is older than that, it is time for an inspection.
Can a bad panel cause power outages or fires?
Yes. Faulty breakers or corroded wiring can overheat and cause fires or sudden power loss, which is why a failing panel should never be ignored.
What are the benefits of upgrading my panel?
Upgrading improves safety, adds capacity for new appliances and EV chargers, reduces fire risk, often improves your standing with insurers, and brings your home up to current electrical code.
What size panel do I need?
Most modern homes need at least 200 amps. Larger homes, or homes with EV chargers, pools, or major HVAC systems, may need 300 to 400 amps. We confirm the right size with a proper load calculation.
What brands of panels are unsafe?
Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels are known to fail under overload and pose fire hazards. If you have one, it should be replaced as soon as possible.
How much does it cost to replace or upgrade a panel?
Every panel is different, so we do not quote a flat rate sight unseen. The cost depends on the panel size, its location, and the condition of the existing wiring. We give a clear, firm quote up front before any work begins, with no surprises, and financing is available on request.
Do I need a permit to replace my panel?
Yes. Panel work always requires a permit and inspection to confirm it meets Virginia safety codes. We handle the entire permit and inspection process for you.
Can I repair my panel myself?
No. Panels carry live power that can cause serious injury or electrocution. Panel repairs and upgrades must be done by a licensed electrician.
How long does a panel replacement take?
Most panel upgrades are completed in a single day, including testing and inspection.
Will I lose power during the replacement?
Yes. Power is shut off for several hours during the installation, and we restore it as soon as the work is complete and safe.
Can I add more circuits to my existing panel?
If your panel has room and spare capacity, yes. If it is full or already near its limit, you may need a subpanel or a full upgrade to add new circuits safely.
What is the difference between a fuse box and a breaker panel?
Fuse boxes use fuses that melt during an overload and have to be replaced. Modern panels use breakers that trip and reset. Fuse boxes are outdated and should be upgraded.
Why choose PRO Electric plus HVAC for a panel upgrade?
Our licensed electricians carry a 100 percent permit and inspection pass rate, back their panel work with a 10 year warranty, and handle safe, code compliant panel replacements across Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and Prince William. A licensed Master Electrician leads every job, and we offer veteran and military discounts.
Related Electrical Services
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Give Your Home the Panel It Deserves.
Panel repair, replacement and full service upgrades across Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and Prince William Counties, by a Master Electrician led team, with a quote that tells you which boxes it covers.
Call 703.225.8222Get a Free EstimateLicensed in Virginia. Electrical and HVAC Contractor License 2705181607.