Electrical Panel Upgrades

The data shows more than half of U.S. homes were built decades before the demand for modern electrical conveniences. This means millions of properties across the country cannot match the electrical demand placed upon their panels and surrounding wiring.

As Des Moines’ trusted electricians for electrical panel upgrades, we’re here to guide your upgrade project, size panels to meet your home’s demand, and create an electrical structure designed to meet your family’s electricity needs now and into the future.

Reasons to Replace Your Electrical Panels

In addition to adding electrical capacity to the home, there are a number of reasons to install new electrical panels. These reasons include:

Corrosion
Corroded breakers may be slow to trip, causing a potential electrical overload and fire hazard in the home. Corrosion can also impact bus bars and wiring, potentially damaging your appliances and leading to electrical hazards.

Water Damage
Water damaged circuit breakers and fuses will malfunction and potentially damage any connected devices. Water damaged electrical panels are an emergency issue that must be resolved urgently by qualified electricians.

Overloaded Electrical Panels

Overloaded electrical panels will trip breakers frequently. If your breakers and wiring are hot to the touch it’s another sign they’re being overloaded and don’t have the required panel capacity.

Improperly Sized Panels

If your electrical panel’s capacity is too small to meet the demand and wasn’t sized properly during installation, you’ll likely experience frequent breaker tripping. You’ll need a breaker panel built to meet demands above the current electrical draw in the home to retain a consistent, safe connection.

Unsafe Electrical Panel Brands

FPE Stab-Lok

For several decades between the 1950s and 1980s, Federal Pacific Electric’s Stab-Lok panels were the go-to brand for electrical panel manufacturing. The units were installed in millions of American homes. Issues with the Stab-Lok panels first came to light in the 1980s, when reports showed they were responsible for millions of dollars in property damage and thousands of electrical fires.

Why are FPE Stab-Lok Panels Unsafe?

There are reports that many FPE Stab-Lok panels in the off position still send electricity to the circuit. This results in dangerous electrical overloads. The panels also have copper connectors and aluminum bus bars, which leads to different rates of metal expansion, loosening the connectors from the panel.

Zinsco

Zinisco panels were popular in the 1980s. Zinsco is no longer in existence but their electrical panels continue to cause significant problems for homeowners across the country.

Why are Zinsco Panels Unsafe?

Zinsco panels are known to melt down to the main bus bar in the event of an electrical failure. The problem prevents the circuit breaker from tripping, even when there’s an overloaded or short circuit. The result is melted wires and a potential electrical fire in the home.

How Do I Know If I Have a Zinsco Panel Installed?

Zinsco panels usually feature their brand name in prominent lettering on the panel. Zinsco panels were also rebranded with the name ZTE-Sylvania, and so if you notice this brand on your panel, it’s important you book an electrician inspection to check panel safety.

Split Bus Panel Replacement

Split bus panels are usually found in homes built before the 1980s and have a number of structural problems making them unsuitable for modern electrical equipment.

What Is the Concern with Split Bus Panels?

Their split design can lead to confusion when shutting off power and the electrical code no longer allows for a multiple-disconnect panel design. While they may not have an inherent safety concern, their design and age means replacing a split bus panel is the best option for your home.

Is My Electrical Panel Safe?

Even traditionally effective and safe brands of electrical panel will break down over time. If you have any concerns about the safety or performance of your panel, electrical fuses, or breakers, Custom Electrical Services can respond within minutes.

We have decades of experience installing and upgrading electrical panels for homeowners throughout Iowa and we harness this experience to ensure the highest levels of safety for all electrical upgrades in your home.

Turn to Custom Electrical Services for Electrical Panel Upgrades

Most homes require at last 150 amps capacity from their electrical panels. Custom Electrical Services offers: 100 amp to 200 amp upgrades Electrical panels upgrades to 600 amps and above 24/7 response times for electrical emergencies throughout Iowa The latest panels from brands such as Siemens, Square D QO, Square D Homeline, Eaton, Leviton, GE, and Schneider Electric Replacement of all electrical panel makes and models Please call us now, 515-669-3418 for Central Iowa, 319-313-3313 for Eastern Iowa, or use the form on the Contact page.

Trusted Electricians

Our residential electricians are all full time team members, not sub contractors. Our residential electricians undergo an extensive background check, random drug screening and receive in house training above and beyond their normal electrician training. We only hire the most qualified and skilled professional electricians available.