Breakers and panels
Breakers, panels and surge protection in Albany-area homes
A breaker that keeps tripping or a panel with no room left is something to look at soon, not tonight. We open the panel with you watching and show you what we find.
When to call us
Any one of these is a reason to book a visit.
A breaker that keeps tripping
The same one, again and again.
A panel that is full
No empty slot for a new circuit.
A fuse box
The whole house still on fuses.
A panel brand you've read about
Federal Pacific or Zinsco on the label.
Buzzing at the panel
A hum or a smell from the box.
Surge protection
Protection for the electronics at the panel.
What the visit includes
The same steps every time, so you know what happens next.
- 01
Step 1: Booking
A person in our office asks what you have noticed and books an arrival window. If anything is hot, buzzing or smells burnt, they tell you what to do first.
- 02
Step 2: Arrival
The electrician arrives in uniform, puts on shoe covers at the door and lays a runner to the work.
- 03
Step 3: Look and photos
They find the cause and photograph it before touching anything else, then show you on their phone.
- 04
Step 4: Written ticket
The job, the flat price, what is included and what is not, on one page. You say yes before work starts.
- 05
Step 5: Work and permit
One electrician does the work. If it needs a permit, we file it and the ticket shows the fee.
- 06
Step 6: Cleanup and walk-through
They vacuum, take the old parts away and test the work with you.
How the price works for breakers and panels
Repairs are one price, panels are one price
Replacing a breaker or adding surge protection is a flat price. A panel replacement is a flat price too, set after we have looked inside the old one.
What can raise it
The panel's location, the age of the wiring in it, the meter and service wire, and whether the job needs the utility to disconnect and reconnect.
What is not in it
Drywall repair and paint, and permit and inspection fees, which are passed through at cost.
Questions about breakers and panels
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
An overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance or a loose connection. We find which one before we quote a repair.
Is a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel dangerous?
We look at the panel and tell you what we see. Whether to replace it is your decision, and the ticket lists what each option costs.
Will the power be off while you work?
A breaker change is quick. A panel change takes the house off for part of a day, and we plan it with you.
Do I need a permit for a new panel?
Yes, in most places. The ticket says who files it and the fee passed through at cost.
Book a visit for breakers and panels
Tell us what is going on and we'll call on the next working morning to book your window.