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(719) 492-6955

Typical Cost To Upgrade Electrical Panel

Replacing your electrical panel is a complex job. It can make a real mess, necessitate repairs and replacements all around your home (not just your panel) and cost quite a sum too. Like we said, it's a big job, but it's a necessary one, especially if your house is more than forty or fifty years old. That's the point of today's post: below, we explain the typical cost to upgrade electrical panel and the wiring in your home, as well as all the reasons why you might need to. Take a look if you'd like to know more!

cost to upgrade electrical panel

Image courtesy of Storyblocks.

Why Upgrade Your Electrical Panel?

First off, why should you upgrade, especially if the cost to upgrade electrical panel makes it such a big job? There are a few very good reasons.

  1. If the electrical panel in your home is decades old, then there is a good chance that it will be more susceptible to faults. Faulty wiring is a major cause of house fires in the United States, and you can't put a price on the safety of you and your family.
  2. If you didn't know, most houses these days use circuit breakers rather than fuses. That's because fuses are one-time use. Once a fuse blows, it can't be used again, whereas you can simply reset a circuit breaker. Older electrical panels use fuses, which may be a reason why you'd like to replace it.
  3. Electrical panels are designed to provide a certain amount of power, up to a maximum. That maximum is typically between 100 and 400 amps. Put simply, that's the amount of energy that it can distribute at any one time. Any more and there won't be enough to go around.

When Should You Upgrade?

You can upgrade your panel any time you want to. But while that may be true, it's best to do it before you have to. There are a number of signs that you should pay attention to which will warn you that your electrical panel is out of date, the most obvious of which is that your appliances don't work. If you plug in electronics and appliances like your TV, chargers for various devices, kitchen goods and so on, but they simply won't work at the same time, that means that you're overloading your electrical panel.

Similarly, if your lights are flickering then that means the same thing. There simply isn't enough electricity to go around, and you'll need an electrical panel that provides more. You should also think about upgrading if you're about to add an extension to your home. If you're about to add another room to your property, or even if you're just upgrading your kitchen, you should consider whether your electrical panel will be able to handle the extra workload.

Cost To Upgrade Electrical Panel

So, let's get down to business: how much does it cost to upgrade electrical panel?

First things first, it depends on how old your wiring is. If you're simply adding a new panel in a home that was only built ten years ago, you won't have to replace your wiring. If that's the case, you won't have to replace wiring throughout your home, which is costly and time consuming.

In that case, then, you're looking at the cost of parts and labor for a smaller job. The typical 200 amp panel costs between $100-$200, and the job itself normally takes between 8 to 10 hours. Naturally, this depends on the location of your panel and how easy it is to access and work in the space around it. Working in a cramped space can make the process take longer! There may also be other repairs which are necessary for your safety which will extend the cost of parts and labor. Overall, the average cost comes to $1500-$2000, including parts, labor and permit fees.

Cost To Upgrade Electrical Panel And Wiring

Say for the sake of argument that your house is fifty years old, and the wiring hasn't been changed since the house was built. If that's the case, you can't simply change your electrical panel and call the job done. As we mentioned above, the older your wiring gets, the more of a fire hazard it becomes. Not only that, but your outlets, fixtures and circuits may also be damaged. If so, we would 100% recommend that you have these replaced too.

Of course, this does mean that the job becomes more complex, time consuming and costly. But if you leave faulty wiring in place for long enough, the risk of fire only gets higher. It's impossible to give a ballpark figure because the cost depends on the size of your home, the number of floors in your home, how easy to access your crawlspace is and the age of your home as well. If you need an estimate for a job like this, we recommend that you ask us for a free estimate. We can visit your home, talk with you about what you need and recommend what we think is best.

What Next?

Your next step should be either calling us at (719) 492-6955 or message us through our contact form here. We can arrange a service visit at a time that works for you, so that we can take a look at your problem. Once we've had a chance to look around, we can suggest what we think are your best options- the ultimate decision is up to you. We also offer an estimate for our work, so that you'll never be left out of pocket.

What are you waiting for? Call today!

 

Our Reputation

Scott Olson

I used Wire Works to upgrade my electric panel in our house built in 1896 (from 100 to 200) and wire in a hot tub. Their quote was quite reasonable, their communication great, and their work was quality and efficient. They showed up on time and did great work in the time frame communicated. I would not hesitate to use Wire Works again at any point. Seriously, I got 5 bids and I do not choose an electrician based on quote alone (though theirs was competitive). I look at every facet, professionalism, communication, follow through, friendliness, helpfulness, ability to explain what should be done and why, etc. In addition, the permit inspector walked away disappointed because of the quality of work Wire Works had completed. Nothing to report, permit granted! They stand by their work.

John Gustafson

Great experience beginning to end. Reasonable quote less than others. Completed variety of projects in short time. Very professional and highly skilled. Very comfortable with the team in my home. Everything works. Even added a couple of last minute enhancements. Highly recommend. This is the kind of electrician to hire if you find one and now you have! Came recommended to me from a friend and I am delighted.

Joint Ops

Lanny was awesome. I got a quote for a job from Wirenut for some electrical work, and Lanny came in at a third of the price. He knows what he’s doing and was great. Definitely keeping him on our list.

b. Altshuler-Pacheco

Professional service paired with quality workmanship for a reasonable price. We highly recommend Lanny for any electrical needs that you may have. Wire Works installed a whole house surge protector, a 5 speaker surround system and a number of outdoor lights along with an outdoor television. Great work! Got exactly what we needed without the oversell pitch.

Jeff Lundholm

I hired Wire Works Co Inc. to upgrade the 100 amp service panel in my garage to 200 amps. They had to replace the meter box on the outside as part of the job. I also asked for a 240v outlet in the garage and a dedicated circuit run to the over the range microwave in the kitchen. Their price was spot on fair and the work was done on time, as agreed and professional all the way. I was glad to give Wire Works Co Inc. my money. I got every penny I paid for! Thanks Lanny and Corbin!

Gunnar Hankins

Lanny came highly recommended for the work that he does and he did not disappoint! I can honestly say that he is in the Top 1% of contractors I have ever dealt with. Very friendly, courteous, knowledgeable, and laid back. He and his son helped me with mounting my TV and even fixed another completely separate electrical issue I had. I was extremely satisfied with their work and their overall helpfulness in completing my project. He was very prompt in returning my correspondence and was spot on in the estimate he gave me. If I ever have electrical issues in the future you can guarantee I'll be turning to him. Thanks again Lanny! The setup looks great and everything works perfectly!!!

David Mourhess

Lanny and Team (son Corey) did a fantastic job for us! On time and on budget . . . who could ask for more? If you want the job done right the first time, don't hesitate to contact Lanny . . . job well done!!

Virgo Lajoie

Lanny was great easy to work with and very knowledgable. With the new electrical panel and having our electrical now up to code I feel secure and have a beautiful bright new kitchen!

Marah Rose-Rawe

Lanny is excellent

Anna Aquino

Lannie was by far the most affordable. He was quick and did a great job. Id recommend him to anybody in springs! Thank you for helping my client and my dad's client!

Ashley Horn

Moved a few outlets for us after we cut down a pony wall and added an outlet in the garage. Very knowledgeable, polite and much more reasonable than the other quotes we received. Will definitely use again for any electrical work.

Jeremy Smith

Lanny was very pleasant and knowledgeable when working on our electric. He was thorough and explained what he was doing and why. Would recommend this company to anyone wanting their work done correctly, professionally, and in a timely manner. Thanks for the hard work Lanny!

Maggie Ramos

I had trouble with outdoor lighting around my property. As a woman I am not comfortable with wiring/electrical/lighting issues. Lanny came over, assessed, explained, and had all my lighting working again before he departed. He was very trustworthy and even took an extra step to fix a light that was out in my laundry room. I highly recommend him.

Kelly Keene

It's not enough in this world anymore for corporations to just be decent people and not take every penny from customers these days. Seriously, Lanny has done an amazingly thorough job putting on a new electrical panel for our recently purchased older home. He was easy to understand and easier than most home service providers to get a hold of. Scheduling was easy and pretty fast. Not just this, but his integrity in not charging us an arm and a leg for this service was a serious break that we needed. His quote was much more reasonable than the 5 other companies that I called (and waited for their quote) to do the same job! I will be using him in the future for all of our electrical needs (which are a lot in an older home). I would recommend him to anyone and you should at least call him to get a quote! You owe it to yourself to get quality work for a reasonable price, this is your company.

M. Greenwood

Lanny installed 11 security cameras in our office building as well as installed a photo-cell light fixture on the building's exterior. Lanny came out to look at the building and gave us some great suggestions in terms of areas that were vulnerable; which my current security camera system did not cover. His customer service was amazing; Lanny was very responsive and patient with the many questions I had before moving forward with the installation. The expertise, professionalism and knowledge that Lanny has significantly stood out compared to the several other professional installers we contacted for a bid. He completed the job in about a day and half, which exceed our expectations. I highly recommend Lanny / Wire Works Co. for any of the services he provides and will certainly be using him in the future for any other services I need. Thanks again Lanny! - mg

Charlie & Teri Traftons

Lanny did a great job! When 2 other vendors said it couldn't be done, Lanny proved them wrong - he exceeded our expectations.The process was great. On our first meet, Lanny toured our property and heard our requests. He followed up with a proposal that met all of them plus. The actual work he did was phenomenal - nothing but raves from family and friends who have looked and listened to our system.

Brian Richardson

Outstanding, quality service from Lanny. Instantly understood what was needed for network cabling, installation was quick with zero complications. Lanny is a friendly, courteous professional, and I recommend him and Wire Works Co to everyone.

Julie Martindale

We picked this company because of all the great reviews. He was kind enough to look at several issues we were having at our new home. Prompt, respectful. Felt completely comfortable having him in our home. Initially came to set up our sound system, but plan on using him to install our lights and ceiling fans.

Jason Talbott

Lanny did an amazing job and had zero problem diving into mounting TVs on our rock fireplaces, a job we had multiple people deny. He's the only electrician we will use from now on.

Rachael Staebell

Very reliable, and easy to work with. Great work on all my projects. The only electrician i will ever use!

David P

After calling around, We decided to go with Lanny and the team at wire works for our whole-house remodel. Wire Works was able to skillfully accomplish not only the initial scope of work (New electrical throughout, distributed audio/video/internet) but also the hurdles we encountered as we got deeper in to the project. I especially appreciated that I felt like I could trust Lanny, and that when I asked him a question he gave me a straight-forward, unbiased answer. We would definitely use Wire Works again.

Anne DeVries

Lanny is a real pro, very friendly and very good at what he does. It's been a year since he basically re-wired our home and brought it into the 21st century and we still love it. I would absolutely recommend him for your next electrical job.

Holly Hill

"WIRE WORKS" (Lanny) is "Super Fast" and does super "Quality" work !!!!We now live in another area and wish Wire Works was here !!!!!

Leah Pigeon

Lanny with wire works has worked for us for about 8 years, he completely wire our whole house on the Old North end of Colorado Springs. It's a 106 year old house, did a wonderful job. Over the years he has done several job, very dependable, timely, and clean up his mess.

Maija Woods

Well, planned. Quick, clean, professional. Will definitely continue to use.

Chris Lippard

This is the second time we have had Lanny out to the house. He has now put in a total of 21 canister lights for us. He is very prompt, efficient and professional. I wish all contractors were as good as Wire Works. I will definitely recommend Lanny to my friends and will call on him again should the need arise. Great work Lanny, thank you.

Amy Furfari

Needed an electrician for a transfer switch installation and contacted Lanny. Gave me a good estimate and a quick appointment. He was prompt, professional, courteous, and great to work with. He reviewed what I had planned and provided advice that resulted in a better solution. Lanny is a person who exudes trustworthiness. I will hire him for any future electrical work I may need, and highly recommend him.

Anthony Rodriguez

Lany was the best I've had the pleasure of dealing with. Extremely helpful, polite, and knowledgable. Wire Works will be the only electrician service I will be using from now on. I look forward to our future projects knowing they are a business I can count on and trust.

Kerianne Smith

What a great company! We purchased a new home and on move-in day, we noticed we were without a phone jack. While we use cellphones for telecommunication, both of us depend on internet for work as well as entertainment (streaming television). I immediately started researching for someone to come install a phone jack. Wire Works responded promptly to my inquiry, communicated with me through the weekend and came and installed the jack first thing Monday morning. Great customer service, friendly and informative. We highly recommend them for work that you need done, we will be using them again.

Kari Larson

We have used 3 other electricians in town. Wire works is by far the best, most professional and gets the job done right the first time. Other companies have treated our electrical problems by fixing the symptoms, costing us money over and over. Wire works gets to the actual problem and fixes it right the first time.he always saves us money in the long run.

Fred Wink

Just purchased a home and wanted to upgrade the theater, put a new TV over the fireplace, and optimize the structured wiring for internet access. Hired Lanny after researching CoS options, and we're really glad we did. The results were outstanding. He listens to the customer, makes realistic suggestions, and insures the quality of his work to include returning when some post installation issues arose.

JoLyn Maly

Lanny did an excellent job wiring our re-build in Black Forest for whole house video and a home theater. He know pros and cons of the many equipment choices, and picked an affordable solution for us. Work was done on schedule, and with a very professional looking result. A year and a half later he continues to support us by answering our questions and trouble shooting the few issues we have had with the system.

Neale Minch

Lanny did a great job and even found I had provided a bad cable to use. I would recommend Wire Works to anyone needing some in house wiring

Steven Pittz

Lanny was excellent. I had 5 outlets and a light switch out in a home my wife and I just purchased. We feared the worst but Lanny diagnosed and fixed the problem in about an hour. He wasted no time getting to work and was communicative and professional throughout. He also brought his young son, who in addition to being a great kid, did some of the diagnostic work himself, speeding up the process and saving me money.I would recommend Wire Works without reservation.

Jennifer Klopfenstein

Wire Works responded immediately to our electrical issue and came out the same day. I really appreciate them fixing our issue and they were very reasonably priced. Thank you Wire Works!

Joseph Main

My wife loves to watch movies and, therefore, I decided to surprise her with a nice home theater. My son asked me to contact Wire Works and I was so impressed with their quickness and quality of work. Home theater installation was done in less than a day and without making unsightly holes in the walls. She loved the surprise, thank you Wire Works

Ria Botzler

We just LOVE Lanny! I wish every contractor that we deal with was so, tidy, efficient, and responsive. We have done several lighting improvement projects at Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital and they have exceeded our desires and expectations. If you are in need of a GOOD electrician - go with Lanny - you won't be disappointed!

Kevin Kaul

My experience with Lanny at Wire Works is more than positive. I don't shop around for electricians anymore. I go straight to Wire Works. Lanny is proficient, clean, trustworthy, and his manners are outstanding. If you are looking for an electrician and don't use Lanny you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Lorelei Jaramillo

Wire Works Co is great to work with no matter how big or small the job! I am a commercial property manager in Colorado Springs and Lanny has handled all of the electrical needs for our shopping center for years. Recently Lanny has also did electrical work for me at home and he was fantastic. I highly recommend them!

Jim Smith

About a year ago I did research on electricians who specialize in home lighting. I found myself returning several times to Wire Works website. I finally called Lanny to come out and talk with us about remodeling our ceiling lights in the lower level. I found him easy to talk with, open to listening to our ideas, and offering creative solutions to meet our needs. Lanny finished the project on time and for less than he estimated. Beyond his professionalism and expertise as a Master Electrician, Lanny also treated our house as he would his own. He cleaned up the area each day before he left. I am glad we chose Wire Works and we look forward to more projects with Lanny in the future.

Ron Thomason

Wire Works--Lanny Woods as it is personified--does professional, reliable and timely work which he guarantees and backs up with personal commitment. Mr. Woods serves his clients not only with scheduled, "planned" work and service, but aids his clients in emergency cases when immediate action is required. I cannot imagine higher quality work or service, or for that matter, better satisfaction with regards to that work and service.

Cristy Fisher

I investigated various electricians to perform extensive work at our commercially owned business and our residence. After receiving numerous estimates and speaking with many electricians however no one came close to Lanny's professionalism, knowledge and recommendations. He completed the work very quickly, on time and within budget and his estimate. His work is outstanding and he even found and corrected a number of problems our previous electrician made. We will not be using anyone else for our home nor business.

Robert King

"I was hesitant to hire a contractor, because of my past experience with them. However, Lanny came highly recommended with good references. I was very pleased at his professionalism and honesty! I trusted him and wasn't afraid to even leave him alone in my house while he was completing the work. That's peace of mind!!"

Billy Thornton

Lanny, was professional in every way! He returned my call right away, and was prompt about providing an estimate, he scheduled the work as soon as I approved it, and completed it in a timely manner!Thanks Wire Works!!

Sherri Woods

This company is very Trustworthy, Knowledgeable, Detail oriented. Have used them for many projects, from lighting, sound, and technical support. The work is done in a quick and efficient manner. Nice to be able to trust someone these days! Thanks Good work.

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