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Service Upgrade Planning Guide

Professional electrical capacity assessment for Northern Virginia homes

Service Upgrade Assessment Steps

Systematic approach to planning your electrical service upgrade

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1. Current Service Analysis

  • • Panel age and condition
  • • Service amperage (100A, 150A, 200A)
  • • Available circuits
  • • Code compliance status
  • • Safety hazards identification

2. Load Calculation

  • • Current electrical demands
  • • Future appliance additions
  • • EV charging requirements
  • • HVAC system needs
  • • Pool/spa equipment
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3. Upgrade Planning

  • • Service size determination
  • • Panel specifications
  • • Permit requirements
  • • Timeline coordination
  • • Budget considerations

Electrical Load Calculator

Calculate your total electrical load to determine service requirements

Basic Load Calculation

Used for general lighting and outlet calculations

Additional Loads

Upgrade Timeline

Typical service upgrade process and timeline

Week 1: Planning & Permits

  • • Site assessment and load calculation
  • • Utility coordination for service disconnect
  • • Permit applications filed
  • • Equipment ordering

Week 2-3: Preparation

  • • Permit approval
  • • Utility service disconnect scheduled
  • • Materials delivered to site
  • • Homeowner preparation completed

Day of Installation

  • • Utility disconnects service (morning)
  • • Old panel removal and new installation
  • • Meter upgrade if required
  • • Service reconnection (evening)

Week 4: Completion

  • • Final electrical inspection
  • • System testing and labeling
  • • Homeowner walkthrough
  • • Warranty documentation

When to Upgrade Your Service

Signs that indicate your electrical service needs upgrading

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Frequent Breaker Trips

Circuit breakers trip regularly when using multiple appliances, indicating insufficient capacity.

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Dimming Lights

Lights dim when appliances start, showing voltage drops due to overloaded circuits.

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Warm Outlets/Panels

Hot outlets or panel covers indicate dangerous overloading and fire hazards.

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Home Additions

Major renovations or additions that increase electrical demand beyond current capacity.

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EV Charging Needs

Electric vehicle charging typically requires dedicated high-amperage circuits.

Aging Equipment

Panels over 25 years old or with outdated breaker types (Federal Pacific, Zinsco).

Ready to Upgrade Your Service?

Our licensed electricians provide professional service upgrades throughout Northern Virginia

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Load Analysis

Professional electrical load calculation and assessment

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Permit Handling

Complete permit process and utility coordination

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5-Year Warranty

Industry-leading warranty on all workmanship