Tips & Guides

If your home still has a fuse box, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, or a 100-amp service that trips frequently — it's time. Modern homes need 200-amp service to handle air conditioning, EV chargers, and appliances safely. Signs to watch for: breakers that trip often, lights that dim when appliances run, a burning smell near the panel, or visible rust or corrosion.

Most Level 2 home chargers need a dedicated 240V, 50-amp circuit. Before scheduling installation, check your panel — if it's at capacity, you may need a panel upgrade first. Charger placement matters: closer to the panel means lower installation cost. All installations require a permit and inspection in Michigan. We handle the entire process.

A 10kW generator covers the essentials: lights, refrigerator, sump pump, and a few outlets. A 16-20kW unit adds central air conditioning. A 22-24kW unit powers your entire home. The right size depends on your must-haves during an outage. We perform a load calculation to recommend the right capacity — oversizing wastes money, undersizing leaves you in the dark.

Knob-and-tube wiring isn't inherently dangerous if undisturbed and properly maintained. But it becomes a hazard when insulation is blown over it (fire risk), when it's been modified by non-electricians, or when it's powering modern loads it was never designed for. Many insurance companies won't cover homes with active knob-and-tube. A full rewire is typically $8,000-15,000 depending on home size.

Switching from incandescent to LED cuts lighting energy use by 75%. A typical home spends $200-300/year on lighting — LED upgrades pay for themselves in 1-2 years. Start with the fixtures you use most: kitchen, bathroom, and porch lights. Recessed LED cans replace old housings entirely. We install everything from single fixtures to whole-house LED conversions.

Check their license with the State of Michigan (LARA website). Verify they carry liability insurance and workers' comp. Ask if they pull permits — unlicensed work done without permits can void your home insurance and create problems when you sell. Get written estimates. Be wary of prices that are dramatically lower than competitors — it usually means corners being cut.