Planning New Kitchen Circuits in Fort Myers Homes

If your coffee maker, toaster, and microwave all trip the breaker the minute you turn them on — that’s your kitchen’s way of saying it’s had enough.

It’s one of the most common things we see here at Coharbor Electric, especially in older Fort Myers homes. Most of those kitchens were built back when a fridge, a few lights, and maybe a single outlet were all anyone needed. Fast forward to now — air fryers, espresso machines, wine coolers, you name it — and those same old circuits just can’t keep up.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel or adding new appliances, it’s worth taking the time to plan your circuits properly before you start. Done right, it’ll make your kitchen safer, smoother to use, and future-ready.

Start With How You Actually Use Your Kitchen

We always start by asking, “What’s your normal day in the kitchen like?”

Some folks cook every night. Others just reheat leftovers and make coffee.
Some want a big island with outlets for mixers, laptops, or charging phones.
Others just want enough power so everything can run at once without tripping the breaker.

That’s where planning starts. We look at how you live, not just what the code says.

Code Is the Minimum — Real Life Needs More

The electrical code gives us the basics — two small-appliance circuits for countertops, GFCI protection near water, and dedicated circuits for things like dishwashers and microwaves.

That’s all required by law, and we always build to code (and beyond). But honestly, in most modern kitchens, that’s still not enough.

At Coharbor Electric, we like to give every heavy appliance its own dedicated circuit: fridge, microwave, coffee bar, dishwasher, even that fancy air fryer if you use it daily. It might sound like overkill, but that’s how you keep the system from tripping every time two things kick on at once.

Shared Circuits = Headaches

We see this a lot in Fort Myers’ older homes — the kitchen, dining room, and sometimes even the living room all share the same breaker. That made sense 40 years ago when the biggest draw was a toaster and a radio. But today, those shared circuits just can’t handle it.

When we rewire a kitchen, we separate everything out — outlets, lighting, and appliances — so each has its own clean line. It keeps your system stable, reduces wear, and makes troubleshooting easy if anything ever goes wrong.

Plan Ahead While the Walls Are Open

This is a big one. The cheapest time to run new circuits is when you’re already remodeling. Once the drywall goes up, every new outlet or wire costs more time and money.

So while the walls are open, we usually recommend adding:

• A few extra countertop outlets

• Power for future appliances (like a wine cooler or second fridge)

• Dedicated lighting circuits for islands or under-cabinet lighting

• Outdoor power for a grill or patio area

• Conduit for smart switches or USB outlets

Even if you don’t use them now, you’ll thank yourself later.

Lighting Makes a Huge Difference

Lighting is another thing that’s worth planning early. We recommend separate circuits for your general lighting, task lighting, and accent or under-cabinet lights.

That way, you can turn on what you need — bright for cooking, soft for evening — without flipping every switch in the room.

We’ve also been installing a lot of dimmers and smart controls lately. They’re not just for looks; they save energy and add flexibility.

Fort Myers Has Its Own Electrical Challenges

Between the humidity, salt air, and storm season, homes in Southwest Florida face some tough conditions. Even if your wiring looks fine, corrosion can quietly build up in outlets, breakers, and panels over time.

When Coharbor Electric installs or upgrades kitchen circuits, we always use corrosion-resistant parts and make sure every connection is tight and sealed. It’s those small details that keep your wiring safe and steady through years of Florida weather.

A Real Example From the Field

A while back, we helped a homeowner near McGregor Boulevard who was remodeling an older kitchen. The entire space ran off one 15-amp breaker — fridge, toaster, and microwave all on the same line. They couldn’t make coffee without tripping it.

We upgraded their panel to 200 amps, added new 20-amp countertop circuits, and ran dedicated lines for every major appliance. We also installed GFCI and AFCI protection throughout.

When we wrapped up, they could finally use every appliance at once. The homeowner told us it was the first time in years the kitchen worked “the way it should’ve from the start.”

The Bottom Line

Planning your kitchen circuits isn’t about adding fancy gadgets — it’s about building a system that actually fits your lifestyle.

If you’re remodeling your kitchen or upgrading appliances in Fort Myers, call Coharbor Electric early in the process. We’ll look at your current setup, talk through what you really need, and make sure your wiring can handle it safely.

Because when it’s done right, you’ll never think about it again — and that’s exactly how it should be.