Processing...
If you’ve ever stared at your breaker box and thought, “What exactly am I looking at?” — you’re definitely not alone.
At Coharbor Electric, we talk about panels all the time with Fort Myers homeowners. Whether your house was built in the 70s off McGregor or it’s a newer one out by Daniels Parkway, your electrical panel is one of the most important (and most overlooked) parts of your home.
Here are some straight answers to the questions we get most often about electrical panels — no jargon, no fluff.
Your panel — sometimes called a breaker box — is basically your home’s electrical “traffic controller.” Power comes in from the utility company, runs through that box, and gets sent out through circuits to everything in your house: lights, outlets, fridge, AC, you name it.
Each breaker is like a safety valve. If a circuit pulls too much power, the breaker trips to stop overheating or fires.
It’s simple, but it’s the backbone of your home’s electrical safety.
Typically, a good electrical panel lasts around 25 to 40 years.
But here in Fort Myers, they usually don’t make it that long. The heat, humidity, and salt air do a number on metal parts. Even panels in garages or outdoor closets corrode faster than most people expect.
If your panel’s more than 25 years old — or if it’s been through a few hurricanes — it’s worth having an electrician give it a once-over.
Here are a few we see all the time:
Breakers trip a lot, even under normal use
Buzzing or crackling sounds from the box
A burning smell or scorch marks
Rust or moisture inside the panel
Breakers that won’t stay on — or don’t trip at all
The cover feels warm when you touch it
The panel says “Federal Pacific,” “Zinsco,” or “Challenger”
Any of these can point to serious overheating or failing breakers. If you spot one, stop guessing and get it checked — it’s not something to wait on.
Rust and buzzing are starters—dig deeper for hidden dangers in Florida humidity. Spot them in your Fort Myers home with our Spot Unsafe Panels guide.
Your main panel is where the power from the utility company comes in — that’s the one with your main breaker.
A subpanel is basically a smaller panel that branches off from the main one. We usually install them in:
Detached garages or workshops
Pool or spa areas
Home additions
Outdoor kitchens or guest houses
Subpanels help distribute power more efficiently and keep long runs of wire to a minimum.
Panel size is measured in amps — that’s how much total power your home can safely use at once.
Here’s a general guide:
| Home Type | Typical Size |
|---|---|
| Older homes (pre-1980s) | 100 amps |
| Mid-size homes | 150 amps |
| Modern or remodeled homes | 200 amps |
If you’ve added a pool heater, EV charger, or upgraded your HVAC, your panel might already be maxed out. We can run a load calculation to find out for sure.
Pricing and coverage details in our Residential Services FAQ.
Yes — and if you have one of these, it’s a red flag:
Federal Pacific (FPE Stab-Lok) – breakers don’t always trip when they should
Zinsco – connections loosen and overheat
Challenger – known for internal failures and heat damage
Most insurance companies won’t cover homes with these panels anymore. If you have one, replacing it isn’t optional — it’s a safety fix.
On average, a full panel upgrade runs between $2,500 and $4,500, depending on:
Size (150A or 200A)
Location (indoor vs. outdoor)
Wiring condition
Permitting requirements
Yes, it’s a decent investment — but it’s one that protects your home, your insurance coverage, and your peace of mind.
Absolutely. Every panel upgrade in Fort Myers or Lee County requires a permit and final inspection.
We handle all that for you — including coordination with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to disconnect and reconnect power safely.
Timeline and tips for Fort Myers in our Upgrades FAQ.
These are modern safety breakers required in most homes today.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter): protects you from shocks in wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoors.
AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter): protects against electrical fires caused by arcing wires behind walls.
Dual-function breakers combine both protections in one.
If your home doesn’t have them yet, upgrading is one of the best safety improvements you can make.
How they protect your home in our Arc-Fault and GFCI Breakers.
A proper installation should have:
Clearly labeled breakers
No rust or corrosion
No double-tapped breakers (two wires under one screw)
Correct breaker ratings
Proper grounding and bonding
Tight, clean connections
If you’re not sure, schedule an inspection. It’s quick, and it can prevent expensive problems down the road.
No — and this isn’t one of those “we just say that for liability” things. It’s actually dangerous.
Your panel carries enough current to seriously hurt you. One wrong move can start a fire or cause electrocution. In Fort Myers, any panel work has to be done by a licensed electrician and properly permitted.
It’s just not worth the risk.
Every 3 to 5 years is a good rule — sooner if:
You’ve remodeled or added big appliances
You’re seeing breaker trips or flickering lights
You’ve been through flooding or storm damage
After hurricanes, we always check for water intrusion — corrosion can start inside even if the outside looks fine.
Yes, absolutely.
A modern 200-amp panel tells buyers (and insurance companies) that your home is safe, up to code, and ready for future upgrades like solar or EV charging. It’s one of the smartest upgrades you can make to an older home.
Business insights in our Commercial Services FAQ.
Look for someone who’s:
✅ Licensed and insured in Florida
✅ Familiar with Fort Myers permitting and FPL coordination
✅ Experienced with panel upgrades and inspections
✅ Willing to explain everything clearly and give you documentation
At Coharbor Electric, that’s what we do every day. We handle everything — from permits to inspection — and use corrosion-resistant equipment built for our coastal climate.
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home’s entire power system. It’s not glamorous, but it’s one of the most important things to keep in good shape.
If your panel’s old, unreliable, or you’re just not sure what condition it’s in, don’t wait for a breaker to fail.
📞 Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule an inspection or consultation.
We’ll check your system, explain your options clearly, and make sure your Fort Myers home stays safe, efficient, and ready for the future.
SERVICE AREA
Serving Southwest Florida including: Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, and more...
Get clear, menu-based pricing before work begins--giving you more control to fit your needs and budget.
Highly-trained & experienced Electricians. Fully vetted and background-checked. Ready to exceed your expectations.
Serving SWFL customers for 13+ years. Licensed and Insured throughout Florida.
EC13004475. EC13012422.
At Coharbor Electric, this is what to expect when entrusting us with fixing your electrical issues.
The first step is to get all the information we will need so that we can correctly assess the problem or situation. The photos or videos you send will be sent directly to the electrician.
Once our electrician has the info he needs, we will dispatch one in the next available spot–armed with expertise, equipment, and the parts he’ll most likely need.
Our Promise is to to You is to perform the job completely, efficiently, and to the Florida electrical code standards. We are committed to fair and honest pricing.
We offer flat rate pricing for service calls, so you always know the price up front. Simple to understand. Flat-rate fixed price so you can be confident you’ll get what paid for.
As a Florida homeowner, you have an endless list of choices for electrical contractors to hire…some great, some good, some bad.
At Coharbor Electric, our benchmark is to be “great”. If you decide to hire us for your electrical service, here’s what you can expect from our electricians:
Optimized by Seraphinite Accelerator