Prioritizing Electrical Upgrades in Older Homes in Fort Myers

We’ve worked on a lot of older homes around Fort Myers — the kind with oak trees out front and good bones inside. McGregor, Whiskey Creek, downtown off Fowler, even a few spots near the river where the salt air’s been chewing on panels for decades.

Those homes have character. Real wood, solid plaster, little quirks that tell their age. But their wiring? That’s another story.

If your place was built back when TVs weighed more than washing machines, there’s a good chance the electrical system’s due for attention. Doesn’t mean you’ve got a fire hazard on your hands, but it does mean it’s worth looking at before something decides to quit.

Where We Start: Safety

We always begin with the basics — wiring and the breaker panel.

If a home still has a fuse box, that’s a quick flag. They worked fine in the 50s, but they weren’t built for dishwashers, dryers, or half the electronics we plug in today.

Then there’s the old Federal Pacific and Zinsco breaker panels. We still see them in older Fort Myers homes. They’re known for one nasty habit: not tripping when they should. That’s how things overheat and catch.

We also check for cloth wiring and aluminum branch circuits. Florida’s humidity does a number on those. The cloth insulation turns brittle, and aluminum expands and contracts every time power flows through it. That loosens the connections over time — not something you want hidden in your walls.

That kind of stuff goes to the top of the list. Always.

The Overload Problem

You can spot this one a mile away.

Lights dim when the fridge kicks on. Breakers pop when you run the coffee maker and toaster together. You start plugging extension cords into power strips just to make things work.

That’s an older home telling you, “Hey, I’ve had enough.”

These houses were wired back when people had one TV and maybe a radio. Now every outlet’s got chargers, lamps, and smart devices drawing current. Add an AC or two, and those old 15-amp circuits just can’t keep up.

We fix that by adding dedicated circuits in the kitchen, laundry, and high-use areas. It spreads the load out and stops the constant breaker tripping.

That Old Panel

Your electrical panel’s like the main artery of your home. If it’s old, undersized, or corroded, nothing else you do matters much.

A lot of older Fort Myers homes still have 100-amp panels, which were standard years ago. Now? Bare minimum. Between air conditioning, pool pumps, water heaters, and maybe an EV charger — you’ll need at least 150 or 200 ampsto run comfortably.

We see corrosion all the time in panels near the coast or riverfront. The salty air eats the metal slowly. A few of them we’ve opened had breakers that were literally rusted in place. That’s not something you want to discover during a storm when power’s flickering.

Upgrading the panel not only boosts safety but future-proofs your home for all the tech we keep adding.

GFCI and AFCI Protection

Next comes protection.

If your home’s older, it probably doesn’t have GFCIs or AFCIs. You’ve seen the ones with the little reset buttons on outlets — that’s a GFCI. They cut power instantly if moisture or a short is detected.

AFCIs are different — they protect against sparking inside the walls. Both of these save lives, plain and simple.

Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas, garages, and anything outdoors should have GFCIs. Bedrooms, living rooms, and hallways benefit from AFCIs. Most new homes have them by code, but older ones need them retrofitted. It’s not a huge job, but it makes a big difference.

Lighting and Switch Upgrades

Once the wiring and panel are handled, the next step is usually lighting.

Older homes often still have incandescent or fluorescent fixtures. They burn more energy and give off more heat — not ideal for our Florida climate. We swap those for LEDs, which stay cool and last years longer.

We recently worked on a 1970s home off Cypress Lake. The owners wanted better light in the kitchen but didn’t want a full remodel. We replaced their old recessed cans with LED trims, installed under-cabinet strips, and tied everything to dimmers. Night and day difference — literally.

Plan Ahead

Even if everything seems fine now, think about what’s next.

A lot of Fort Myers homeowners are adding EV chargers, solar panels, and backup generators. All that needs capacity — and it’s cheaper to prep for it now than to redo things later.

We also recommend a whole-home surge protector. Florida storms love to test your patience (and your electronics). A surge protector keeps that lightning-induced jolt from frying your appliances.

The Order We Usually Recommend

People always ask, “Okay, but what should I do first?” Here’s how we prioritize, step by step:

1. Fix any immediate safety issues — bad panels, faulty wiring, or loose connections.

2. Add GFCI and AFCI protection.

3. Upgrade the main panel if it’s outdated or corroded.

4. Add circuits in heavy-use areas like kitchens or laundry.

5. Update lighting, outlets, and switches.

6. Add surge protection and prep for future tech.

We can do it all at once or in stages, depending on your budget. The key is doing it safely and in the right order.

Real Talk — What We See Out There

Every home tells a story. We once worked on a 1958 ranch in Tanglewood that still had cloth wiring and an original fuse box. The homeowner said, “It’s worked fine for 60 years!” And it had — but one look inside the panel and the wires were cooked from decades of heat.

We replaced the system section by section, added grounding, and installed a new 200-amp panel. Afterward, they said their lights had never looked so steady. That’s the thing — sometimes you don’t realize how bad it was until it’s fixed.

Why Call a Pro

Electrical work’s not something to “wing.” We’ve seen DIY fixes that made our hair stand up — wires taped together, outlets daisy-chained through attic cords, breakers that didn’t even match the panel brand.

It might save a few bucks short term, but it’s not worth the risk.

When we do a job, it’s done to code, tested, and built to last in Florida’s humidity and salt air. We explain what we’re doing along the way so you know what you’re paying for — no surprises.

Wrapping It Up

If your Fort Myers home is more than 30 years old, it’s time to take a serious look at the electrical system. Start with safety, then comfort, then convenience. Bit by bit, you’ll bring your home up to modern standards without losing any of that old Florida charm.

We’ve helped hundreds of homeowners around Fort Myers update their systems safely — from simple panel swaps to full rewires.

👉 Call CoHarbor Electric today to schedule an inspection or consultation. We’ll walk your home with you, explain what’s urgent and what’s not, and make sure your wiring’s ready for the next few decades.