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Every house in Fort Myers runs on electricity — lights, air conditioning, refrigerators, chargers, you name it. What most people don’t think about is the part that keeps all that power in check: the breaker panel or, in older homes, a fuse box.
That box isn’t just a bunch of switches or round plugs. It’s the thing standing between your wiring and an electrical fire. Whether your home uses fuses or breakers, those devices are your first line of defense when something draws too much current.
We’ve worked on homes all over Lee County — from 1950s cottages downtown to new builds in Gateway — and we still see both systems in use. Here’s how they work and what you should know before deciding whether it’s time for an upgrade.
Corrosion, warm panels, or frequent trips are red flags. Get expert answers on capacity, rust, and upgrades in our Panels FAQ.
Electricity moves through your home in circuits. When too much power flows through one, the wires can overheat. Fuses and breakers both do the same job: they stop that overload before it turns dangerous.
A fuse has a thin strip of metal that melts when the current is too high. Once it “blows,” it’s done — you replace it with a new one.
A breaker does the same thing but can be reset with a flip of a switch.
Both protect you, but they handle things a little differently.
Both fuses and breakers stop overloads, but only a pro can tell if your system is truly safe.You’ll still find fuse boxes in plenty of older homes around McGregor, Tanglewood, and parts of downtown. They worked fine back in the day, but modern homes draw far more power than they were ever meant to handle.
What’s good about them:
Simple and reliable — not much can go wrong.
They react instantly to surges.
Cheap and easy to replace.
What’s not so great:
You have to replace them every time one blows.
It’s easy to put in the wrong size fuse, which can overheat wiring.
They’re not designed for today’s big loads — air conditioners, dryers, EV chargers, etc.
Many insurance companies now flag fuse boxes as outdated or unsafe.
If your house still has fuses, that’s a sign it’s due for an electrical upgrade — especially if you’re adding appliances or selling the property.
Homes built after the 1970s almost always have breaker panels. They’re safer, easier to use, and more flexible.
Why people prefer breakers:
You can reset them instead of replacing anything.
They handle heavier loads.
They can include GFCI and AFCI protection (more on that below).
They meet current electrical codes and are easier to expand.
The only downside? They cost more upfront and react a fraction slower than fuses — but that difference is tiny compared to the convenience and safety you get.
Fort Myers has a weird mix of housing ages — some neighborhoods have homes from the 1940s, others are brand-new. That means we see everything from vintage fuse boxes to modern 200-amp panels.
The problem is that older fuse systems just weren’t built for what we plug in today:
Central AC and heat pumps
Pool heaters and spas
Modern refrigerators, washers, and dryers
EV chargers
Smart home systems and entertainment setups
Those loads push old wiring and fuses past their limits. We’ve seen boxes so overloaded they were warm to the touch — never a good sign.
Central AC and pool pumps push old panels to the limit. Frequent trips? Follow our Troubleshooting Tripping Breakers steps.
If you’re not sure what you have, open the panel door (safely) and take a look. Round screw-in parts mean fuses; flat switches mean breakers.
Call an electrician if you notice:
Fuses blowing or breakers tripping all the time
A warm or humming panel
Fewer outlets than you actually need
Corrosion or rust inside the box
A fuse box and your insurance company frowning at it
Florida’s humidity and salt air speed up corrosion, especially in garages and outdoor panels. That’s one reason we replace so many in coastal areas.
Modern breaker panels can do more than just stop overloads.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter): cuts power instantly if it senses electricity flowing somewhere unsafe — like through water or a person. You’ll find these in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outside.
AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter): detects dangerous electrical arcs caused by damaged wires or loose connections. It prevents fires before they start.
Both are standard in newer panels. Fuses just can’t do that.
We’ve helped Fort Myers families replace hundreds of outdated fuse boxes and upgrade breaker panels for modern life. Every house is a little different, but the goal’s the same — keep it safe, keep it up to code, and make sure it can handle what you’re powering today.
Our services include:
Circuit troubleshooting and repairs
Whole-home rewiring for outdated systems
Both fuses and breakers protect your home. But breakers are today’s standard for a reason — they’re safer, easier, and built for modern power use.
If your Fort Myers home still runs on fuses, or if your breaker panel looks worn out, it’s worth getting it checked.
Contact Coharbor Electric for an inspection or upgrade estimate. We’ll take a look, explain your options in plain language, and make sure your home’s wiring is safe, strong, and ready for Florida’s future.
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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: