Case Study: Whole-Home Rewire in Naples Park

We got a call from a family in Naples Park who had been dealing with one electrical problem after another.
The house was built in the early ’70s, and from what they described — flickering lights, warm outlets, and a breaker panel that tripped whenever they ran more than one appliance — it was clear right away what we were walking into.

That part of Naples is full of great homes, but a lot of them were wired back when power needs were a fraction of what they are today. Between the humidity, salt air, and decades of wear, the electrical systems in those older houses are often hanging on by a thread.

What We Found

When we opened the panel, it was exactly what we suspected — aluminum wiring throughout, and a tired 100-amp service that couldn’t handle the load.
Some of the outlets were loose, the lights dimmed whenever the AC kicked on, and there wasn’t a GFCI in sight — not in the kitchen, not in the bathrooms, not even outside.

To make things worse, a few of the aluminum connections were already showing signs of heat damage. Nothing had caught fire yet, but it was heading that way.

The homeowners told us they’d been nervous plugging things in — which is never how anyone should feel in their own house.

The Plan

After walking them through what we found, we recommended a full whole-home rewire and panel upgrade. That sounds like a big job — and it is — but in cases like this, it’s the right move.

Here’s how we tackled it:

1. Replacing Aluminum with Copper

We pulled every aluminum branch circuit out of the house and replaced it with brand-new copper wiring.
Copper handles heat better, makes stronger connections, and lasts decades longer in Florida’s coastal environment.

2. Upgrading the Panel

We swapped the old 100-amp panel for a 200-amp service, giving them plenty of room for their appliances, HVAC, and anything they add down the road — like an EV charger or generator.

3. Adding GFCI & AFCI Protection

We installed GFCIs where moisture could be an issue — kitchens, bathrooms, garage, and outdoors — and AFCI breakers for all living areas. That brought the home up to modern code and added an extra layer of safety.

4. Extra Circuits & Outlets

The house didn’t have nearly enough outlets. We added dedicated circuits for the refrigerator, washer/dryer, and range, plus more outlets in the living areas so they could ditch the extension cords.

5. Lighting Upgrades

The old fixtures were dated and inefficient. We installed LED recessed lighting in the kitchen and living room — cleaner, brighter, and far more efficient.

6. Final Safety Testing

Before restoring power, we went circuit by circuit, testing voltage, connections, and load. Everything checked out perfectly.

For more information, see Residential Services FAQs.

The Results

When we flipped the breakers on, everything worked the way it should — steady lights, cool outlets, and quiet breakers.

The homeowners said the difference was like night and day. No more flickers, no more tripping breakers, and for the first time in years, they didn’t have to think twice about running the microwave and AC at the same time.

They told us they “finally felt safe turning everything on at once.” That’s what we like to hear.

Why Naples Park Homes Need Rewiring So Often

A lot of homes in Naples Park went up between the 1960s and 1980s, when aluminum wiring and small fuse panelswere the norm. It worked fine back then, but today’s power use — central air, big appliances, chargers, and electronics everywhere — pushes those systems past their limits.

Common signs it’s time for a rewire:

• Breakers that trip often

• Lights that dim or flicker

• Warm outlets or covers

• Aluminum or cloth-covered wiring

• A 100-amp panel or anything with fuses

If you see any of that, it’s worth getting a professional inspection.

Built for Florida, Built to Last

At Coharbor Electric, we’ve handled hundreds of rewires like this across Collier County. We take our time, label everything clearly, and make sure the system is built to handle Florida’s conditions — humidity, salt air, and all.

We’re licensed, insured, and based right here in Southwest Florida, so when we say we know how local wiring ages, we mean it. Read more on hiring electricians.

If your home in Naples Park or North Naples still runs on its original wiring, it’s not just old — it’s unsafe.

📞 Give us a call to schedule an inspection or rewire consultation.
We’ll walk you through what’s going on, show you what needs to be updated, and make your electrical system safe, strong, and ready for the next few decades.

Related Articles:

• Residential Services FAQ
• Hiring a Residential Electrician
• Is a Full Rewire Worth It?
• Signs of Failing Wiring