Is your electrical panel keeping up with your home’s demands? Homes across Dover, Portsmouth, and the NH Seacoast were built with 100-amp panels that weren’t designed for today’s electrical loads. Between EV chargers, heat pumps, home offices, and modern appliances, an outdated panel isn’t just inconvenient, it can be a safety hazard.
At Loyal Lab Electric & Generators, we handle panel upgrades and full service upgrades for homeowners throughout the Seacoast. Whether you need a straightforward panel swap or a complete service upgrade including the meter base, service entrance cable, and grounding system, our master electrician and team get it done right, permitted, inspected, and up to code.
If your home has a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Pushmatic, or Stab-Lok panel, replacement isn’t optional. These panels have well-documented safety defects and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Most homeowners who call us for a panel upgrade in Dover, Portsmouth, and Rochester are dealing with the same symptoms: flickering lights, breakers that trip regularly, or a panel that feels warm to the touch. These are all signs your electrical system is struggling to keep up.
When we upgrade your panel, we don’t just swap the box. A full service upgrade includes:
So many people miss all the signs, that’s why we put together an article to help you identify the most common signs that your panel is ready for an upgrade
If we can upgrade your system without moving the location of your panel, we do, saving you time and money.
If your panel is current but you’re still experiencing wiring issues, that’s a different problem. Visit our electrical troubleshooting and repairs page to learn how we diagnose and fix those issues.
A panel upgrade is one of the most impactful improvements you can make to your home’s electrical system. Here’s what it does for homeowners in Dover, Portsmouth, and across the Seacoast:
Safety: Outdated panels with failing breakers, corrosion, or heat damage are a fire risk. A new panel with properly rated breakers protects your home and your family. If you have a recalled brand like Federal Pacific or Zinsco, this alone is reason enough to upgrade.
Capacity: Today’s homes demand more power than they did 20 or 30 years ago. If you’re adding an EV charger, a generator, a heat pump, or a hot tub, your existing panel may not have room. A 200-amp upgrade gives you the capacity to handle modern electrical loads without tripping breakers or overloading circuits.
Functionality: Smart breaker panels can notify you when the power goes out, even when you’re away. A modern panel also gives you cleaner circuit organization, proper AFCI protection for bedrooms, and room to grow as your needs change.
The panel is only one part of your home’s electrical service. We wrote a full breakdown of every component, from the Eversource drop to the grounding rod.
We typically schedule consultations within 1-2 business days. Most panel upgrades are completed in one day, and full service changes take 1-2 days.
We serve homeowners across the NH Seacoast including Dover, Portsmouth, Rochester, Somersworth, Durham, Newmarket, Exeter, Hampton, and surrounding towns. We also serve parts of southern Maine including Berwick, Kittery, Eliot, and York.
Panel upgrades vary depending on the scope of work, but we provide clear, upfront pricing before any work begins. Call us or fill out the form above for a free quote.
A panel upgrade replaces your breaker panel with a modern one. A service change upgrades the entire system including the meter base, service entrance cable, grounding, and panel. We’ll assess your home and recommend the right option.
Most residential panel upgrades are completed in one day. A full service change may take 1-2 days depending on the scope of work.
Yes, your power will need to be disconnected during the panel swap, typically for 4-6 hours. We coordinate with Eversource to schedule the disconnection and reconnection and we always plan to complete everything in the same day so your power is back before evening.
It depends on the scope of work. A straightforward panel swap in the same location may not require a permit in some towns, but a full service upgrade with a new meter base and service entrance cable typically does. We know the permitting requirements for every town we serve across the Seacoast and we’ll let you know upfront whether your project needs one. If it does, we handle the entire process including scheduling the inspection.
Federal Pacific panels have been linked to thousands of house fires due to breakers that fail to trip during an overload. If your home has one, we strongly recommend replacing it. The same applies to Zinsco and Stab-lok panels.
If your breakers trip frequently, your panel is warm to the touch, you smell burning near the panel, you see visible corrosion or rust on the outside, or your home has a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or Stab-lok panel, it’s time for a replacement. These are signs of a serious safety issue. Check out our article where we go over other signs you may need a panel upgrade.
Yes. Loyal Lab Electric & Generators is fully licensed and insured in New Hampshire and Maine. Our owner is a master electrician with over 20 years of experience.
Yes, we provide free quotes on all residential electrical work. Call us or fill out the form above and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Loyal Lab Electric & Generators is 100% locally owned and operated right here in Somersworth, NH. We’ve been serving the Seacoast since 2018 and have no affiliation with any franchise or corporate entity. When you call us, you’re supporting a local business and working directly with our team.
You can depend on us to for all of your electrical needs. We are here whenever you need us.
Our friendly staff are happy to help with any electrical need you have.
We use the safest and best equipment in the industry for every electrical project.
We will exceed your expectations and guarantee satisfaction.
