More Electrical Capacity for Today's Pinellas Homes
A lot of Pinellas County homes were built when a house needed far less power than it does now. Plenty still run on 100-amp service or less. Add a bigger AC or heat pump, an EV charger, a pool heater, or a generator hookup, and that panel runs out of room fast.
A panel upgrade raises your home's electrical capacity, usually to 200 amps, so everything you've added can run safely at the same time. Air Bros is licensed for both electrical (EC13015085) and HVAC (CAC1820499) work. Your air conditioner is usually the biggest load in the house, so we size the upgrade around what it actually needs.
Call 727-217-6148 to schedule a panel assessment.
Signs You've Outgrown Your Panel
The clearest sign is a panel with no open breaker spaces and a list of things you still want to add. Other signs:
- Breakers trip when the AC runs at the same time as the dryer, oven, or pool pump.
- Lights dim or flicker when the AC compressor kicks on. If it's the AC breaker tripping on its own, start here.
- There are no empty breaker spaces, or the panel is full of doubled-up tandem breakers.
- Your home has 100-amp service or less.
- You're planning an EV charger, heat pump, generator, pool heater, or addition.
- An insurance company or 4-point inspection flagged your electrical service.
A panel that feels warm, buzzes, smells like burning plastic, or shows scorch marks is a different problem. That's a safety issue, not a capacity issue. Call us right away at 727-217-6148.
Panel Upgrade vs. Panel Replacement
An upgrade adds capacity. A replacement swaps out a panel that's unsafe or failing, usually at the same size. Plenty of jobs end up being both.
| Feature | Panel upgrade | Panel replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | More capacity for new loads | Remove a failing or hazardous panel |
| Typical change | 100 amps or less to 200 amps | Same amperage, new equipment |
| Common triggers | EV charger, heat pump, generator, pool heater, addition | Corrosion, flood damage, obsolete brands like Federal Pacific or Zinsco, insurance issues |
| Meter and service line | Often updated, with utility coordination | Usually unchanged |
If your panel is corroded or an older brand insurers won't accept, start with electrical panel replacement. If it's in good shape but too small, you need an upgrade. We'll tell you which one at the assessment.
What's Driving Panel Upgrades in Pinellas County
Most upgrades start with one new appliance that pushes an older panel past its limit. In Pinellas, it's usually one of these:
- Heat pumps and backup heat strips. Many Florida heat pumps include electric heat strips for cold mornings, and those strips are one of the biggest loads in the house. A larger system or added heat strips can push a 100-amp panel over the edge.
- EV chargers. A Level 2 charger typically needs its own 40 to 60 amp circuit. That's a big ask for a panel already carrying central AC. See EV charging installation.
- Generators. A standby generator needs a transfer switch and panel space. A crowded or undersized panel can't take one cleanly.
- Pool and spa equipment. Pool heat pumps, pumps, and spa heaters draw heavy current, often on the same summer afternoons the AC is working hardest. See pool heater service.
- Additions and remodels. New rooms, induction ranges, and garage conversions add circuits fast.
Your AC or heat pump is usually the largest single load, so an upgrade sized without it is a guess. Because we're licensed for HVAC and electrical, we size the panel for the system you have now and the one you'll eventually replace it with.
Flooding, Salt Air, and Your Electrical Service
Living next to this much water changes how an upgrade should be planned. A panel upgrade is the best chance to fix where your electrical service sits and how well it holds up.
- After a flood, replace instead of drying out. Breakers and panels that sat in floodwater, especially saltwater, need to be replaced. Corrosion keeps working inside them long after they look dry. Helene's 2024 surge put this problem in homes from the beaches to low-lying St. Pete neighborhoods.
- Elevation in flood zones. If your home is in a flood zone or being rebuilt after storm damage, the panel and meter may need to move higher as part of permitting. We plan the new location with that in mind, so you don't pay to move it twice.
- Salt air corrosion. Near the Gulf and the bay, salt air corrodes meter bases, outdoor disconnects, and panel connections. Corroded connections run hot. An upgrade is the right time to switch to corrosion-resistant outdoor equipment.
- Surge protection. Storm season brings lightning and utility surges, especially when power is restored. A whole home surge protector mounts at the panel, so adding it during the upgrade saves a separate trip.
- Generator-ready. If a generator is in your plans, we can set up the new panel for a transfer switch or interlock now.
Do You Actually Need a Panel Upgrade?
Not always. A load calculation tells us whether your current service can handle what you're adding, and sometimes it can.
A load calculation adds up everything in your home that draws power and compares it to what your service can safely deliver. It's the same method the electrical code uses, so it takes the guessing out of the decision.
If the numbers work, you may only need a new circuit. If they're close, load management can help. These devices pause one big load, like an EV charger, while another, like the AC, is running. That can let you add a charger without upgrading your service.
If the numbers don't work, an upgrade is the safe answer. Adding circuits to an overloaded panel leads to nuisance trips, overheated connections, and failed inspections. We'll show you the math either way.
How a Panel Upgrade Works
Most panel upgrades are done in one day, with the power off for part of it. Permits and utility scheduling take longer than the install itself.
- Assessment and load calculation. We inspect your panel, meter, and wiring, list what you want to add, and run the numbers.
- Written quote. One price covering the panel, any meter or service line work, permits, and surge protection if you want it.
- Permit. We pull the electrical permit through your city or Pinellas County.
- Utility coordination. For a service upgrade, we schedule the disconnect and reconnect with your power company.
- Installation. We install the new panel, move your circuits over, label everything clearly, and bring grounding and bonding up to current code.
- Inspection and power restored. The building department inspects the work, and the utility turns service back on.
- Walkthrough. We show you the new panel, what each breaker controls, and how much room you have left to grow.
Plan your upgrade before hurricane season starts June 1. After a storm, electricians and utility crews are stretched thin, and non-emergency work can wait weeks. If a generator is on your list, upgrading the panel first keeps that project on schedule.
Why Pinellas Homeowners Choose Air Bros for Panel Upgrades
One licensed team plans the panel and the AC it powers, so nothing gets sized in isolation.
- Licensed for both trades. Electrical license EC13015085 and HVAC license CAC1820499. Here's why that matters on any job that touches your AC.
- Local shops. We work out of Shore Acres in St. Petersburg and out of Seminole.
- Real people, 24/7. Our phones are answered around the clock.
- Proven locally. More than 1,200 Google reviews with a 5.0 rating from Pinellas homeowners.
We upgrade electrical panels throughout Pinellas County, including St. Petersburg, Old Northeast, Seminole, Largo, Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Kenneth City, Gulfport, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach. See our full service area.