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Frequently Asked Questions
I smell something burning from my electrical panel—how quickly can an electrician get here?
Dispatch our emergency van from Neshaminy State Park, and with access to I-95, we can typically be on-site in your Neshaminy Valley neighborhood within 8-12 minutes. A burning odor indicates an active fault, such as overheating wires or a failing connection, which requires immediate attention to prevent an electrical fire. Please turn off power to the affected area at the main breaker if it is safe to do so.
Can my 1959 home with a 100-amp panel and an old Federal Pacific breaker box support an EV charger?
Safely installing a Level 2 EV charger or a modern heat pump in this scenario is very difficult and requires a full service upgrade. The Federal Pacific panel is a known hazard with a high failure rate, and the 100-amp capacity is insufficient for the added continuous load. We must first replace the entire panel with a modern, code-compliant unit and upgrade your service entrance to 200 amps to handle these new demands.
We live on the flat coastal plain near Neshaminy State Park—does the soil affect our home's electrical grounding?
Yes, the sandy, well-drained soils common here can impact your grounding electrode system's effectiveness. Proper grounding is critical for safety and surge protection. We often need to drive longer grounding rods or use multiple rods to achieve the low-resistance connection required by the NEC. A poor ground can lead to erratic appliance behavior and reduced protection from lightning or utility surges.
If I upgrade my electrical panel, what permits are needed from Bensalem Township?
A panel replacement or service upgrade always requires an electrical permit from the Bensalem Township Building and Planning Department. As a Master Electrician licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, I handle the permit application, the subsequent inspections, and ensure the work meets the 2023 National Electrical Code. This process protects your investment and ensures your home's safety.
My power comes from an overhead mast on the roof—what should I know about this setup?
An overhead service mast is common for homes of your era. The mast and its connection point are vulnerable to weather, aging, and physical damage. Before any service panel upgrade, we must inspect the mast, service entrance cables, and meter base for integrity. If they are deteriorated, they will need replacement to meet current Bensalem Township and PECO standards for a safe, reliable connection.
How can I prepare my Eddington home's electrical system for summer brownouts or winter ice storms?
For summer's AC peak demand, ensure your panel and wiring are in good health to prevent overheating. For winter storms that can knock out PECO power, consider a professionally installed generator with a proper transfer switch. Whole-house surge protection is also wise year-round to guard your electronics against the voltage spikes that accompany both brownouts and storm-related grid fluctuations.
My lights flicker whenever my AC kicks on—is this a PECO grid problem or my wiring?
While PECO's grid can experience moderate surges during our seasonal thunderstorms, consistent flickering tied to a specific appliance usually points to an internal issue. It often indicates undersized wiring or a loose connection in your 67-year-old system that can't handle the inrush current from the compressor motor. This voltage drop stresses both the appliance and your other electronics.
My Neshaminy Valley home was built around 1959 and still has its original wiring—should I be concerned?
Yes, you have good reason to be proactive. Your cloth-jacketed copper wiring is now 67 years old, and its insulation becomes brittle with age. That original 100-amp service panel was designed for a few lights and outlets, not the constant high-demand loads of 2026's multiple TVs, computers, and kitchen appliances. This outdated capacity often leads to overloaded circuits, nuisance tripping, and poses a fire risk.