Top Emergency Electricians in Lower Southampton, PA,  19006  | Compare & Call

For a burning smell and power loss, we treat it as a high-priority safety dispatch. From our starting point near Neshaminy Mall, we can typically be on-site in Feasterville within 10 to 15 minutes via I-95. Our first step is to safely de-energize the affected circuit at your panel to stop the immediate hazard, then diagnose the source—often a failing connection or overloaded circuit—and make a permanent repair.

No, it is not safe. Federal Pacific panels are a known and widespread hazard; their breakers have a high failure rate and may not trip during an overload, leading to overheating and fire. Even if the panel weren't a hazard, your 100-amp service is insufficient for a Level 2 EV charger, which can draw 40-50 amps on its own. Installing an EV charger here requires a full service upgrade to at least 200 amps and the mandatory replacement of the Federal Pacific panel with a modern, UL-listed panel.

Yes, absolutely. The rolling, tree-canopied landscape in our part of Lower Southampton means branches frequently contact overhead service drops running to your home. This intermittent contact causes voltage fluctuations, which manifest as flickering lights and can damage appliances. It also stresses your home's internal wiring connections over time. If the flickering coincides with wind, report it to PECO for line clearance, and have an electrician inspect your service mast connections and interior panel for signs of heat damage from the instability.

Preparation focuses on safety and backup power. For summer AC peaks, ensure your panel and breakers are in good condition to handle the load without overheating; an overloaded system is a fire risk during brownouts. For winter ice storms that can knock out overhead lines, consider a professionally installed generator with a transfer switch. This keeps essential circuits running safely and prevents back-feeding, which is illegal and deadly to utility workers. We can assess your specific needs for both scenarios.

The Lower Southampton Township Building and Zoning Department requires a permit for any service panel upgrade or replacement. As a Master Electrician licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, I handle the entire process: drafting the application, providing the necessary load calculations, and ensuring the work complies with the 2023 National Electrical Code. After installation, I coordinate the required inspections with the township and with PECO for the meter reconnection, so you don't have to navigate the red tape.

It's likely a combination. PECO's grid in our area faces moderate surge risk from seasonal thunderstorms. While utility-level fluctuations happen, your 1964-era wiring and panel lack the integrated surge protection of modern systems. A transient voltage surge can travel through your home's circuits, damaging sensitive electronics. To protect your investment, we recommend installing a whole-house surge protector at your main panel, which acts as a first line of defense, supplemented by point-of-use protectors for critical devices.

Overhead service, delivered via a mast on your roof, is more exposed to the elements—ice, wind, falling branches, and even squirrels—than buried lines. This makes it more susceptible to localized outages. While PECO maintains the lines up to your mast, the mast itself, the weatherhead, and the service entrance cables are your responsibility. We can inspect this assembly for weathering, proper grounding, and secure connections to ensure your home's point of entry is as resilient as possible.

Your home's electrical system is 62 years old, with original cloth-jacketed copper wiring. While the copper itself is sound, the cloth insulation can become brittle and crack, creating a fire and shock hazard. More critically, a 100-amp panel from 1964 was designed for a handful of appliances, not the dozens of high-power devices—computers, large-screen TVs, and multiple AC units—a modern Feasterville household runs simultaneously. This overload causes voltage drops, which you see as dimming lights.