Fuse box to modern breaker panel
Old fuse boxes and undersized panels are replaced with a breaker panel sized for today's loads, usually with a permit and a utility disconnect.
How this upgrade works →Electrical repair · upgrades · emergencies
Licensed electricians, one call away, almost anywhere in the US.
One call connects you with an independent, licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code. Tell us what is wrong and where you are, and we route you to an electrician who works your ZIP code, from dead outlets to panel upgrades and EV chargers.
- Call now to check electrician availability in your area
- 47 states + DC
- Free to use, no obligation
Is there an electrician near you?
Check your ZIP code against 16,988 covered ZIP codes.
- states
- 47 + DC
- states
- cities & towns
- 9,953
- cities & towns
- ZIP codes
- 16,988
- ZIP codes
Talk to a person
Explain the problem once, and get routed to an electrician who covers your address.
Licensed pros only
Requests go to independent electricians licensed for the work they do.
Start with safety
Our guides tell you what to shut off and what to leave alone before help arrives.
Burning smell, sparks or a buzzing panel? Turn off the circuit if it is safe, then call. Smoke or flame: get out and call 911.
Emergency helpServices
What electricians in our network handle
Fourteen common jobs, grouped the way homeowners search for them.
Repair & troubleshootingDead outlets, tripping breakers, flickering lights and burning smells.
Emergency Electrician
Call an electrician right away if you smell burning plastic, see sparks or scorch marks, hear buzzing from a panel or outlet, or lose power to part of the house with no tripped breaker.
Learn more →Electrical Repair & Troubleshooting
Dead outlets, flickering lights and tripping breakers usually come from a loose connection, a failed device, an overloaded circuit or a tripped GFCI somewhere upstream.
Learn more →
Outlet & Switch Repair
Replace any outlet that is loose, cracked, scorched or warm, and any switch that crackles or feels hot.
Learn more →Panels & wiringPanel upgrades, rewiring and dedicated circuits for modern loads.Electrical Panel Upgrade
A panel upgrade replaces your breaker panel, and often the service entrance, so the home can safely carry more load: an EV charger, heat pump, induction range or addition.
Learn more →
Home Rewiring
Rewiring replaces old branch-circuit wiring, such as knob-and-tube, ungrounded cloth-insulated cable or 1960s–70s aluminum branch wiring, with modern grounded copper cable.
Learn more →
Dedicated Circuits
A dedicated circuit serves one appliance or one heavy-use area so it does not share capacity with anything else.
Learn more →
InstallationLighting, ceiling fans, outlets, EV chargers and generators.
EV Charger Installation
A Level 2 home charger needs a 240 volt circuit, usually 40 to 60 amps, run from your panel to the garage or driveway.
Learn more →
Lighting Installation
Electricians install recessed lights, replace fixtures, add switches and dimmers, and run outdoor and landscape lighting.
Learn more →
Ceiling Fan Installation
A ceiling fan must hang from a fan-rated box fastened to the framing, not a standard light box.
Learn more →
Generator Installation
A generator must connect through a transfer switch or an approved interlock so it can never feed power back into utility lines.
Learn more →
Safety & inspectionsGFCI/AFCI protection, surge protection, smoke detectors and inspections.
Whole-Home Surge Protection
A whole-home surge protective device (SPD) mounts at the panel and limits voltage spikes before they reach your circuits.
Learn more →
GFCI & AFCI Protection
GFCI devices protect people from shock near water: kitchens, baths, laundry, garages, basements and outdoors.
Learn more →Smoke & CO Detector Installation
Hardwired smoke alarms should be replaced about every 10 years, and interconnected so one alarm sounds them all.
Learn more →
Electrical Safety Inspection
An electrical safety inspection is a hands-on check of the panel, wiring, grounding, devices and protection by a licensed electrician.
Learn more →Before & after
Common upgrades, and what changes
Three of the projects homeowners ask about most. The photos are examples to show the difference, not jobs completed by electricians in our network.
Dated fixture to new lighting
Swapping old fixtures for new pendants or recessed lights often means a new box rated for the fixture's weight and a dimmer suited to LED bulbs.
How this upgrade works →
Plain garage to EV-ready garage
A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and a load calculation to confirm the panel can carry it.
How this upgrade works →Example stock photos from Pexels.
Symptom finder
What's going on with your electrical?
Pick the closest match. Each one opens a plain-English explanation and when to call.
How it works
From your call to a licensed electrician
- 01
Tell us the problem
Call or send the short form: what is wrong, your ZIP code and how soon you need help.
- 02
We route you
Your call or request goes to an independent, licensed electrician who serves your area.
- 03
The electrician takes it from there
They confirm the details, quote the work and schedule it. You decide whether to hire them.
Coverage
Electricians in 47 states and Washington, DC
Coverage is built ZIP by ZIP from the electricians who take calls in each area. Highlighted states have active coverage; select one to see its covered cities.
Major metros: Birmingham · Huntsville · Phoenix · Tucson · Little Rock · Los Angeles · San Diego · Sacramento · San Francisco · San Jose · Fresno · Bakersfield · Long Beach · Oakland · Pasadena · Denver · Colorado Springs · Hartford · New Haven · Wilmington · Washington · Miami · Tampa · Orlando · Jacksonville · Saint Petersburg · Fort Lauderdale · Atlanta · Boise · Chicago · Indianapolis · Des Moines · Wichita · Louisville · New Orleans · Baton Rouge · Shreveport · Baltimore · Boston · Grand Rapids · Minneapolis · Saint Paul · Kansas City · Omaha · Lincoln · Las Vegas · Reno · Manchester · Trenton · Newark · Albuquerque · New York · Albany · Syracuse · Charlotte · Greensboro · Columbus · Cleveland · Dayton · Akron · Oklahoma City · Tulsa · Portland · Philadelphia · Pittsburgh · Providence · Charleston · Greenville · Nashville · Chattanooga · Houston · Dallas · San Antonio · Austin · Fort Worth · Salt Lake City · Virginia Beach · Norfolk · Seattle · Spokane · Tacoma · Huntington · Charleston · Milwaukee · Madison
Guides
Know what you're dealing with
TroubleshootingWhy Does My Breaker Keep Tripping?
A breaker trips because of an overload (too much on the circuit), a short circuit (hot touching neutral) or a ground fault (hot touching ground). If it trips when a specific appliance runs, it is usually an overload; if it trips instantly when reset, it is usually a short and needs an electrician.
TroubleshootingOutlet Not Working? What to Check First
Check for a tripped GFCI elsewhere on the circuit (bathroom, kitchen, garage, outdoors), a wall switch that controls the outlet, and a breaker sitting in the middle position. If none of those restores power, a connection has likely failed and the circuit needs testing.
PanelsSigns You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
You likely need a panel upgrade if you have a fuse box, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, 100 amps or less with plans to add an EV charger, heat pump or electric range, no open breaker spaces, or signs of heat or rust on the panel.
InstallationInstalling an EV Charger at Home: What to Know
Most EV owners install a Level 2 charger on a 240 volt circuit, typically 40 to 60 amps. Before buying a charger, have an electrician check your panel capacity and the distance from the panel to where you park.
FAQ
Questions people ask before they call
Is Brightlane Electric an electrical contractor?
No. Brightlane Electric is a free referral service. Your call or request goes to an independent, licensed electrician who serves your area, and that electrician quotes and performs the work.
How much does it cost to use Brightlane?
Nothing. Calling or sending a request is free. You only pay the electrician if you hire them, at the price you agree on.
Which areas do you cover?
We currently route electrical calls in 47 states and Washington, DC, covering thousands of cities and ZIP codes. Use the ZIP checker to confirm your address.
Can I get help with an electrical emergency?
Yes, call. If there is smoke or flame, leave and call 911 first. For a burning smell, sparks or a buzzing panel, shut off the circuit if it is safe and call.
Will the electrician be licensed?
Requests are routed to electricians and electrical companies that represent themselves as licensed for their area. Always ask for the license number and check it with your state or local licensing board.
Need an electrician?
Call now, or send a request and a licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code will contact you.