Foil-wrapped breaker raises fire concerns as homeowner weighs $2,600 electrical work quote

Cost and safety questions complicated a homeowner's plans for an outdoor electrical outlet after a contractor recommended replacing the existing electrical panel. The proposed panel replacement and a dedicated microwave circuit came with a combined price tag of $2,600, prompting the homeowner to seek advice online.

Here's what to know

The contractor's recommendation put the outlet project on hold, the homeowner explained in a Reddit post, adding that they had purchased the house in July.

A dedicated microwave circuit accounted for $700 of the electrician's quote. The other $1,900 would cover installing a 200-amp-rated panel while retaining the home's existing 100-amp service.

"Should I replace this panel?" the original poster asked, citing concerns about the existing panel being full, a loose breaker, and a breaker wrapped in foil.

"I'd be less worried about the loose breaker and more about that foil situation; that's an actual fire hazard right there," one commenter wrote.

More background

While installing a 200-amp panel with only 100-amp service might seem like overkill, one commenter said that doing so could avoid the need to swap out the panel in the future if the service was ever upgraded.

Another commenter suggested allowing the home's electrical demands to guide the upgrade decision, recommending an assessment of which appliances, heating equipment, and other household systems ran on electricity and how much power each element required. They offered their own home as a comparison, reporting that 150-amp service was sufficient even with an electric vehicle charger.

What can be done?

One of the most frequently repeated pieces of advice was for the homeowner to obtain two or three additional quotes before committing to any one electrician's recommendation. Meanwhile, several other commenters supported the initial electrician's proposal, considering both the recommendations and estimates reasonable.

"This is a solid investment," one commenter wrote. "You are putting off want-to-do projects. At some point it may be a must-do project that requires a new circuit."

Where can I learn more?

The OP was hardly alone in looking for advice on a quote for electrical work. These stories cover similar situations involving outlet quotes, generator hookups, electric vehicle charging projects, and more.

• A new home buyer questioned $360 outlet costs as electricians recommended prioritizing outdoor installation.

• Electricians suggested that a cheaper generator hookup might avoid a homeowner's quoted $6,000 panel replacement.

• An EV driver facing a $10,000 charging quote learned 100-amp service might be sufficient.

• A California renter's 240V EV outlet installation drew estimates ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

• A homeowner planning a generator inlet installation learned the main breaker might be outside.

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