Electrical panel upgrades in Florence, SC
Room on your panel for the AC you run now and what you add next.
Serving the Pee Dee since 2003
SC #M112570
BBB Accredited
Authorized Ruud and Trane dealer
Generac and Cummins generators
Quality Service Company, LLC handles electrical panel upgrades in Florence, SC and across the Pee Dee. A panel upgrade replaces a panel that is full, old or tripping with one sized for what you run now. Your tech checks the load, then explains your options before any work starts.
We’re independently owned by Chris and Chuck, and our people live where we work. HVAC, plumbing, electrical and generators. One company, one number.
How do I know my panel needs an upgrade?
Watch for these signs. Any one of them is worth a check.
- Breakers trip when the AC or dryer starts
- Lights flicker when big appliances run
- The panel has no open slots, or breakers are doubled up
- Your insurer or a home inspector has asked about the panel’s brand or age
- You’re adding a heat pump, tankless water heater, EV charger or generator
- The home is rated under 150 amps
What happens during a panel upgrade?
It starts with a visit. Your tech will quote any work before starting.
- Your tech looks at the panel, the main service and what you run now.
- You talk through what’s next, such as a heat pump, EV charger or generator.
- Your tech explains what the panel can carry, why, and your options.
- If you go ahead, we install the new panel and label the circuits.
A 200-amp panel may fit your home. The load check decides the right size.
Common questions
How long is the power off?
During a panel upgrade, your power is off while the new panel goes in. Your tech will tell you how long before work starts.
Do I need a permit?
A panel upgrade most likely needs a permit. Florence County requires one to alter or repair a building. City of Florence trade permits include electrical work. Homes in the city and in the county go through different offices.
Will my insurance care?
Your insurer might care, because some insurers ask about the age and brand of a home’s electrical panel. Call your insurer and ask what they want to know. During the visit, your tech can find the panel’s brand and rating, so you have the answer ready.
Should I upgrade my panel before a heat pump?
If your panel is small or old, upgrading before a heat pump often makes sense. Your tech checks the load first to know for sure. A heat pump heats and cools. In Florence, the two loads are about equal in a normal year (NOAA 1991–2020). That is why a heat pump fits many homes here.
Are older Florence-area homes ready for today’s loads?
Many homes in the towns we serve are older. U.S. Census figures (ACS 2020–2024 5-year) show how many were built before 1980:
- City of Florence: median year built 1983, with 46.7% built before 1980
- Hartsville: median year built 1978, with 51.5% built before 1980
- Timmonsville: median year built 1975, with 56.9% built before 1980
- City of Darlington: median year built 1967, with 68.7% built before 1980
Small panels and fuse boxes are common in homes this age. In a Darlington or Timmonsville home, your tech checks the panel before you add a heat pump, EV charger or generator.
South Carolina enforces the 2020 National Electrical Code with state changes. Florence-area building offices have used it since January 1, 2023.
Did your panel sit in floodwater?
The Pee Dee River near Florence crested at 61.01 feet on September 21, 2018. After a flood, NEMA advises replacing water-damaged:
- Molded-case breakers and fuses
- GFCI and AFCI devices
- Surge devices and wiring devices
Have a tech check a flooded panel before the power goes back on.
Running a generator after a storm? Never plug it into a wall outlet or the panel.
- FEMA: never connect a generator directly to home wiring.
- Generac: backfeeding without a transfer switch can electrocute utility workers and violates the NEC.
- Duke Energy: have a licensed electrician install the transfer switch.
