Call an electrician in Florence, SC when your home shows warning signs, or before you add a big new load. Warm outlets, tripping breakers and a burning smell are all warning signs. At Quality Service Company, LLC, your tech finds the cause, explains why it happened and quotes the work before starting.
What are the signs you need an electrician?
Electrical problems often start small. Watch for these signs around the house:
- Breakers that trip again after you reset them
- Outlets or switch plates that feel warm or buzz
- Lights that flicker or dim when the AC or dryer starts
- A burning or hot-plastic smell near an outlet, switch or panel
- Scorch marks or cracks on an outlet cover
- Plugs that slip out of loose outlets
- Kitchen or bathroom GFCI outlets that will not reset
Warm, buzzing or scorched parts should not wait. If it is safe, turn that circuit off at the breaker and call. If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911.
For problems like these, see our page on electrical repairs in Florence, SC.
Why should older Pee Dee homes get a panel check?
Many homes here were built before 1980. Census ACS figures for 2020 to 2024 show nearly half of City of Florence homes were built before 1980.
Homes are older still in nearby towns we serve:
- Darlington: median year built 1967
- Timmonsville: median year built 1975
- Hartsville: median year built 1978
- Manning: median year built 1980
Fuse boxes, small panels and two-prong outlets are common in homes this age. That does not mean your home is unsafe. It means the panel deserves a look before you add more.
Your tech will check the panel first, because it decides what else you can add. If it is too small or worn, an electrical panel upgrade may be one of your options.
What should you check before adding a heat pump, EV charger or generator?
Big new equipment needs room on your panel and the right wiring to reach it. Before you buy, have these checked:
- Panel size and condition
- Open breaker spaces on the panel
- How much load your home already carries
- The wire run from the panel to the new equipment
- Whether the job needs a permit
Planning to charge a car at home? See EV charger installation in Florence, SC.
Do electrical jobs in Florence need a permit?
Many do. Florence County Building Inspection says a permit is required to alter or repair a building. Its office number is (843) 676-8600.
The City of Florence trade permit form includes electrical permits, with a line for generators. South Carolina currently enforces the 2020 National Electrical Code, with state changes.
Before work starts, ask which permit applies and who schedules the inspection.
How do you stay safe with a generator in an outage?
Outages here can be wide. During the January 26, 2004 ice storm, the National Weather Service reported power out countywide in Florence County. On December 23, 2022, more than 75,000 South Carolina customers were without power in an Arctic outbreak.
Follow this guidance from CDC, FEMA, Generac and Duke Energy:
- Run a portable generator outdoors only, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.
- Never run one in the house or the garage.
- Keep battery carbon monoxide alarms in the house.
- Never connect a generator directly to your home wiring.
- Use a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.
Generac says backfeeding without a transfer switch can electrocute utility workers. If an older parent or a newborn lives with you, plan backup power before storm season.
What if water reached your panel or outlets?
Do not turn power back on to anything that sat in floodwater. NEMA says water-damaged breakers, fuses, GFCI and AFCI devices, surge devices and wiring devices should be replaced.
If your home is flood-prone, SC Emergency Management suggests raising the electrical panel. FEMA flood maps at msc.fema.gov show your risk.
Who do you call when the power goes out?
Report the outage to your electric provider first. Your provider is on your bill.
- Duke Energy: 800-769-3766, or text OUT to 57801
- MPD Electric Cooperative: outage map at mpd.outagemap.coop
- Santee Electric Cooperative: 1-888-239-2300
What happens when you call Quality Service Company?
We have served Florence and the Pee Dee region since 2003. Chris McDonald and Chuck Polk own the company, and our people live where we work.
HVAC, plumbing, electrical and generators. One company, one number.
There is a fee for the visit. Your tech will find the cause, explain it, and quote any repair before starting. You choose what happens next.
We serve Florence, Darlington, Hartsville, Manning, Timmonsville, Effingham and Sumter.
Common questions
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
A breaker that keeps tripping is stopping a circuit with a problem. The cause may be too much load on one circuit, a worn breaker, or a short in a device or wire. Resetting it again and again can hide a real hazard. Your tech will find the cause and explain your options before any work starts.
Is a two-prong outlet dangerous?
A two-prong outlet has no ground wire, so it gives less protection than a grounded outlet. These outlets are common in older homes. Swapping in a three-prong outlet without a ground does not fix the problem. An electrician can show you options, such as running a ground or adding GFCI protection.
Should I get the electrical checked when I buy an older home?
An electrical check is worth doing when you buy an older home. Fuse boxes, two-prong outlets and small panels are common in homes this age. The check covers the panel, the outlets and any signs of past do-it-yourself work. It tells you what you can add and what needs attention first.
Do I need a bigger panel for an EV charger?
Not always, but your panel decides whether a charger fits. A Level 2 home charger runs on 240 volts. Your tech will look at panel size, open spaces and the load your home already carries. Then you will hear your options, from using the panel you have to an upgrade.
Questions about your wiring or panel? Call (843) 920-2004 or book online.