Germantown's residential development in the 1970s and 1980s produced a housing stock of ranches and bi-levels that were wired for their era — typically 100-amp service panels with circuits designed for the household loads of that decade. As Germantown homeowners add EV chargers, home offices, whole-home generators, and modern HVAC equipment, those 1970s panels are increasingly undersized for the demands placed on them.
Newer Germantown construction in subdivisions north of Appleton Avenue and along the I-41 corridor often has 200-amp service, but even these homes face the same modern load pressures. A household with two EVs, central AC, a heat pump, and a robust home office can push a standard 200-amp panel toward its practical limits. Burkhardt's electricians assess existing load and advise on whether an upgrade, a subpanel, or load management is the right answer.
Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels can appear in Germantown's older housing stock from the 1970s — a period when these brands were widely used. If your panel has Stab-Lok breakers or identifies as Zinsco, replacement is the recommended course. Many Washington County insurance carriers flag these panels during policy renewals.
Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric's licensed electricians serve Germantown with panel upgrades, circuit additions, EV charger installation, generator transfer switch installation, outlet and switch repair, and AFCI and GFCI protection. We reach Germantown from our Brown Deer location in about 30 minutes via I-41. Burkhardt is available 24/7 for electrical emergencies. GreenSky financing is available.
We install and service panels from Square D, Eaton/Cutler-Hammer, Siemens, and GE. For generators, we're authorized Generac installers — headquartered right here in Waukesha, WI.
My Germantown home from the 1970s has a 100-amp panel. Should I upgrade it?
A 100-amp service is typically adequate only for older homes with modest appliance loads and no EV charger. If you have central AC, an electric range, a clothes dryer, and are planning to add an EV charger, a 200-amp upgrade is almost certainly worthwhile. Burkhardt will calculate your current and projected load to confirm.
Can Burkhardt install an EV charger at my Germantown home?
Yes. Burkhardt installs 240V dedicated EV charger circuits throughout Germantown and Washington County. We assess your panel capacity first, recommend the right solution, and handle the full installation including permit. Call 414-206-3049 to schedule.
My Germantown home's panel has Federal Pacific breakers. My insurance company just flagged it. What are my options?
Panel replacement is your only real option. Replacing individual Stab-Lok breakers with compatible units is not a recognized safety fix because the bus design itself is the problem. Burkhardt's licensed electricians replace Federal Pacific panels throughout Germantown with a modern, code-compliant panel. Call 414-206-3049.
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