Milwaukee's older neighborhoods — Bay View, Riverwest, the East Side, Bayshore, and beyond — are packed with beautiful homes that were built long before today's electrical demands were imagined. Many of those homes still have their original electrical panels, including the notoriously problematic Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco (Sylvania) panels that have been linked to breaker failures and house fires. If your Milwaukee home has one of these panels, a replacement is not just advisable — it's urgent.
Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric is Milwaukee's experienced, licensed electrical panel upgrade contractor. Our electricians replace outdated and hazardous panels with modern, properly sized circuit breaker panels that meet current Wisconsin electrical code. We handle the full upgrade: permit application, utility coordination with We Energies, meter base work if needed, new panel installation, circuit labeling, and final inspection.
Beyond safety, panel upgrades enable the electrical demands of modern Milwaukee life: EV charging stations, high-capacity appliances, home additions, and whole-home generator connections all require capacity that older 100-amp panels simply can't provide. We upgrade most Milwaukee homes to 200-amp service, with larger options available for properties with greater demands.
EV-ready upgrades are a growing part of our panel work — we install 240V Level 2 charging circuits and future-proof your panel so adding a second EV charger down the road requires minimal additional work.
GreenSky financing is available. Call Burkhardt at 414-206-3049 to schedule your Milwaukee panel upgrade consultation.
**FAQs**
**Q: How do I know if my Milwaukee home has a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel?** A: Federal Pacific panels usually bear the name 'Stab-Lok' on the breakers; Zinsco/Sylvania panels often have colorful breaker handles. If you're not sure, our electrician can identify your panel type on a quick service call.
**Q: Does a panel upgrade require a permit in Milwaukee?** A: Yes. Panel upgrades are permitted work in Milwaukee and require a final inspection. Burkhardt handles all permit applications and inspection scheduling as part of the project.
EV Charger Installation
As electric vehicles become more common across Southeastern Wisconsin, many homeowners need a Level 2 EV charger installed in their garage. This typically requires a dedicated 240-volt, 50-amp circuit from your electrical panel — and in older homes, a panel upgrade to handle the additional load. Our licensed electricians handle the complete installation: panel assessment, circuit addition, charger mounting, and final inspection. We install all major EV charger brands including ChargePoint, Tesla Wall Connector, JuiceBox, and Grizzl-E.
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.
How do I know if my Milwaukee home has a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel?
Federal Pacific panels usually bear the name 'Stab-Lok' on the breakers; Zinsco/Sylvania panels often have colorful breaker handles. If you're not sure, our electrician can identify your panel type on a quick service call.
Does a panel upgrade require a permit in Milwaukee?
Yes. Panel upgrades are permitted work in Milwaukee and require a final inspection. Burkhardt handles all permit applications and inspection scheduling as part of the project.
Related Services
Learn more about our electrical services across southeastern Wisconsin.
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Call Us At: (414) 206-3049
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