I had an emergency repair to replace a dead circuit breaker. It was late afternoon when most businesses were closed or closing. I called several electricians, but only one was able to come out--but not when needed as he didn't have the breaker and would have to get one (or so he said).
This was a 50-amp ITE breaker in the main panel that services a subpanel downstairs that covers the electric hot water heater and all the receptacles in the livingroom, sunroom, office--to name a few.
Still no calls from anyone else, so Daniel Z from Integrity Electric in Delta CO came out the next day OTHERWISE I would have had to pay an additional $190 charge for an emergency service call had he come out that evening. He replaced the breaker; and since he was here I had him check two 3-way light switches that operate an outside light that weren't working properly. He fixed that for me as well.
So why the 2-star rating? Well, the entire time he was here, he was telling me my panel and subpanel were obsolete and dangerous. He said he was required by law (based on NEC) if he did a repair, all my equipment would have to be upgraded--and I mean all, from the dryer's 220 circuit to all circuits for everything in the entire house and the subpanel, including the panel and subpanel boxes. I paid my $290 service call bill thinking it seemed mighty steep, but what do you do...
So a few days later I get a bid from him showing a total cost of well over $6K to do the upgrade.
I then contacted two other electricians off Home Advisor to 1) confirm the upgrade requirement, and 2) if necessary, give me an estimate for the same work.
Turns out I didn't get a NEW 50-amp breaker, it was used. He also didn't plug the open panel locations where the old breaker sat--he left it wide open which is a major safety concern. A person could access the hot busbar inadvertently. That too is required by code. I paid $290 for a used ITE breaker (and was told it was new) and a quick 3-way switch repair. I figure the additional time and cost to me was due to the time he took looking over all my equipment he wanted to replace. Both electricians said I was way over-charged. Keep in mind, these were two different companies, out here at different times, saying the same thing. But there's more...
Then I was told that there is nothing wrong with my equipment, it is not obsolete or dangerous, all wiring is adequate for the 50 amp subpanel--it isn't pretty, but it's safe. AND replacing a circuit breaker and/or rewiring an existing 3-way switch does not automatically warrant a mandatory whole-house electrical upgrade. They both said that if I still WANTED a whole-house upgrade, one would charge $2500 and the other said maximum would be $3000.
I recommend steering clear of Integrity Electric in Delta CO. read more