Electrical FAQs

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panels were installed in millions of U.S. homes between the 1950s and 1980s. They have been widely documented as a safety hazard. The breakers in these panels frequently fail to trip during an overload or short circuit, which is precisely the condition a breaker is designed to interrupt. That failure can allow excessive heat to build up in wiring, creating a serious fire risk.

If your home was built or last rewired between 1950 and the mid-1980s and you have not had an electrical inspection recently, it is worth confirming whether a Federal Pacific panel is still in service. Our guide on Federal Pacific panels covers the background and warning signs in detail, and our licensed electricians can assess your panel and walk you through your options for panel replacement.

If your home still has a fuse box rather than a circuit breaker panel, it should be inspected at least once a year by a licensed electrician. Fuse boxes were standard in homes built before the 1960s, and while a well-maintained fuse box can technically function, they were not designed for the electrical loads modern households place on them. Signs that a fuse box is struggling include fuses that blow frequently, visible scorch marks around fuse sockets, or a burning smell near the panel.

Beyond annual visits, a fuse box should be evaluated any time you add a major appliance, plan a home addition, or purchase an older home where the electrical history is unknown. Our complete fuse box guide covers common questions in more depth, and our electrical safety inspection service includes a thorough panel assessment as part of a full home evaluation.

Electrical grounding is a direct physical connection between your home's electrical system and the earth. Its primary function is safety. Grounding gives fault current a controlled, low-resistance path to the ground rather than allowing it to travel through a person or appliance in the event of a wiring failure. When a fault occurs in a grounded system, the fault current travels through the ground wire, which simultaneously triggers the circuit breaker to cut power to that circuit.

Beyond shock protection, a properly grounded system improves power quality, reduces electrical interference, and allows whole-home surge protection to function correctly. Without a solid ground connection, a surge protector cannot safely divert excess voltage anywhere. Contact a local electrician to determine how to assess or repair any issues.

Start with personal referrals from neighbors or contractors you already trust, then verify independently. Before any work begins, confirm that the electrician holds an active Georgia electrical license, carries both general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and will provide a written upfront quote before starting. Ask specifically who will be doing the work, since some companies bid the job and then subcontract it to crews not covered by the original credentials.

Red flags to watch for include pressure to skip the permit process, refusal to put pricing in writing, or a company that cannot readily provide its license number. For help vetting local electricians, our guide to finding and hiring an electrician walks through every step of the process. Snappy's licensed electricians are all screened and our Georgia-licensed (EN214418), and we provide upfront pricing on every electrical service call.

An AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupter) breaker is designed to detect and interrupt arc faults, which are dangerous electrical discharges that occur when electricity jumps between damaged, loose, or deteriorating wires or connections. Standard breakers protect against overloads and short circuits but cannot detect the kind of low-level arcing that is responsible for a significant share of home electrical fires. AFCI breakers fill that gap.

Arc faults can develop inside walls where wiring has been damaged by nails, pests, or years of wear, often with no visible warning signs. The National Electrical Code now requires AFCI protection in most living areas of new construction. Our licensed electricians can assess whether your home's current panel protection meets today's standards.

A whole house surge protector is installed directly at your electrical panel and monitors incoming voltage continuously. Inside the device are components called metal oxide varistors that act as insulators under normal conditions, allowing electricity to pass through your circuits as usual. When voltage spikes above a set threshold, they respond within nanoseconds, diverting the excess energy to the ground wire rather than letting it travel into your circuits and devices.

This panel-level interception is what makes whole-home surge protectors categorically more effective than plug-in power strip models, which only protect devices physically connected to them and provide no coverage for hardwired appliances like HVAC systems or water heaters. Our detailed surge protector guide and types of surge protectors overview explain how the technology works and when the unit should be replaced after a significant event.

A whole home generator is a permanently installed backup power system connected to your home's electrical panel and fueled by natural gas or propane. Unlike portable generators, standby units detect a power outage automatically and restore power within seconds without any manual intervention. They can power your entire home, including HVAC systems, refrigerators, medical devices, security systems, and lighting, for as long as the outage lasts.

Whether you need one depends on your situation. Homeowners who rely on medical equipment, those with frequent outages in their area, and families who have experienced significant property damage from past outages are strong candidates. For the greater Atlanta area, where summer thunderstorms and occasional ice events can knock out power for extended periods, a standby generator provides meaningful peace of mind. Contact an experienced and licensed electrician to learn more about system types, sizing, and what a professional installation involves.

Generator installation costs vary based on three primary factors. First, the size of the unit in kilowatt. Second, whether natural gas service is already available at the installation site. Third, the complexity of the electrical transfer switch work required. A smaller standby generator sized for essential circuits typically starts in the mid-thousands installed. A larger unit capable of powering an entire home, including central air conditioning, generally runs from $10,000 to $20,000 or more depending on the scope.

Snappy provides upfront, written quotes before any work begins so you know the full cost before committing. Flexible financing options are available for generator installations, and members of the Snappy Savings Club receive 10% off all installations. For more, contact our licensed electricians to determine the right generator for your home and family.

An electrical panel upgrade replaces your home's existing breaker box with a newer panel that has greater capacity, updated safety features, and the ability to handle modern electrical loads. The upgrade typically involves installing a new panel, replacing the main breaker, updating the wiring connections, and often increasing the service amperage from 100 amps to 150 or 200 amps.

You likely need an electrical panel upgrade if your home is more than 25 to 30 years old and has never had one, if breakers trip frequently under normal usage, if you are adding a major appliance such as an EV charger or hot tub, or if your home still uses a fuse box. If you are concerned about your electrical panel, contact a local electrician to complete a safety inspection and learn more about your electrical system and what the panel upgrade process involves and what to expect.

Panel upgrade costs depend on the current panel's condition, the target amperage, local permit fees, and whether any related work such as a meter upgrade or wiring corrections is needed. A straightforward upgrade from a 100-amp to a 200-amp panel in the Marietta area typically runs a few thousand dollars to install. More involved jobs, such as replacing a Federal Pacific or other recalled panel, upgrading from a fuse box, or adding a subpanel for a new addition, will run higher.

Snappy provides detailed, written upfront pricing before any work begins and handles the permit and inspection process as part of every panel job. Financing options are available and Snappy Savings Club members receive 10% off the total cost.

A professional electrical safety inspection is a comprehensive assessment of your home's entire electrical system, including the service panel, wiring, outlets, switches, grounding and bonding, GFCI and AFCI protection, and any visible hazards. A licensed electrician works through a multi-point checklist to identify code violations, aging components, improper wiring, and potential fire or shock hazards that may not be visible in everyday use.

The inspection typically takes one to three hours depending on the size of the home and the age of the system. You receive a written report of findings with clear recommendations for any repairs or upgrades needed. An inspection is particularly valuable when purchasing an older home, after recurring electrical issues, or as part of a routine maintenance schedule. Snappy Savings Club members receive annual electrical safety inspections as part of their membership.

Home EV charger installation costs in the Marietta and greater Atlanta area typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for a Level 2 (240V) charger installation, not including the charger hardware itself. The total depends on how close your electrical panel is to the installation location, whether your panel has available capacity for a dedicated 40 to 50-amp circuit, and whether any conduit or longer wire runs are needed.

If your panel is already at capacity or needs an upgrade to accommodate the new circuit, those costs would be additional. Some EV charger hardware also qualifies for federal tax credits, which can offset a portion of the equipment cost. Snappy handles the permit and inspection process as part of every EV charger installation, and financing options are available for qualifying customers.

The key difference is charging speed, which comes down to voltage. A Level 1 charger uses a standard 120V household outlet and adds roughly 3 to 5 miles of range per hour of charging. For most drivers, an overnight Level 1 charge adds 25 to 40 miles of range, which is adequate for low-mileage daily use but impractical for vehicles with larger batteries or longer daily commutes.

A Level 2 charger operates on a dedicated 240V circuit and adds 20 to 30 miles of range per hour, meaning most EVs can be fully charged from near-empty overnight. Level 2 is the standard choice for home installation because it keeps the vehicle topped off regardless of daily usage. A Level 2 installation requires a licensed electrician to run a dedicated circuit from your electrical panel, pull the necessary permit, and verify that the panel has adequate capacity. For more, contact Snappy to learn more about our EV charger services and we can share more details on the full installation process that works for your needs.