Licensed Electrician Serving Auburn Gresham, Chicago
Auburn Gresham's bungalow belt streets are lined with solid brick homes and two-flats built in the early-to-mid 1900s. As families modernize kitchens and add central air, many of these homes need their electrical panel brought up to today's standards. EMT Electric replaces old fuse boxes and undersized services here, and coordinates each upgrade with ComEd.
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Bungalows and two-flats in Auburn Gresham
Many of the bungalows here still have their original electrical setup at heart: a small service, a fuse box or an early breaker panel, and a handful of circuits shared across several rooms. That was fine for a radio and a few lamps. It is not enough for a microwave, a dishwasher, a window unit in every bedroom and central air. When fuses blow or breakers trip during dinner, the panel is usually the bottleneck.
Two-flats bring their own puzzle. Each unit often has its own meter and panel, plus a house circuit for the basement, stairs and laundry, and over the years those can get crossed or overloaded. When we upgrade a two-flat, we sort out which circuits belong to which unit, size each panel for the people living there, and make sure the shared areas are on their own circuits.
Popular projects in Auburn Gresham
The jobs we're called for most often here.
Fuse box to 200-amp panel
We replace fuse boxes and undersized panels with a modern breaker panel, typically 200 amps for a single-family bungalow, and handle the ComEd coordination for the service change.
Basement and laundry circuits
Bungalow basements often run the laundry, furnace and a freezer off one tired circuit. We add dedicated circuits and GFCI outlets, and wire a finished basement properly if you are building one out.
Older wiring in the walls
A new panel does not fix worn wiring behind it. We check for cloth-insulated cable, ungrounded outlets and old splices, and replace the circuits that need it, starting with the kitchen and bathrooms.
Services
From quick fixes to full remodel wiring — here’s what EMT Electric handles.
Troubleshooting
- Troubleshoot & repair partial power
- Identify shorts, overloads, & failures
Fans & Ventilation
- Ceiling fans
- Attic fans & bathroom exhaust fans
Switches & Outlets
- Dimmers, 3-way, 4-way, timers
- Receptacles / GFCI replacements
Dedicated Circuits
- Dryer, AC unit, furnace, baseboard heaters
- Washer, microwave, oven, etc.
- Dishwasher & disposal power
Outdoor & Low Voltage
- Security/pole/landscape lights
- Photocells, motion sensors
- Doorbells & cable
Permits and inspections in Auburn Gresham
Auburn Gresham is in the city, so panel and service upgrades follow the Chicago Electrical Code and need a permit from the Chicago Department of Buildings. In a two-flat, the panels and meters for both units are planned together with ComEd, since the service work affects the whole building. New wiring is run in metal conduit, as Chicago requires. We pull the permit and meet the inspector.
Auburn Gresham electrical questions
How do I know if my bungalow needs a new panel?
Common signs are fuses that blow often, breakers that trip when the microwave and toaster run together, lights that dim when the air conditioner starts, or a panel with no open spaces. If you are adding central air or remodeling the kitchen, it is worth checking the service size first. We can usually tell you in one visit.
Can you upgrade both units of a two-flat at the same time?
Yes, and it is usually the smart way to do it, since both meters and the service entrance are being worked on anyway. We plan the panels for each unit, separate the common-area circuits and schedule the service change with ComEd so both units are without power for as short a time as possible.
Do I need a new panel to add central air?
Not always. Central air needs its own dedicated circuit, and the question is whether your service and panel have the capacity and the space for it. Many older bungalows with 60- or 100-amp service do not. We run a load calculation and tell you whether a new circuit is enough or an upgrade is needed.
Why Auburn Gresham Homeowners Choose EMT Electric
EMT Electric is owner-operated, and Peter Podczerwinski is on every Auburn Gresham job, from the first look at your panel to the final inspection. No subcontractors, free firm quotes and same-day callbacks.
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Nearby areas we serve
We work across the neighborhoods and towns around Auburn Gresham, out of our base in Oak Lawn.