Frequently Asked Electrical Questions

An electrical emergency includes burning plastic or metallic odors from outlets/switches, visible electrical sparks or arcing, buzzing/humming circuit breakers, hot outlet covers, smoke, or localized power outages. If you notice any of these signs, turn off your main breaker if safe and call Scott's Electric immediately at (757) 536-0478.

We maintain on-call Master Electricians dispatched across all 7 cities of 757: Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. Average emergency arrival times range from 30 to 45 minutes.

A breaker that repeatedly trips is warning you of an electrical overload, short circuit, or ground fault. Do not force the breaker to stay on. Unplug devices connected to that circuit and call our licensed electricians to perform a safe diagnostic inspection.

Older homes built prior to 2000 often have 100-amp panels. Today's modern appliances—including Level 2 EV chargers, central heat pumps, hot tubs, induction cooktops, and home automation systems—exceed 100A capacity. Upgrading to a 200A or 400A smart breaker panel prevents overloading and fire risks.

A standard 200A or 400A main electrical panel replacement takes 4 to 8 hours. Scott's Electric coordinates directly with Dominion Energy and local city inspectors to ensure seamless disconnect, replacement, and power restoration on the same day.

Yes. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have known safety defects where breakers fail to trip during an overload, creating severe fire hazards. We perform complete code-compliant panel replacements with modern Siemens, Eaton, or Square D breaker boxes.

Level 1 charging uses a standard 120V household outlet and adds only 3-5 miles of range per hour (taking up to 24+ hours for a full charge). Level 2 charging operates on a dedicated 240V circuit (40A-60A) and adds 30-50 miles of range per hour, fully charging your vehicle overnight in 4-8 hours.

We install home chargers for all EV makes and models, including Tesla (Model 3, Y, S, X, Cybertruck with Tesla Wall Connector), Rivian, Ford F-150 Lightning & Mustang Mach-E, Chevy Silverado EV, Hyundai Ioniq, Kia EV6, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi.

Yes. We install weatherproof, NEMA 4X rated outdoor EV charging posts and wall stations engineered to withstand coastal rain, salt air, and storm conditions in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Hampton Roads.

An automatic standby generator (such as Generac or Kohler) is connected directly to your home's electrical panel and natural gas or propane supply. Within 10 seconds of a utility outage caused by a storm or hurricane, the automatic transfer switch (ATS) detects the power loss, starts the generator, and powers your entire home seamlessly.

Generator sizing depends on your square footage and essential appliances. A 14kW to 18kW generator powers essential circuits (HVAC, refrigeration, lights, water heater), while a 22kW to 26kW generator powers large multi-zone homes and luxury estates.

Yes. All major electrical work—including panel upgrades, EV charger installs, generator setups, subpanels, and new wiring—requires municipal permits under Virginia USBC building code. We handle all permit applications, municipal filings, and inspection scheduling for all 7 cities of 757.

Yes. All work performed by Scott's Electric is led by Virginia Master Electricians (VA Class A License). We carry full commercial general liability and workers' compensation insurance.

We provide transparent, upfront pricing with no hidden fees. Level 2 EV charger installs typically start around $650+, while 200A panel upgrades start around $1,800+. We offer free on-site consultations and instant price calculations via our online estimator.

We provide a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee along with a 3-Year Craftsmanship & Labor Warranty on all installations, plus manufacturer warranties on panels, chargers, and generators.