Fuse Box Replacement and Conversion to a Breaker Panel
Old screw-in fuse boxes converted to a modern breaker panel, the job insurers and lenders keep asking Denver homeowners to take care of.
Why fuse boxes get replaced
Plenty of Denver bungalows, Wheat Ridge ranches and older Aurora homes still run on a fuse box, and a well-kept one is not an emergency on its own. What ends the conversation is usually capacity and paperwork. Sixty amps of service and four to six fused circuits were plenty in 1955. They are not enough for central air, a modern kitchen, a home office and a car in the driveway.
The other reason is that insurers and mortgage lenders have gotten strict. We get calls every week from homeowners who were told a policy will not renew, or a sale will not close, until the fuse box is gone. If that is where you are, tell us the deadline when you call and we will tell you honestly whether we can hit it.
- Fuses that blow whenever two large appliances run together
- An insurance renewal or home sale that flagged the panel
- Oversized fuses installed to stop nuisance blowing, which is a real fire risk
- No room to add a circuit for AC, a hot tub or an EV charger
- Cloth-insulated or ungrounded branch wiring feeding the box
What a conversion actually involves
A fuse box conversion is more than swapping a box on the wall. We set a new panel, land every existing circuit on a properly sized breaker, add AFCI and GFCI protection where the code now requires it, replace the service entrance conductors and meter connections if they are undersized, and bring the grounding electrode system up to code with a ground rod and water-line bond.
Most homes go to 200 amps at this point, because the cost difference between 100 and 200 amps at the time of the conversion is small compared to doing it twice. If your house genuinely does not need it, we will say so.
- New panel, breakers, enclosure and legible circuit directory
- Service entrance and meter can inspected and replaced if needed
- Ground rod, water-line bond and neutral separation done correctly
- AFCI and GFCI protection where code requires it
- Permit pulled and Xcel disconnect coordinated by us
What the day looks like
Power is off for part of the day, typically four to six hours, and we tell you that window before we start so you can plan around a work-from-home schedule or a refrigerator full of groceries. Our own crew does the work, so the person who quoted your job and the person doing it are on the same payroll.
When we are finished the inspector signs the permit off, you get photos of the finished panel and a directory you can still read in ten years, and we send whatever documentation your insurer or title company asked for.
Our process
How an EPO fuse box conversion job runs
- 01
Look at the box
We open the fuse box, check the service conductors, meter and grounding, and count what actually needs to land on breakers.
- 02
Written fixed price
You get the panel size, the scope, permit fees and the timeline in writing. Financing is available if you would rather pay monthly.
- 03
Permit and utility
We pull the permit with your jurisdiction and schedule the Xcel disconnect so the outage window is short.
- 04
Conversion day
Old box out, new panel in, every circuit landed, labeled and tested before we leave the property.
- 05
Inspection and paperwork
We meet the inspector, close the permit, and send photos and documentation for your insurer or lender.
Pricing
What moves the price on this job
We quote after seeing the equipment, because these details change the number more than anything else.
- Service size the home is going to, usually 100 or 200 amps
- Condition of the service entrance conductors and meter can
- Number of circuits being landed on breakers
- Whether the existing branch wiring is grounded
- Grounding electrode and bonding work required
- Jurisdiction permit and inspection fees
Monthly payments available through Hearth
Prequalifying takes about a minute and uses a soft credit check, so seeing your options does not affect your credit score.
FAQ
Common questions
Is a fuse box dangerous?
A fuse box that has been left alone and correctly fused is not automatically unsafe. The common hazard is an oversized fuse installed to stop nuisance blowing, which lets a circuit carry more current than its wire is rated for.
My insurance company says I need it replaced. How fast can you do it?
Tell us the deadline when you call. Most conversions are scheduled within one to two weeks, and we can send documentation straight to your insurer.
Do I have to rewire the whole house?
Usually no. The conversion replaces the panel and service, not the branch wiring. If we find damaged or unsafe wiring at the panel we will show you photos before doing anything about it.
Should I go to 200 amps while you are in there?
In most Denver-area homes, yes. The incremental cost during a conversion is far lower than upgrading again in a few years when you add AC or an EV charger.
How much does it cost to replace a fuse box with a breaker panel?
The number moves with service size, meter and mast condition, and grounding work in older homes. We quote a fixed price on site, and financing through Hearth is available if you would rather spread it out.
How long does a fuse box conversion take?
Most conversions happen in one stretch of work, with the power off for roughly four to six hours. Homes with a deteriorated service entrance or knob-and-tube at the panel can run longer, and we say so up front.
Will replacing my fuse box lower my insurance premium?
Many carriers price fuse box homes higher or will not write them at all. We provide documentation of the completed permitted work so you can send it straight to your agent.
Can you keep the fuse box location?
Usually yes. If code clearances or the utility's requirements force a move, we show you the options and the cost difference before anything is disconnected.
Are fuse boxes up to code in Colorado?
Existing fuse boxes are generally allowed to remain, but they cannot be expanded, and any modification triggers current code. That is why most homeowners convert when they add capacity.
What if you find aluminum branch wiring?
We stop, photograph it and explain the options, including pigtailing at the panel. You will not get a surprise line item without a conversation first.
Still deciding?
The fastest way to get a real answer for your home is to have a tech open the panel. The on-site estimate is free, and you leave with a written price for fuse box conversion.
Want the long version first? Read 9 Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs Replacing.
Where we work
Fuse Box Replacement across the Front Range
Related panel work
Homeowners looking at fuse box replacement usually weigh these against it.
Guides on this topic
Still comparing options? Start with a free on-site estimate or see monthly payment options.
Get your panel price in writing
Free on-site estimates across the Denver metro. No phone guesses, no change orders, no upsell to work you don't need.