A Pittsburgh Electrician for the City's Older Houses
Pittsburgh has the oldest housing of any community we serve. Census figures put the median city home at 1942, and nearly half were built in 1939 or earlier. In neighborhoods like Morningside, Central Northside, Polish Hill, Perry North, Highland Park, Lawrenceville and Bloomfield, two out of three houses date to before 1940.
That age shows up behind the walls: cloth wrapped wire, two prong outlets with no ground, small fuse era services and circuits shared by half a floor. Renaissance Electric has worked for Pittsburgh homeowners since 1997. We find what is there, explain it in plain words and give you a written plan with a free estimate before any work starts.
Homes in Pittsburgh at a Glance
1942
Median year city homes were built (U.S. Census ACS 2020 to 2024)
48.3%
of homes built in 1939 or earlier
68.8%
of homes built before 1960
161,908
housing units in the city
47.7%
of occupied homes are owner occupied
PLI
City Permits, Licenses and Inspections issues and inspects residential electrical permits
Electrical Work Pittsburgh Homes Need Most
Whole and Partial Rewiring
With so many prewar houses, knob and tube and cloth wire are common here, and rewiring room by room is often the cleanest fix.
Grounding for Old Homes
Two prong outlets in older city houses usually have no ground path. We add one so outlets and surge devices can protect you.
Service Upgrades to 200 Amps
Many city homes still run on 60 or 100 amp service. We replace the mast, meter base and service entrance and coordinate with Duquesne Light.
Panel and Circuit Upgrades
Old fuse boxes and crowded panels get replaced, and new circuits go in for kitchens, laundry and window units.
GFCI and AFCI Outlets
Kitchens, baths and basements in older homes rarely have the protection current code expects. We add it where it counts.
Emergency Electrician
Storm damage, a pulled service drop or a hot panel at night. Call any hour, 7 days a week.
Permits and Power in Pittsburgh
Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections, filed through OneStopPGH. PLI inspects residential electrical permits itself. We file the permit, schedule the PLI inspection and are on site for it.
Duquesne Light serves every address in the city. When a service upgrade needs the meter pulled or the drop reconnected, we arrange it with Duquesne Light so you are not stuck making the calls.
Nearby Towns We Serve
Mt. Lebanon
Streetcar suburb homes from the 1920s to 1950s
Robinson Township
Newer homes west of the city
O'Hara Township
Postwar homes along the Allegheny
Fox Chapel
Large wooded lots and older estates
Get a Free Estimate in Pittsburgh
Tell us about your city house and what is not working. We will set a time, look at the wiring and give you a written price at no charge.
Why Renaissance
Licensed & insured PA, Registration #PA-032900
Serving Pittsburgh since 1997, 28+ years
5-star rated on Google
EV charger certified installers
Residential and light commercial
Up-front pricing, no hidden fees
Power out or something burning? Call us any time. We offer 24 hour emergency service, 7 days a week.
Request Your Free Estimate
Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-681-WIRE, answered during business hours.
PA Registered Contractor #PA-032900 · 28+ Years in Pittsburgh · Fully Insured · 5-Star Google
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