McCandless Grew Up Along McKnight Road. So Did Its Wiring.
Most of McCandless filled in after McKnight Road opened in the mid 1950s, and the median home dates to 1973. Those houses were wired for the appliances of their day: one window unit, an electric range and maybe a dryer. Today the same 100 amp service is asked to carry central air, a hot tub, home offices and often an electric car.
That gap is where Renaissance Electric does most of its North Hills work. We are a residential electrician serving the Pittsburgh area since 1997, and we start every job with a look at the service and panel before quoting the project you called about. If the house needs a service upgrade first, you will hear it from us before anything is installed.
Homes in McCandless at a Glance
1973
Median year McCandless homes were built (U.S. Census ACS 2020 to 2024)
24.8%
of homes built before 1960
12,874
housing units, the largest count in the North Hills towns we serve
71.8%
of occupied homes are owner occupied
Two utilities
Duquesne Light on the eastern side, Penn Power on the western side
Town permit
Issued by the Town of McCandless, inspected by a certified third party agency
Electrical Work McCandless Homes Need Most
Service Upgrades
Moving a 1960s or 1970s home from 100 to 200 amps covers the meter base, service cable and the utility side, which differs depending on where you live in town.
EV Charger Installation
A level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240 volt circuit and room in the panel. We check both before we quote.
Panel Upgrades
Older panels with no open slots are the usual reason a new circuit cannot be added cleanly.
Kitchen and Bath Remodel Wiring
Remodels of 1970s kitchens bring new appliance circuits, GFCI protection and better lighting.
GFCI and AFCI Outlets
Bathrooms, kitchens, garages and basements in older ranches often lack the protection current code expects.
Whole Home Surge Protection
One device at the panel guards everything in the house from surges coming in on the line.
Permits and Power in McCandless
McCandless is split between two utilities. The town says Duquesne Light covers much of the eastern side and Penn Power, a FirstEnergy company, covers the western side. Which one serves your house matters for any service upgrade, because each utility schedules its own disconnect, reconnect and meter work. We confirm your utility at the estimate and coordinate with whichever one it is.
Electrical work needs a building permit from the Town of McCandless, and the work is inspected by a certified third party agency. We file the permit, arrange the inspection after the work is done and make any corrections the inspector asks for.
Nearby Towns We Serve
Hampton Township
Just east, with a similar mix of 1950s and 1970s homes
Franklin Park
Newer subdivisions to the west
Sewickley
Historic homes down toward the Ohio River
O'Hara Township
Southeast toward the Allegheny River
Get a Free Estimate in McCandless
Tell us which project you have in mind and which utility is on your bill. We will handle the rest, from permit to final inspection.
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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