It depends! Troubleshooting calls are charged by the hour. Because of the nature of troubleshooting, it can be very difficult to give you a time estimate. Many times issues can be resolved within the first hour, but sometimes it can take hours of extra detective work to find the true answer. We understand it can be difficult for homeowners to hear “it could be 20 minutes, it could be several hours”, and we recognize this requires your trust. We do our best to communicate with you every step of the way and answer all your questions and we strive our hardest to work both quickly yet efficiently. For many jobs, like running new circuits, panel changes, and new construction, we can do a walkthrough and can give you an estimate that will reflect very close to the final cost. You can send a submission using our Contact Form or call us at 1-800-POWER-46 (1-800-769-3746) to schedule a walkthrough so we can give you an accurate estimate.

GFCI is short for Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor. Sometimes abbreviated GFI, these special outlets prevent you from receiving an accidental electrical shock by shutting off power to the circuit whenever they detect a current leak.

ADU is an abbreviation of the term Accessory Dwelling Unit. Sometimes these are mistakenly called Attached Dwelling Units, but an ADU can be both attached and detached. In short, an ADU is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. Varieties of ADUs include "granny flats" or "mother-in-law cottages" which are detached units somewhere on the property. Other types include garages that have been converted to dwelling units as well as ADUs that are located above a garage or workshop. In California, detached ADUs that are built after January 1, 2020, are required by Title 24 to include solar.

Knob and tube wiring is one of the earliest systems used to bring electricity into homes and buildings. The system involves wires being wrapped around ceramic knobs and run through ceramic tubes. The main reasons problems arise are because homes today often require more power, a different range of power, and more circuits than they used to. Knob and tube becomes dangerous when DIYers or unlicensed "handymen" attempt to splice into K&T. Knob and tube was not designed to carry the capacity that our homes do today, and splices and oversized breakers can be extremely dangerous with the potential to overheat and start fires. Splicing on to K&T is also illegal per NEC code. Although knob and tube functioned well in its heyday - before modern electrical demands - because of the danger of knob and tube wiring, many insurers will not insure a home with knob and tube. If you have knob and tube wiring, we can help you determine a solution for a safe electrical system that meets the current National Electric Code standards. Give us a call at 1-800-POWER-46 (1-800-769-3746) or contact us using our Contact Form to schedule an estimate.