FAQs

Most commonly asked questions about our electrical services

Frequently Asked Electrical Questions

We asked our electricians to give us some of the most common questions homeowners ask -- oh yeah, we asked them to answer them too. Click on the questions below to get your electrical questions answered by an actual electrician.

It only costs $38 to get an electrician to your home. They will arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts. They'll have everything they need to start your electrical project while they're at your home, unless the situation is unusual. Most of the time, your electrical project can be finished on the same day we arrive. Our electrician will perform a thorough evaluation of your electrical system and explain what they'll need to do in order to complete the work you called for. They will not charge you by the hour; instead, they will give you a total price, with multiple options for repair or replacement, before any work begins.

Once you approve the project and price, our electrician will begin. If you don't want to proceed with the work while we are there, all you pay is $38 for the consultation. If you call us back to complete the work later, you do not pay another $38. Contact us if you'd like to schedule an appointment for an electrician to come to your home.

Click here for more information on pricing.

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A circuit breaker "trips" or a fuse is "blown" when too much electricity is traveling over the wires in a circuit. The most common reason a breaker will trip is a short circuit. This happens when a live wire comes into contact with a grounded conductor. The result of a short circuit is usually sparking coming from the switch or outlet.

There are specialty breakers that can detect irregularities in the electricity flowing through it. These irregularities can be a safety hazard and the breaker will trip until the issue is corrected. Two such breakers are Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) Breakers and an Arc Fault Breaker.

GFIs are generally installed in locations where water might be present, like bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoors. GFI breakers are designed to cut power to a circuit if it detects, in as quickly as one thirtieth of a second, any change in power flow through the circuit, however subtle. Since water is an excellent electrical conductor, if a person comes into contact with water and electricity, the results could be fatal. Therefore, GFIs are life saving devices that prevent against electrical shock.

Arc Fault Breakers trip when an arc is detected somewhere in the circuit. Arcing that goes undetected and unresolved can generate a lot of excess heat, causing insulation, outlets, and devices to melt or even catch fire. Arcing can occur from a loose connection, a nail through a wire, faulty extension cords, etc.

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The fact that your breaker tripped is a good thing: that usually means it's working. The danger occurs when a breaker should trip but it doesn't. When a breaker trips, it's because there was too much electricity flowing over the wires in that circuit. When you go to reset the breaker, if it stays on, you're probably good. If it immediately trips off again there is probably something still causing a short that needs to be fixed. If the breaker is old, it's possible that the breaker has failed mechanically and just needs to be replaced. In this case, you'll want someone with electrical experience to help you replace breakers or troubleshoot a breaker that will not reset.

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If you have an outlet that won't hold plugs anymore, the only solution is to replace it. There are prongs inside the old outlet that get loose over time and/or after heavy usage. Many people will bend the prongs out on their plug to try and get it to stay in the wall. However, doing this is bad for the plug and only makes the outlet worse.

Replacing an outlet is a basic project you can do yourself if you have the right tools and know how to cut the power off to that outlet. Here's a video showing How to Replace an Outlet. If you are uncomfortable attempting this on your own, call an electrician for help. Or if you are uncomfortable attempting this on your own, you may need to call an electrician for help.

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No, you shouldn't hear noises when you turn a switch on and off. Popping, crackling, sizzling noises are usually an indication there is a loose connection behind the wall plate. Loose connections can overheat and melt the wires. In extreme cases, it could even cause a fire. Switches can wear out over time and need to be replaced.

Replacing a switch is a basic project you can do yourself if you have the right tools and know how to cut the power off to that switch. Here's a video showing How to Replace a Light Switch. If you are uncomfortable attempting this on your own, call an electrician for help.

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Look for an access door on the front of the smoke detector. If you can't see the detector clearly, remove the smoke detector from its mounting plate on the ceiling or wall. Most models can be removed by twisting the detector. Once you've located the access door, slide it open and pull the battery out. Replace with a new battery and slide the door closed. If you don't see a battery door on the front, take the smoke detector down and look on the back. There may be a small screw holding the door closed. Remove the screw, open the door, and replace the battery.

Here's a video we made on How to Change the Battery in Your Smoke Detector. We hope you find it helpful and informative.

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First, try changing the batteries. If the chirping continues, the smoke detector may have gone bad and needs to be replaced. Smoke detector manufacturers recommend replacing the smoke detector after 10 years. To find the age of the smoke detector, remove the smoke detector from its mounting plate on the ceiling or wall and look on the back to find the stamped manufacture date.

If you need to replace your smoke detector, it is a basic project you can do yourself if you have the right tools and know how to cut the power off first. Here's a video on How to Replace a Smoke Detector. If you are uncomfortable attempting this on your own, you may need to call an electrician for help.

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LOWER USAGE - There are some simple things you can do to save energy around the house. First, make sure that lights are turned off in rooms that are not in use. Next, if you have an electric water heater, you can turn the temperature down. Next, consider running your air conditioner less. Air conditioners use a lot of electricity in the summer so running them less can save money. Finally, clothes dryers use a lot of electricity. Try hanging clothes to dry to help you run the dryer less often.

UPGRADE TO HIGH EFFICIENCY - One of the most dramatic energy-savers is switching the whole house to LED bulbs. LED bulbs use less energy than compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. Also, many appliances have high-efficiency models available that can help you save electricity. And beyond high-efficiency dishwashers, water heaters and etc., multi-stage, high-efficiency air conditioners can save you a lot of money in the summertime as well. In a best-case scenario, opting for high-efficiency appliances in combination with lowering usage will yield the best results.

GO SOLAR - Installing rooftop solar can reduce your monthly power bill substantially. If you can't afford the upfront investment, there is special financing available that allows you to install solar now and start saving. Any Hour Services installs rooftop solar and can help you understand the options that are available.

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More Testimonials

Marvin Moreno went far above and beyond the service I expected. He was extremely thorough. He spent as long as necessary to make sure I understood what my options were. I would gladly recommend him to anyone and I hope next time I need a plumber, Marvin is available. He couldn’t have been nicer nor done a better job.
— Ali Colorado
Posted December 16th 2024
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Always great service
— David
Posted July 1st 2024
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Any Hour Services fit me into the schedule on short notice when I had a plumbing emergency. They were quick, friendly, and professional.
— Karen Schlosser
Posted December 16th 2024
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Our furnace was struggling and Jeremy came out same day to diagnose and fix. He explained the different components and gave options of what to fix and why, along with transparent pricing. He was extra thorough cleaning and fine tuning things above and beyond what we expected. Thank you!
— Brady Nelson
Posted December 16th 2024
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Great tech, knowledgeable and got the job done!
— Anime Cosplay Lover
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Marvin was awesome! He was professional & knew exactly what my sink needed! He got the job done & he was on his way!!
— Hokeiti Pouha
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Russell was awesome. Quick, professional and helpful with my questions. The $29 drain snake was real too. Unclogged shower drain with lots of hair. Thanks guys.
— Nick Rudelich
Posted December 16th 2024
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Fast and efficient, Harley was great.
— Whitney Franck
Posted December 16th 2024
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David P was amazing. He came on time, made recommendations, was very patient and flexible with us.
— Andrei N
Posted October 12th 2023
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They were professional to work with and quickly took care of our issue. Highly recommend them
— Trevor Howard
Posted December 16th 2024
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Logan did a great job diagnosing your issue and recommend fixes!
— S W
Posted August 14th 2023
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I called Any Hour when my electricity was not operating consistently. An electrician—Justin St.Clair—was sent out to my house promptly. He did a great job, although the problem turned out to be more complex than was first suspected. I was impressed with the ease of contacting Justin & Any Hours dependability!
— Susan Dyer
Posted December 15th 2024
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We recently had to have our water line replaced due to leaks. The men who came to do the work (Octavio Reyes, James Murano, Michael Bybee, Jose Peluffo, and Jeremiah Kaighn) were professional, personable, and respectful. They stuck with the job until it was completed, including cleaning up, even though it was well past dark. They were all great. Carl and Claudia B
— Claudia B
Posted December 15th 2024
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The plumbing technician that was sent up to repipe all our water and sewer lines is the very best. Ali Moradi the plumbing technician has the best work ethic, Ali is very knowledgeable about his work and is very friendly, he answered every question and explained everything he had to do. Ali takes pride in his work and it shows in the finished product. I will recommend Ali and Any Hour Services to everyone I can. I would and will give Ali Moradi a 5 star rating he is the best at what he does !!!
— Kyle Bigler
Posted December 14th 2024
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Originally a 5 star for good service and very personable. I have liked everyone we have worked with. Something happened and I will never use again: I’ve been a loyal customer of Any Hour Services for years. They’ve always been courteous, had good workers, and seemed genuinely interested in helping. While they consistently tried to upsell, the work was solid, and they were prompt. I even subscribed to their VIP program, which offered some great perks. However, things took a turn. One day, my VIP benefits suddenly stopped without explanation. This summer, I had an issue with my air conditioning unit, which, although older, was functioning well. They ordered a part, but when they came to install it, the part was defective and needed to be reordered. The process dragged on, and due to scheduling conflicts, I eventually told them to hold off until next spring. Fast forward to today, I received a notice that I owed $59 for a service fee. Confused, I questioned the charge, as VIP members aren’t supposed to incur service fees. I was told a manager would call to clarify. When the manager called, I didn’t catch his name because the conversation started on the wrong foot—he was rude, dismissive, and blamed me for the situation, all while demanding payment. The lack of professionalism was shocking, especially after I’ve spent thousands with this company over the years. His aggressive and condescending tone was completely unacceptable, and I ultimately hung up. This experience has been a dealbreaker. I will no longer do business with Any Hour Services and will be looking for another provider. Their rude treatment of loyal customers is unacceptable.
— Tim Conyers
Posted August 9th 2021
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Any Hour is always our first choice for all plumbing, heating and electrical needs. They arrive when they say they will and the information is delivered in a way that is easily understood. Keegan was especially helpful this last week. Very knowledgable and quick to the fix. Well done!
— Holly Wren
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Marc came for a routine furnace inspection and was careful to explain what further action was necessary. Thanks.
— John Gardner
Posted October 27th 2021
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Gary is awesome. He is very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. He understood our problem, walked us through and made sure we understood our options and fixed our problem. He was always open to questions and made sure we were well informed through the whole process of replacing our water heater. If I could give him 10 stars I would.
— Evan Sanford
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Harley came and tuned up our heater. He was incredibly helpful and took the time to explain the concerns he found and gave us timelines that felt realistic. Great service!
— Jeremiah Smith
Posted December 14th 2024
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Professional service with fair prices. A special shout out for Parker for his friendliness and timely service.
— Cheryle Hatch
Posted December 14th 2024
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