Short answer
Most electrical problems come down to a short list: a loose or burned connection at an outlet, switch or the panel, an overloaded circuit, a failed device such as a worn outlet or breaker, or damaged wiring in a wall or underground. Reset a tripped breaker or GFCI once. If it trips again, or you smell burning or see scorch marks, leave it off and call us.
Our own description of residential work starts with tracing down and fixing electrical issues, and that is a big part of what we do. When you call (260) 519-1188, tell us what stopped working, when it started, and whether anything changed recently, like a new appliance, a storm or some digging in the yard. That often narrows the problem down before we arrive.
What's usually wrong
A dead circuit
A few outlets or lights stop working and the breaker looks fine. Often a GFCI outlet somewhere else on the circuit has tripped, in a bathroom, garage, basement or outside. If that isn't it, the usual cause is a loose or burned connection at one outlet that feeds the rest. Older outlets with wires pushed into the back, rather than wrapped around the screws, fail this way often. See outlet not working.
A breaker that keeps tripping
A breaker is doing its job when it trips. The question is why. It may be too much on one circuit, like a space heater and a microwave sharing a kitchen line. It may be a short or a ground fault in a device, a cord or the wiring. Now and then the breaker itself is worn out. See breaker keeps tripping.
Flickering or dimming lights
One fixture that flickers is usually the bulb, the fixture or its switch. Lights that dim across the house when the AC, well pump or dryer starts, or that get brighter and dimmer on their own, can point to a loose connection in the panel, at the meter or on the service drop. Those need attention soon. See lights flickering or dimming.
Half the house without power
Most homes get two 120-volt legs from the utility. When one leg is lost, about half the circuits go dead and 240-volt appliances like the range or dryer act strangely. The cause may be on the utility's side or on yours. See half the house has no power.
Buried and outdoor wiring faults
Yard lights, lamp posts, detached garages and outbuildings are often fed by wire run underground. Shovels, fence posts, roots, frost and simple age can damage it. One recent job: a customer's wiring problem traced all the way out to a light pole in the front yard, where we dug and ran new wire to fix it.
How we troubleshoot
- What you've seen. Which rooms or devices are affected, when it happens, and anything that changed.
- The panel. Breakers, connections, signs of heat, and how the circuits are laid out.
- The circuit. Testing along the run to find where power stops, including GFCI and AFCI devices that may have tripped.
- The connection or device at fault. Outlets, switches, fixtures, splices and junction boxes along the way.
- Buried or hidden runs. When the fault is underground or inside a finished wall, we narrow down where before anyone digs or cuts.
- The answer. What failed, why, and what the fix involves, explained in plain words before any work starts.
Customers often mention that we explain what we found and answer their questions. We would rather you understand your own wiring than just hand you a bill.
What it costs
Ask what the service call costs when you call. Fair pricing is the topic customers mention most in our Google reviews. For what drives the price of electrical work, see what electrical work costs.
When a repair points to something bigger
Sometimes a repair is the whole job. Other times it tells you something about the house. Repeated trips on a full panel, scorched breakers, a fuse box, or brittle cloth-insulated wire in the boxes we open are signs to talk about a panel upgrade or rewiring. We will tell you what we see, what needs doing now, and what can wait.
Local detail: older homes and long runs
Huntington has an older housing stock than most places. According to the U.S. Census (American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates), the median home in the city was built in 1954, and 39% of homes were built before 1940. Houses that age have often been rewired in pieces over the decades, so one room may have modern wire while the next still has the original. Out in the county, farmhouses and pole barns add long runs of buried wire to yard lights and outbuildings. Both make careful tracing worth the time.
If something is getting hot, smells like burning or is sparking, don't wait for a convenient day. See our emergency electrician page and call.
Common questions
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
A breaker trips for one of three reasons: too much load on the circuit, a short circuit, or a ground fault. If it trips when a certain appliance runs, the circuit may simply be overloaded. If it trips with little or nothing plugged in, or trips again right after you reset it, there is likely a fault in the wiring or a device. Stop resetting it and call.
Are flickering lights dangerous?
Sometimes. A single flickering fixture is often a loose bulb or a failing fixture. Lights that flicker or dim across several rooms, especially when a large appliance starts, can point to a loose connection at the panel or the service, and that can overheat. Have it checked rather than living with it.
Can you find a fault in wiring that is buried or outdoors?
Usually, yes. Buried feeders to a light pole, garage or outbuilding can be damaged by digging, roots, frost or age. We test the run to narrow down where it fails, then decide with you whether to repair that section or run new wire.
Should I try resetting or replacing the outlet myself?
Resetting a tripped GFCI outlet or a breaker once is fine. Opening an outlet box, a switch box or the panel is not a homeowner job, and a device that keeps failing is usually a symptom of something else. Leave the wiring to an electrician.