Electrical FAQ

The best way to know is a professional electrical inspection — which we offer as part of any estimate visit. Key warning signs of unsafe wiring: breakers that trip repeatedly, lights that flicker when you run appliances, warm outlet or switch covers, burning smells from any electrical device, outlets or switches that don't work, or two-prong ungrounded outlets throughout the house. If your home was built before 1965, there's a higher chance of wiring issues. Homes built 1965–1973 may have aluminum branch circuit wiring. Pre-1940 homes may have knob-and-tube. We assess all of these during free estimate visits.

Breakers trip for three main reasons: overloaded circuit (too many devices drawing power from one circuit), short circuit (a wire is touching another wire it shouldn't), or a ground fault (a wire is touching a grounded surface). A fourth possibility: a failing breaker itself. The dangerous mistake is replacing a tripping breaker without diagnosing the cause — a breaker that trips is doing its job by protecting you. We diagnose the root cause first, then recommend the right fix. Repeated tripping on the same circuit is something to address promptly.

Most 100A-to-200A panel upgrades take 4–6 hours of actual work, but the full timeline from estimate to inspection sign-off is typically 1–2 weeks. Here's the breakdown: free estimate (day 1) → permit application (2–3 business days) → utility disconnect coordination with PGE or Pacific Power (1–3 days) → installation day (4–6 hours) → city inspection (usually same week or within a few days). We coordinate all of this — you don't need to deal with the utility or the city directly.

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets detect when current is flowing through an unintended path — like through water or a person — and cut power within milliseconds to prevent electrocution. Oregon electrical code requires GFCI protection in: all bathrooms, kitchen countertop outlets within 6 feet of a sink, garages, unfinished basements, outdoors, and any outlet near a pool or hot tub. If you have two-prong outlets in any of these locations, they should be upgraded. We install GFCIs quickly — most bathroom or kitchen upgrades are done in under an hour.

GFCI protects against shock from ground faults (current leaking to ground through water or a person). AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) protects against electrical arcing — which occurs when electricity jumps between loose, corroded, or damaged connections. Arcing is a leading cause of house fires. Oregon currently requires AFCI protection for all bedroom circuits in new construction and major renovations. AFCI breakers can be installed in existing panels and are a good upgrade for older homes. We recommend them particularly for homes with aging wiring.

Minor repairs like replacing an outlet, switch, or light fixture don't require a permit. Any work that adds, changes, or removes circuits — panel upgrades, new circuit runs, rewiring projects, generator installs, EV charger installs — requires an electrical permit and city inspection in Portland and all surrounding jurisdictions. Unpermitted electrical work voids homeowner's insurance coverage for fires caused by that work, and must be disclosed in home sales. We pull every required permit and never ask you to skip the process.

Portland electrician rates typically run $85–$130/hour for journeyman work. However, we don't quote by the hour — we provide upfront fixed pricing for the full scope of work before any work begins. Fixed pricing protects you from surprises: you know the total cost before we start, and we don't charge extra if the job takes longer than expected. The exception is troubleshooting and diagnostic work on complex problems, which we quote separately as a diagnostic fee that's credited toward the repair if you proceed.

Yes. Frank Chen holds Oregon Master Electrician license #ECL-16892, first issued in 2001. All eight of our electricians are Oregon-licensed journeymen. We carry full commercial general liability insurance ($2M per occurrence) and workers' compensation coverage for all employees. We're happy to provide certificates of insurance on request — just ask when you schedule your estimate. Never hire an unlicensed electrician in Oregon — you assume full liability for any injuries or property damage, and your homeowner's insurance may deny claims.

Yes — we serve the full Portland metro including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Tualatin, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Wilsonville, and across the river in Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal, WA. We have electricians based in different zones to maintain fast response times across the entire metro area. See our full service areas page for details.

We stand behind every job with a 100% workmanship guarantee. If something we installed or repaired fails within the warranty period (1 year labor, manufacturer warranty on parts), we come back and fix it at no charge. In 23 years, we've had very few callbacks — but when we do, we respond within 24 hours and make it right immediately. Our 4.9-star rating across 420+ reviews reflects that commitment. Frank's personal cell is available for any quality concerns.