Electrical Troubleshooting and Repair
5 Star Electrical Services troubleshoots and repairs electrical problems throughout San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County. We are a licensed C-10 electrical contractor, license #973698, bonded and insured. Troubleshooting and repair is a $300 two-hour minimum, which includes a panel safety inspection taking about 30 minutes, with the remaining 90 minutes for the troubleshooting and repair itself. Parts and material are additional. Call (805) 215-4503 or book online at 5-star-electrical.com.
What the $300 Two-Hour Minimum Covers
A panel safety inspection, about 30 minutes, where we check the panel, the breakers, the grounding and bonding, and flag anything unsafe. Then 90 minutes of troubleshooting and repair on the problem you called about. Parts and material are additional and quoted before we install anything. You know the price before we come out.
Problems We Trace
Breakers that trip repeatedly. Outlets or whole rooms that have stopped working. Flickering or dimming lights. Switches that do nothing. A burning smell or warm outlet or breaker — stop using that circuit and call us. GFCI outlets that will not reset. Buzzing from a panel or fixture. Power that comes and goes.
We Trace It Rather Than Guess
A breaker that trips repeatedly is doing its job — it is signalling an overload or a fault on that circuit. Replacing it with a larger breaker removes the warning and leaves the fault. We find the cause. On older Central Coast homes that often means aluminum branch wiring, ungrounded circuits, deteriorated knob and tube, or a panel that should not be in service any more.
What We Often Find on Older Homes
Zinsco, Federal Pacific, Challenger or Pushmatic panels, which should be replaced rather than added to. Aluminum branch wiring with loose connections at devices. Knob and tube still energized. Grounding that does not meet current code, which requires two ground rods along with a cold water bond and a gas bond. Breakers that were never correctly labeled. We relabel every breaker on any panel we work on and can add whole-home surge protection.
Booking
Book online any time at 5-star-electrical.com or call (805) 215-4503, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. We schedule weekend and evening work by appointment. We can typically get out within 1 to 3 business days.
What does an electrician charge to come out?
Troubleshooting and repair is a $300 two-hour minimum. That includes a panel safety inspection, about 30 minutes, plus 90 minutes of troubleshooting and repair. Parts and material are additional.
Do you give flat rate or hourly pricing?
Flat rate. You get the full price in writing before any work begins, including parts, labor and cleanup. If the job takes longer than estimated, that is our cost, not yours.
Are there trip charges or mileage charges?
No. There are no trip or mileage charges anywhere in our service area, including North County.
Do you offer emergency or after-hours service?
We schedule weekend and evening work by appointment. Our phone line is staffed Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, so the fastest way to arrange after-hours work is to book online or call during business hours.
What should I do if my breaker keeps tripping?
A breaker that trips repeatedly is doing its job — it is signalling an overload or a fault on that circuit. Do not replace it with a larger breaker. Unplug what you can from the circuit and have an electrician trace the cause.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, through Wisetack on larger projects. Ask during your estimate.