Calling an electrician doesn't have to be stressful, and with Tustin Electrical Company, it won't be. We handle residential and commercial electrical work across Tustin and the surrounding Orange County area, from quick outlet repairs and ceiling fan swaps to full panel upgrades and service entrance work. Whether you own a home, manage a rental portfolio, or run a commercial property, we are available every day from 6 AM to 9 PM to take your call and scope the job before anything gets scheduled. As a local electrician for homeowners and business owners alike, we keep things straightforward from the first conversation. Safe wiring. Solid workmanship. Straight answers.
Electrical problems rarely announce themselves at a convenient time. A breaker that keeps tripping, an outlet that stopped working, lights that flicker when the refrigerator kicks on, a burning smell near the panel - these are the kinds of symptoms that need a real diagnosis, not a guess. We show up, trace the fault, and explain what is going on before any work begins.
A diagnostic visit covers the full picture: checking the outlet, the circuit, the breaker, and the wiring path. Dead outlets are sometimes a tripped GFCI upstream. Flickering lights can point to a loose connection, a failing breaker, or a voltage drop under load. A breaker that will not reset often means the circuit is drawing more than it was designed to carry, or there is a fault somewhere along the run. Buzzing or humming from the panel, hot outlets, and power loss in one part of the house all get traced to the source.
Where arc-fault or ground-fault protection is part of the picture - either as a code requirement or as the right fix for the symptom - we handle the breaker and outlet work as part of the same visit. We work on prompt response, even for last-minute electrical calls. Reach out and we'll get it diagnosed.
Keeping a home safe starts with the wiring behind the walls, and the panel is where all of it comes together. Older panels - especially fuse boxes and early breaker panels from the 1960s and 1970s - were sized for a fraction of the electrical load a modern home carries. When the panel can no longer keep up, the symptoms show up as nuisance tripping, breakers that run warm, or a failed electrical inspection that holds up a sale or renovation permit.
We handle panel replacements, fuse-box-to-breaker conversions, service entrance and meter upgrades, and subpanel installation for detached garages, workshops, and additions. Every panel job starts with a load calculation to make sure the new service is sized correctly for what the home or building actually draws. Code-compliant wiring throughout the panel and service entrance is part of every job, not an add-on.
If a buzzing or burning smell is coming from the panel itself, that is a reason to call today rather than wait. The panel is not a component to troubleshoot slowly.
Outlets and switches are the parts of the electrical system most homeowners interact with every day, and they are also where a lot of deferred maintenance shows up. We install GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations where code requires them. We install AFCI breakers on circuits that need arc-fault protection. Dimmer switches, USB outlets, and weatherproof outdoor receptacles are all straightforward installs that make a real difference in how a space works.
Older homes in Tustin sometimes carry knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch-circuit wiring, both of which need careful handling. Knob-and-tube replacement involves pulling new wire through finished walls and reconnecting at the panel. Aluminum wiring remediation typically means installing listed connectors or replacing the branch circuits, depending on what the inspection turns up. We assess what is there before recommending a scope of work.
Remodels and additions are another common reason to call. A kitchen renovation usually means new circuits for the refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave, plus GFCI outlets along the countertops. A bathroom remodel needs a GFCI circuit and often an exhaust fan circuit. A garage or shed addition needs its own subpanel or at minimum a dedicated circuit run from the main panel. We handle the wiring from start to finish and clean up after the job is done.
From older homes to new commercial builds, lighting is one of the most visible upgrades an electrician handles. We install recessed LED lighting, replace outdated fixtures, wire under-cabinet lighting in kitchens, and run landscape and security lighting circuits outdoors. Motion sensor lights for driveways and entry points are a common request, and they go in as part of a standard outdoor lighting visit.
Ceiling fan installation covers both new installs and replacements. When a box is not rated for a fan, we swap it out before the fan goes up. When there is no existing wiring in the ceiling location, we run the circuit and install a switch. We handle the wiring correctly the first time so the fan runs quietly and the switch controls it the way it should.
Most household circuits are shared, which works fine for lights and small appliances. Major appliances are a different story. A refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, electric dryer, or washing machine draws enough current that sharing a circuit with other loads causes nuisance tripping and, over time, wears on both the breaker and the appliance. A dedicated circuit isolates the load so the appliance runs on its own breaker with no competition.
We install dedicated 240V circuits for electric dryers, ranges, and EV chargers. We run circuits for pool pumps and hot tub hookups, handling the electrical supply and disconnect on the property side of the connection. Workshop wiring, including 240V outlets for compressors and larger tools, follows the same approach: right-sized circuit, correct breaker, proper grounding.
Residential homeowners, landlords, property managers, and commercial tenants all have different electrical needs, but the underlying work is the same: wiring that functions correctly and holds up to inspection. We work across all of those property types in Tustin and throughout Orange County.
For landlords and property managers, electrical safety inspections are a common starting point. An inspection documents the condition of the panel, the outlets, the grounding, and the wiring before a lease or a sale. It surfaces issues that need attention before they become a liability. Panel and wiring work finished to code means the property passes inspection and stays that way.
Commercial work includes tenant improvement wiring, office and retail buildouts, dedicated circuits for equipment, and panel upgrades when a space changes use. Multi-family buildings, duplexes, and condos get the same attention to panel capacity and circuit integrity as single-family homes. Whatever the property type, you know who to call if you ever need us again.
Southern California's combination of strong EV adoption, widespread rooftop solar, and year-round outdoor electrical demand makes certain services especially relevant here. Tustin sits in a part of Orange County where summers run warm and the electrical load from cooling equipment is real. Public-safety power shutoffs during wildfire season have made backup power a practical concern rather than a precaution. The three services below reflect what comes up most often in this area.
Orange County has one of the highest rates of EV ownership in the country, and a Level 2 home charger is the practical solution for overnight charging. A Level 2 install starts with a panel capacity check to confirm the service can carry the added load. From there, we run a dedicated 240V circuit to the garage or driveway location and install either a hardwired connection or a 240V outlet, depending on the charger and the homeowner's preference. If the panel needs an upgrade to support the circuit, we handle that as part of the same project.
We handle the electrical side of solar and battery backup installations: the panel capacity work, the dedicated circuits for inverters and battery systems, and the service upgrades needed to support grid-tied solar. When a home adds a battery storage system, the panel has to be able to manage the load both ways. We make sure the electrical infrastructure is sized and wired correctly so the system feeds back cleanly and the battery can carry critical circuits during an outage. The panels and inverter equipment are outside our scope. The wiring and panel work that makes the system function are not.
A whole-home surge protector installs at the panel and guards every circuit in the house from voltage spikes, whether they come in from the utility line or originate inside the home from motors and compressors cycling on and off. In a region where solar inverters, EV chargers, and high-density electronics are common, a panel-level surge protector is a straightforward layer of protection. We install it as a standalone job or alongside a panel upgrade.
Scheduling an electrician shouldn't be complicated, and a generator hookup is one of those jobs where getting the wiring right matters from the start. We install transfer switches and wire the generator connection to the panel so the generator can power selected circuits safely when the grid is down. A proper transfer switch isolates the home from the utility line while the generator runs, which protects both the equipment and anyone working on the line outside.
A generator hookup visit covers the transfer switch installation, the inlet connection, and the circuit work at the panel. We confirm what the generator is rated to carry and wire accordingly. One call and we are on it.
We know schedules shift, so we keep booking flexible, and pricing works the same way. When you call, you get the rate on the phone before anything is scheduled. The scope of the job, the panel size, the wiring type, and the access all affect what a job costs, and we explain what goes into the number so you know what you are paying for.
There is no single price for rewiring a house or upgrading a panel, because the right answer depends on what is there now and what the finished system needs to do. A call takes a few minutes and gives you a clear picture of what the work involves and what it will cost. Prompt response, even for last-minute electrical calls, is how we handle the phone. You get a straight answer and a price before we put anything on the calendar.
We work throughout Tustin and the surrounding Orange County area every day from 6 AM to 9 PM, taking residential and commercial calls from homeowners, landlords, property managers, and businesses. Nearby communities we serve regularly include Santa Ana, Orange, Irvine, Anaheim, Villa Park, Garden Grove, Fullerton, and Placentia.
If you are in one of these areas and need electrical repair, panel work, or any of the installation services covered on this page, the process is the same: call, get the scope and the price on the phone, and schedule when it works for you.
Breakers that trip repeatedly under normal load, a panel that runs warm to the touch, lights that dim when large appliances start, and a fuse box that has never been converted to breakers are all signs the panel is no longer sized for the home's electrical demand. A 100-amp service struggling to carry a modern home's load is the most common version of this problem in older Tustin neighborhoods. A panel upgrade to 200 amps resolves the capacity issue and brings the service entrance up to current standards.
A burning smell near an outlet usually points to a loose connection, a failing receptacle, or wiring that is overheating under load. At the panel, a burning smell can indicate a failing breaker, a loose bus connection, or arcing inside the enclosure. Both are reasons to call without delay, because the condition gets worse under continued use.
Flickering lights can point to a loose connection at the fixture, the switch, or the outlet box. They can also indicate a failing breaker, a voltage drop on the circuit under load, or a problem at the service entrance. Lights that dim specifically when a large appliance starts up often point to an undersized service or a panel that is near capacity. A diagnostic visit traces the symptom back to the source.
GFCI protection is a code requirement in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoor locations, and anywhere a receptacle is near water. AFCI protection is required on bedroom circuits and, in newer construction, on most living-space circuits. Both types of protection trip silently when they do their job, which is why a dead outlet in a bathroom or bedroom is often a tripped GFCI or AFCI upstream rather than a wiring failure.
A transfer switch isolates the home's wiring from the utility line while the generator is running, so power from the generator cannot feed back onto the utility line where it poses a hazard to anyone working on it. Without a transfer switch, connecting a generator directly to the panel is a code violation and a safety risk. We install the transfer switch, wire the inlet connection, and confirm the circuits the generator will carry before the hookup is complete.
A panel-mounted surge protector intercepts voltage spikes before they reach the wiring and appliances throughout the house. Surges come from utility switching, nearby lightning, and large motors inside the home cycling on and off. A plug-in strip only protects the devices plugged into it. A panel-level device covers every circuit in the home, including the circuits feeding EV chargers, battery backup systems, and HVAC supply wiring.
A Level 2 EV charger installation starts with a panel capacity check to confirm the service can carry the added load. We run a dedicated 240-volt circuit from the panel to the garage or driveway location and install either a hardwired connection or a 240-volt outlet depending on the charger. If the panel does not have room for the new circuit, a service upgrade is part of the same project.
We handle the panel capacity work, the dedicated circuits for inverters and battery systems, and any service upgrades the new load requires. When a battery storage system is added, the panel has to manage power flow in both directions, and the wiring has to be sized and routed correctly for that. The solar panels and inverter equipment are outside our scope. The electrical infrastructure that makes the system function is not.
Knob-and-tube wiring is not grounded and cannot safely support modern receptacles, appliances, or AFCI protection without remediation. Aluminum branch-circuit wiring requires specific connectors and termination methods to reduce the risk of loose connections and heat buildup over time. Neither is automatically an emergency, but both need to be assessed and addressed correctly rather than patched. We evaluate what is there before recommending a scope of work.
For most outlet, switch, and fixture work, the circuit being worked on is de-energized at the breaker. For panel work, the main breaker is shut off, which cuts power to the whole home. We discuss what will be without power and for how long before the visit so you can plan accordingly.
Clear access to the panel, the outlets or fixtures being worked on, and any crawl space or attic hatches that may be part of the job. If furniture is in front of an outlet or the panel is behind stored items, moving those before the visit saves time. We confirm what access is needed on the call when the job is scoped.
A ceiling fan is heavier and moves, so the electrical box in the ceiling has to be rated for a fan's weight and motion. If the existing box is not fan-rated, we replace it before the fan goes up. When there is no existing wiring at the ceiling location, we run the circuit and install the switch. A light fixture swap does not require any of those steps.
Tustin Electrical Company is available every day from 6 AM to 9 PM for residential and commercial electrical work across Tustin and Orange County.
Call (949) 514-6953 to get a quote. You schedule it. We power it. Simple as that.
Electrical work covers a wide range of jobs, and knowing what each one involves helps you make a faster, more confident call. The table below breaks down the services we handle across Tustin and Orange County, what each one covers, and who it is most useful for. If a job is not on your radar yet, the FAQ section below covers the questions homeowners and property managers ask most often before they pick up the phone.
| Service Type | What's Included | Common Situations | Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | 240V circuits for dryers and ranges, Refrigerator and dishwasher circuits, Workshop and compressor outlets, Pool pump and hot tub supply wiring | Homeowners adding a major appliance, finishing a garage, or setting up a workshop | A dedicated circuit isolates the appliance load so it runs on its own breaker with no competition from other devices, which reduces nuisance tripping and protects the appliance over time. |
| Lighting Installation | Recessed LED and fixture installation, Under-cabinet and landscape lighting, Motion sensor and security lighting, Commercial and retail lighting circuits | Homeowners upgrading fixtures, adding outdoor lighting, or wiring a remodel | Outdoor lighting circuits in Southern California get year-round use, so weatherproof boxes and correct circuit sizing matter more here than in seasonal climates. |
| Electrical Panel and Service Upgrades | Panel replacement and load calculation, Fuse-box-to-breaker conversion, 200-amp service upgrades, Subpanel installation | Older homes, properties preparing for sale or renovation, and any home adding EV charging or solar | A 100-amp service is often the limiting factor in older Tustin neighborhoods. Upgrading to 200 amps resolves capacity issues and brings the service entrance up to current standards. |
| Breaker and Fuse Repair | Breaker replacement, Fuse panel troubleshooting, Tripped or failing breaker diagnosis, Panel interior inspection | Homes where a breaker will not reset or keeps tripping under normal load | A breaker that trips repeatedly is often a sign of an overloaded circuit or a failing breaker, not just a nuisance. Getting it checked prevents the underlying problem from worsening. |
| EV Charger Installation | Panel capacity check, Dedicated 240V circuit run, Hardwired or outlet-based charger connection, Panel upgrade if needed | Orange County homeowners adding a Level 2 home charger for overnight charging | Orange County has one of the highest rates of EV ownership in the country. We confirm panel capacity first so the charger circuit does not push the service past what it can safely carry. |
| Electrical Repairs and Troubleshooting | Fault tracing and diagnosis, Dead outlets and tripped breakers, Flickering lights and buzzing fixtures, GFCI and AFCI fault checks | Any homeowner or tenant dealing with a symptom they cannot explain | A proper diagnostic visit traces the fault to the source before any parts are replaced, which keeps the repair focused and the cost honest. |
| Solar and Battery Backup Wiring | Panel capacity and service upgrade for solar, Dedicated circuits for inverters and battery systems, Grid-tied solar electrical infrastructure, Battery backup circuit wiring | Homeowners adding rooftop solar or a battery storage system for outage resilience | We handle the panel and wiring side of solar and battery installations. The panels and inverter equipment are outside our scope. The electrical infrastructure that makes the system function is not. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-mounted surge protector installation, Protection for all circuits in the home, Standalone install or combined with panel upgrade, Coverage for EV chargers and battery systems | Homes with solar, EV chargers, or sensitive electronics that need protection from voltage spikes | A plug-in strip only protects the devices plugged into it. A panel-level device covers every circuit in the home, including the circuits feeding high-value equipment. |
| Wiring and Circuit Installation | New circuit runs from the panel, Rewiring for remodels and additions, Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring remediation, Grounding and bonding corrections | Remodels, additions, and older homes with wiring that has not been updated | Homes across this area have every kind of panel and circuit in them. We assess what is in place before recommending a scope of work so the estimate reflects the actual job. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | Panel and outlet condition assessment, Grounding and wiring documentation, Pre-sale and pre-lease inspections, Identification of code deficiencies | Landlords, property managers, and homeowners preparing for a sale or renovation permit | An inspection documents what is there before a lease or sale and surfaces issues that need attention before they become a liability. Panel and wiring work finished to code means the property passes inspection and stays that way. |
| Outlet and Switch Installation | GFCI and AFCI outlet installation, Dimmer and USB outlet upgrades, Weatherproof outdoor receptacles, Switch replacement and relocation | Kitchen and bathroom remodels, outdoor upgrades, and older homes missing modern receptacle protection | GFCI protection is a code requirement in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations. We confirm what is required at your address before the work starts. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | Fan-rated box installation, New circuit and switch wiring, Fan replacement and upgrade, Remote and dimmer compatibility | Any room adding a ceiling fan for the first time or replacing an existing unit | If the existing ceiling box is not rated for a fan, we replace it before the fan goes up. Skipping that step is the most common reason a fan wobbles or makes noise. |
What causes a breaker to trip repeatedly, and when does it need to be replaced?
A breaker trips when the circuit draws more current than it was designed to carry, or when there is a fault somewhere along the run. A single trip after plugging in a large appliance is usually just an overload. A breaker that trips under normal conditions, will not reset, or feels warm to the touch is telling you something different. It may be a failing breaker, a circuit that is undersized for what it is feeding, or a wiring fault that needs to be traced. We check the breaker, the circuit, and the load before recommending a replacement, because swapping the breaker without finding the underlying cause just delays the next trip.
How do we know if a home is ready for added electrical load, like an EV charger or a large appliance?
The starting point is a panel capacity check. We look at the service size, the existing circuit loads, and how much headroom the panel actually has. A 100-amp service running near capacity cannot simply absorb a 240V EV charger or a new electric range without something giving way. If the service needs to be upgraded first, we handle that as part of the same project. The goal is making sure the new circuit is sized correctly and the panel can carry it without nuisance tripping or safety concerns.
What are the risks of aluminum branch-circuit wiring, and how is it addressed?
Aluminum branch-circuit wiring was used in many homes built in the 1960s and 1970s. It expands and contracts more than copper under temperature changes, which can loosen connections at outlets, switches, and fixtures over time. Loose connections generate heat, and heat at a connection point is a fire risk. Remediation typically means installing listed connectors at every termination point or replacing the branch circuits, depending on what the inspection finds. We assess what is there before recommending a scope of work, because the right fix depends on the specific wiring and the condition of the connections.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We diagnose the actual cause before recommending a repair. A breaker that keeps tripping or an outlet that stopped working gets traced back to the source, not just swapped out and sent back.
Do we need to be home when the electrician comes?
For most jobs, yes. Access to the panel, the circuits being worked on, and any attic or crawl space access points usually requires someone on site. For some commercial or multi-family work, a property manager or building contact can handle access. We confirm what is needed when the job is scoped on the call.
How does pricing work, and how do we get a number before committing?
When you call, we go through the job on the phone: the symptom, the panel size, the wiring type, and what access looks like. From that conversation, we give you a rate before anything is scheduled. The scope and the price are settled on the call, not after the work is done. Some jobs are straightforward and price quickly. Others, like a rewire or a panel upgrade on an older home, need a bit more information to scope correctly. Either way, you know what you are paying for before we put anything on the calendar.
When is DIY electrical work a reasonable option, and when should we call?
Replacing a light fixture on a circuit that is already off at the breaker is something many homeowners handle without issue. Anything involving the panel, new circuit runs, GFCI or AFCI installation in required locations, or work that needs a permit is a different situation. Panel work in particular involves live conductors even when the main breaker is off, because the service entrance stays energized. The practical line is this: if the work needs to be inspected, involves the panel, or requires running new wire through walls, a call is the right move.
Code-Compliant Work on Every Job
Panel and wiring work is finished to code on every job, whether it is a single outlet or a full service upgrade. We confirm what the work requires at your address before the visit.
What does grounding and bonding mean in an older home, and why does it matter?
Grounding gives fault current a safe path back to the panel and to the utility, so a breaker trips instead of the fault traveling through a person or starting a fire. Bonding ties metal components together so they stay at the same electrical potential. Older homes often have two-prong outlets with no ground wire, or grounding that was added later without being connected correctly at the panel. We check both as part of an inspection and address deficiencies as part of the remediation scope.
How long does a panel upgrade typically take?
Most panel replacements are a full-day job. The work involves shutting off the main service, pulling the old panel, installing the new enclosure, reconnecting every circuit, and confirming the load calculation before the power comes back on. If the service entrance or meter base also needs work, the timeline extends. We give you a realistic picture of the schedule on the call so you can plan for the time the home will be without power.
Straightforward Scheduling
We are available every day from 6 AM to 9 PM. Call to get the scope and the price on the phone, and we put it on the calendar when it works for you.
What is involved in adding a circuit for a workshop or garage?
A workshop or garage circuit starts at the panel, where we confirm there is capacity for the new load. From there, we run the appropriate wire gauge for the intended use: a standard 15 or 20-amp circuit for general outlets, a 240V circuit for a compressor, welder, or larger tool. If the garage is detached, the circuit either runs underground from the main panel or feeds a small subpanel in the garage, depending on how many circuits are needed. We scope the right approach on the call based on what you are running and where the garage sits relative to the house.
What does a whole-home battery backup system require on the electrical side?
Adding a battery storage system means the panel has to manage power flow in both directions: from the grid in normal operation and from the battery during an outage. The panel needs to have the capacity for the battery's inverter load, and the circuits the battery will carry during an outage need to be identified and wired correctly. In some cases, a critical-load subpanel is the right approach. We handle the panel capacity work, the dedicated circuits, and any service upgrades the new load requires. The battery and inverter equipment are outside our scope.
How are emergency electrical faults handled when something goes wrong outside a regular appointment?
We take calls every day from 6 AM to 9 PM, including for last-minute and urgent electrical issues. A burning smell near the panel, a complete loss of power to part of the house, or an outlet that is sparking are all reasons to call right away rather than wait for a scheduled appointment. When you call, we go through the symptom on the phone to understand what is happening and get the right visit scheduled as quickly as the schedule allows.
Call (949) 514-6953 to go over the job on the phone and get a clear price before anything is scheduled.
(949) 514-6953