Articles
Answers to the questions we get asked most. No jargon for its own sake.
Why Your Breaker Keeps Tripping
A tripping breaker is doing its job. Here is what is actually causing it, which causes are urgent, and when to stop resetting it.
Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs Upgrading
Six things that tell you a panel has been outgrown, and the two panel brands home inspectors and insurers ask about.
What to Know Before Installing an EV Charger at Home
Level 1 versus Level 2, why the panel gets checked first, why the permit matters, and what decides how big the job is.
Before you call anyone
Three things worth knowing, whoever ends up doing the work.
Is it safe to keep resetting a breaker that trips?
Not repeatedly. A breaker trips because it is doing its job — it has detected more current than the circuit is built to carry, or a fault. Resetting it once to see if it holds is reasonable. Resetting it again and again removes the protection without removing the cause. If it trips a second time, stop and have the circuit looked at.
Do I need a permit for electrical work on my house?
Usually, yes. Swapping a light fixture or a device is generally treated differently from new circuits, a service change or a panel replacement, and those larger jobs normally need a permit and an inspection. The requirement is set by your municipality, not by the electrician. A licensed electrician will tell you which category your job falls into and pull the permit as part of the work.
How do I check that an electrician is actually licensed?
Ask for the licence number and check it — a licensed electrician will give it without hesitating. Ours is Illinois Electrical License #26-00034250 and it is printed on every page of this site. Also ask whether they carry insurance, and get the answer before the work starts rather than after something goes wrong.