FAQ
Welcome to the FAQ page of Leander Electricians, your local, licensed electrician for safe and reliable electrical work in your home.
We know electrical projects can feel confusing or even a little intimidating. Below, you’ll find clear and simple answers to some of the questions we hear most often about our services, safety, pricing, and process.
If you don’t see your question here, you’re always welcome to give us a call and talk to a real person from our team.
What Electrical Services Do You Offer?
We handle a wide range of residential electrical services so you can work with one trusted company for almost everything in your home.
Our main services include:
- Electrical panel upgrades and replacement
- Home rewiring and aluminum wiring replacement
- EV charger installation (Level 2 and Tesla Wall Connector)
- Generator installation and transfer switches
- Whole‑home surge protection
- Interior lighting installation and retrofit
- Ceiling fan installation and replacement
- Outdoor and landscape lighting
- Hot tub, pool, and spa wiring
- Electrical safety inspections and code corrections
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation
- 24‑hour emergency electrician services
Whether you’re updating an older home, adding new features like an EV charger or hot tub, or dealing with flickering lights and tripped breakers, Leander Electricians can help from start to finish.
We focus on safe, code‑compliant work, clear communication, and leaving your home clean when we’re done.
When Should I Upgrade My Electrical Panel?
Your electrical panel is the “heart” of your home’s electrical system, and upgrading it is often one of the best ways to improve safety and reliability.
Common signs you may need a panel upgrade or replacement:
- Breakers trip frequently, even with normal use
- You still have fuses instead of circuit breakers
- Your panel feels warm to the touch or smells burnt
- Lights flicker or dim when large appliances turn on
- You’re adding heavy electrical loads (EV charger, hot tub, workshop tools, new HVAC)
- Your home is older and has a 60‑amp or 100‑amp service instead of 150–200 amps
If you’re unsure, we can inspect your existing panel and overall system. We’ll explain what we find, whether you truly need an upgrade, and what your options are.
What happens during a panel upgrade?
- We evaluate your home’s electrical load and future needs
- We safely remove the old panel and install a new, properly sized one
- We replace any unsafe or outdated breakers
- We label your circuits clearly so you know what’s what
- We pull the proper permits and coordinate inspections as required
Upgrading your panel not only makes your system safer, it can also make your home more convenient and ready for future technology and appliances.
Is My Old Wiring Safe, and Do I Need Rewiring or Aluminum Wiring Replacement?
Older homes often have wiring that no longer meets modern safety standards, especially if the electrical system has been modified over the years.
You might need rewiring if you notice:
- Frequently blown fuses or tripped breakers
- Warm outlets or switches
- Buzzing sounds from walls, switches, or fixtures
- Two‑prong outlets with no ground wire
- Burn marks on outlets or light switches
- A burning or “hot” smell near electrical devices
If your home has aluminum branch wiring from certain decades, it can be a higher fire risk if not properly repaired or replaced.
What we do for home rewiring and aluminum wiring:
- Inspect your current wiring and outlets
- Replace unsafe or damaged wiring with modern copper wiring
- Add grounded outlets where needed
- Update circuits to handle today’s electrical loads
- Correct unsafe DIY work or code violations
We work in sections to minimize disruption, keep your home as tidy as possible, and clearly explain each step so you understand what’s being done and why.
How Does EV Charger Installation Work, and What Do I Need to Get Started?
Adding a Level 2 EV charger or a Tesla Wall Connector at home makes charging faster and far more convenient than using a standard outlet.
What we look at before installing an EV charger:
- The capacity of your electrical panel and main service
- The distance from your panel to your parking spot or garage
- The type of charger you want (Level 2 or Tesla Wall Connector)
- Any local codes or permit requirements
If your existing panel is maxed out, we may recommend a panel upgrade or load management solution so you can safely support the charger.
What’s involved in the installation:
- Running new dedicated wiring from your panel to the charger location
- Installing the proper breaker size and type
- Mounting and wiring the charger according to manufacturer specs
- Testing the charger for safe, reliable operation
- Walking you through how to use it and basic safety tips
We make sure your system is sized correctly, properly protected, and ready to support your vehicle now and in the future.
Do I Really Need a Generator, Transfer Switch, and Whole‑Home Surge Protection?
Not every home needs a backup power system, but many homeowners choose it for comfort and safety during power outages, storms, or grid issues.
Why a generator and transfer switch matter:
- A generator provides backup power for essentials like lights, fridge, medical equipment, sump pumps, and heating or cooling
- A transfer switch safely connects the generator to your home without back‑feeding power into the grid, which is dangerous and illegal
- With a transfer switch, you can control which circuits are powered and avoid extension cord tangles and overloads
We install both manual and automatic transfer switches, depending on your generator type and budget.
Why whole‑home surge protection helps:
Surge protectors at the panel help protect sensitive electronics and appliances from power surges caused by lightning, grid issues, or large appliances cycling on and off.
- Helps guard TVs, computers, refrigerators, HVAC systems, and more
- Works alongside, not instead of, plug‑in surge strips
- Adds an extra layer of protection to your whole electrical system
If you’re in an area with frequent storms or unreliable power, generators and surge protection can give you peace of mind and help avoid costly damage.
What Should I Know About Lighting, Ceiling Fans, and Outdoor Electrical Work?
Lighting and fans do more than make your space look nice—they affect safety, comfort, and energy use.
Interior lighting and retrofit:
- We replace outdated fixtures with modern, efficient options
- We can retrofit older lighting to LED for better light and lower energy use
- We help you choose the right brightness and color temperature for each room
This can brighten dark spaces, update your home’s look, and reduce your electric bill.
Ceiling fan installation and replacement:
- We safely install fan‑rated boxes to support the weight and motion of the fan
- We wire switches and controls so you can easily use lights and fans together or separately
- We replace wobbly, noisy, or outdated fans with new, efficient models
DIY fan installation can lead to loose supports or poor wiring. We make sure everything is secure and up to code.
Outdoor and landscape lighting, plus pool, spa, and hot tub wiring:
- We install weather‑rated fixtures, wiring, and boxes for outdoor use
- We follow strict safety rules around pools, spas, and hot tubs, including GFCI protection and proper bonding
- We design pathway and landscape lighting to improve safety and curb appeal
Outdoor electrical work must handle moisture, weather, and special safety codes. We use the right materials and methods so you can enjoy your yard safely, day and night.
How Do Electrical Safety Inspections Work, and When Should I Get One?
An electrical safety inspection is a smart idea if you’re buying a home, adding major appliances, planning renovations, or if your home is older and hasn’t been checked in years.
During a safety inspection, we typically:
- Check your main panel and breakers for damage, overheating, or improper wiring
- Look for loose connections, exposed wiring, or overloaded circuits
- Test GFCI and AFCI protection where required
- Examine outlets, switches, and fixtures for signs of wear, heat, or arcing
- Identify any code violations or safety risks from past repairs or DIY projects
What you receive after the inspection:
- A clear explanation of what we found
- A prioritized list of recommended repairs (what’s urgent vs. what can wait)
- Answers to any questions you have about safety, upgrades, or future projects
We aim to give you peace of mind, not pressure. Our job is to inform you, explain your options, and then do the work you decide on.
Do You Offer 24‑Hour Emergency Electrician Services, and What Counts as an Emergency?
Yes. Leander Electricians offers 24‑hour emergency service for urgent electrical problems that can’t wait for normal business hours.
Situations that often count as an electrical emergency:
- Burning smell or smoke coming from outlets, switches, or your panel
- Sparks when plugging in or turning on devices
- Partial or full loss of power in your home that isn’t a utility outage
- Repeated breaker tripping that won’t reset or stay on
- Exposed live wires after storm damage, water leaks, or accidents
- Electrical issues affecting medical equipment
If you’re ever unsure, it’s better to call and let us help you decide if it’s an emergency.
What to do in an electrical emergency:
- If safe, turn off the affected breaker or the main breaker
- Keep people and pets away from the affected area
- Do not touch exposed wires or try to fix the issue yourself
- Call our emergency line and describe what’s happening
We’ll guide you through any immediate safety steps and dispatch a licensed electrician as quickly as possible.
If you have a question that wasn’t covered here, the team at Leander Electricians is happy to talk with you. We’re here to make electrical work simple, safe, and stress‑free for you and your family.
