Most people think of an electrician when a breaker trips or an outlet stops working. What surprises a lot of property owners is how much of what goes wrong behind the walls does not announce itself that way. A light switch that runs warm, a circuit that shares a load it was never sized for, or a panel that has been quietly maxed out for years: these are the calls we get after someone finally looked closely enough to notice. We handle the full range of residential and commercial electrical work in San Rafael, from straightforward repairs to panel replacements and whole-home rewiring.
San Rafael is a city with a real mix of housing: older Craftsman and mid-century homes alongside newer construction and multi-unit buildings. That range shows up in the work. An older home might be running on wiring that predates modern grounding requirements. A newer property might need additional circuits to carry what the owners want to plug in.
Whether you are dealing with something that stopped working or planning something that needs new capacity, call (707) 289-5336 and we will scope the job on the call. We are available every day from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
This question comes up constantly, and the answer is not always obvious from looking at the panel. A 100-amp service that ran a household without complaint for decades can hit its limit fast when the property adds an EV charger, a home office setup, or a new kitchen appliance that draws serious current. The panel might have open slots, but open slots and available capacity are two different things. Load calculations tell us what the service is actually carrying and what headroom remains.
When the numbers show the existing service cannot take the added load, there are options. A panel upgrade to 200-amp service is the most common path. In some cases a subpanel handles the need without replacing the main panel. We talk through what the job involves and what it costs before any work is scheduled. You get a clear answer on the call, not a vague range followed by a surprise later.
Grounding and bonding are part of this conversation too. An older panel that has been upgraded piecemeal over the years sometimes has grounding that does not meet current standards, and that affects what can safely run on it. We check for that as part of the assessment rather than treating it as a separate visit.
A generator that is plugged in without a proper transfer switch is a hazard to utility workers and to the home's wiring alike. A transfer switch isolates the home from the grid before the generator comes online, so the two never feed the same circuit at the same time. We handle the transfer switch installation and the connection to the panel, sized to what the generator is rated to carry. In the North Bay, where public-safety power shutoffs during wildfire season are a real and recurring event, this is practical work rather than a precaution for edge cases.
Aluminum branch-circuit wiring from the 1960s and 1970s is present in a portion of Marin County's mid-century housing stock, and it behaves differently from copper under load. The connections are where the risk concentrates: aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, and connections that were not made with compatible devices loosen over time. Remediation does not always mean rewiring the entire house. In many cases, installing approved connectors at each device and replacing outlets and switches with aluminum-rated hardware addresses the problem at the points where it actually occurs. We assess what is in the home and explain the options before recommending a scope.
Recessed lighting installation is one of the more common requests in homes that are being updated. Where the ceiling is already open during a renovation, it is the right time to run new circuits and place fixtures properly. In existing ceilings, the work depends on attic access and what is above the drywall. LED retrofit work, replacing older incandescent or fluorescent fixtures with LED-compatible housings and drivers, is a separate category that often surfaces during an inspection when the existing fixtures are not rated for enclosed spaces or are simply at the end of their useful life.
An outdoor outlet that is not in a weatherproof enclosure is a code issue and a safety issue. We install GFCI-protected outdoor outlets with in-use covers rated for wet locations, and we run the circuit from the panel with the correct wire type for outdoor or underground routing. Exterior lighting on the same visit is a natural pairing: security lights, motion sensor fixtures, and landscape wiring all draw from circuits that need to be properly protected and grounded. AFCI and GFCI protection requirements for outdoor circuits have expanded in recent code cycles, and we wire to what applies.
A panel with missing or inaccurate labels is a problem that gets worse every time someone needs to work on the home. Tracing circuits properly takes time, but it produces a panel directory that is actually reliable rather than one that sends you to the wrong breaker. We identify each circuit, confirm what it feeds, and label the panel in a way that makes sense for how the home is actually used. For older properties where the wiring has been modified over the years, circuit identification sometimes turns up circuits that were abandoned in place or added without being documented.
Not all previous electrical work that does not meet current standards needs to be torn out and redone from scratch. A junction box with connections that were made with the wrong connectors can be corrected at that box. An outlet that was wired without a ground can be addressed with a GFCI device where the circuit cannot be grounded, or by running a ground conductor where it can. Knob-and-tube wiring that is in good condition and not buried under insulation is a different situation from knob-and-tube that has been spliced into repeatedly or covered in a way that traps heat. We look at what is actually there before deciding what the job needs to be.
Work that creates a genuine hazard does not get patched. A double-tapped breaker feeding circuits that were never sized for the combined load, a panel that was modified with breakers it was not designed to accept, or wiring that was run through a space where it cannot be protected: these are situations where the correction means doing the work properly rather than working around what is already there. We explain what we find and why the scope is what it is. You're talking to someone who knows the area and the homes in it, and that means giving you a straight read rather than a recommendation that oversells the job.
When you call, we talk through the situation, confirm the scope, and give you a price before anything is set on the calendar. For problems that cannot wait, we take short-notice calls and work around what the schedule allows. We are available every day from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, so a call placed in the evening is a call that gets answered.
For tenants and businesses that need to stay operational during the work, we talk through the sequence on the call. Some jobs can be staged so that the disruption to any one circuit is brief. Others require a panel shutdown for part of the visit, and we confirm that in advance so it does not come as a surprise. Know the price. Know the scope. Know what happens next.
Older homes in San Rafael sometimes have equipment that has been out of production for years: panel brands that are no longer manufactured, fixture types that require adapters, or breaker models that are technically available but not stocked locally. When a part has to be ordered rather than fitted the same day, we tell you that on the call rather than after the visit. Where a substitute is the right answer, we explain why and confirm it before using it.
Some substitutions are straightforward. A breaker from a compatible manufacturer that meets the same specifications is a reasonable replacement for a discontinued original. Others are not: installing a breaker that was not designed for a specific panel is the kind of shortcut that creates problems downstream. We match parts to what the panel and the circuit actually require, not to what is easiest to find.
Electrical pricing depends on what the job actually involves once we get into it. What the fault turns out to be, what has to be opened up to reach it, and whether the existing circuit or panel can carry the change are the things that move a quote in either direction. A repair that looks straightforward from the outside sometimes opens up to reveal a wiring condition that changes the scope. We tell you what we find before continuing rather than presenting a different number at the end.
The price is confirmed on the call based on what you describe, and it is revisited before any work starts if the visit turns up something that was not visible from the outside. There are no figures invented here, because the right number depends on your property and your situation.
Call (707) 289-5336 and we will give you a real answer based on what you actually need.
Quick to arrive. Careful with your home. Clean when we leave.
We take calls from across San Rafael and the nearby communities of Santa Venetia, Larkspur, Ross, Corte Madera, and San Anselmo. Residential and commercial properties throughout Marin County are covered. If you are not sure whether your address falls within our service area, ask when you call and we will confirm it on the spot. A quick read of the page covering our electrical services covers the rest.
A properly installed transfer switch or interlock kit isolates the home from the utility supply before the generator is connected. This prevents the generator from energizing the utility line, which protects both the property and anyone working on the line outside. We install the transfer switch as part of the generator hookup.
Yes. We work in occupied rentals regularly. The scope of the work determines how disruptive it is. A single outlet or switch replacement is minimally disruptive. A panel upgrade or partial rewire requires more coordination. We discuss what the tenant and property should expect before the visit is scheduled.
Marin County has a substantial stock of mid-century and earlier construction, and the issues that surface most often are knob-and-tube wiring that was never replaced, aluminum branch-circuit wiring from the 1960s and 1970s, and panels that were sized for a fraction of the load a modern household puts through them. Grounding is another common gap: many older circuits were wired without a ground conductor, which affects what can safely run on them and what GFCI or AFCI protection is required. We look at what is actually in the home and explain what the wiring means for how the property can be used before recommending any scope of work.
A breaker that trips at predictable times usually points to a load pattern, such as an appliance that runs on a schedule adding to a circuit that is already carrying a steady load. Air conditioning startup, for example, draws a surge of current that can push a borderline circuit over its limit. Noting the time and what is running when the trip happens helps identify the cause quickly.
Yes. Detached garages, sheds, workshops, and other outbuildings are part of the work we handle. The job involves running a circuit from the main panel, sizing it for the load the structure needs to carry, and installing the outlets, lighting, or subpanel the space requires.
An office build-out typically involves running circuits for workstations, lighting, and any equipment with specific power requirements, along with outlet placement that fits the floor plan. We work from the build-out plan, confirm panel capacity, and coordinate with other trades on the job schedule. The scope is confirmed on the call before the visit is booked.
The starting point is always the panel. A Level 2 EV charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and a battery backup system has its own load and interconnection requirements. Before any circuit is run, we do a load calculation to confirm the service can carry the added draw without pushing the panel past its limits. If the panel needs to be upgraded or a subpanel added to make room, we handle that as part of the same project. The price and the scope are confirmed on the call before any work is scheduled.
When you call (707) 289-5336, someone picks up, asks what is going on, and gives you a price before anything is put on the calendar.
We are available every day from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. We handle the electrical side of the job: the diagnosis, the wiring, the panel work, and the follow-through. Call for a quote and we will walk you through what the visit covers before we schedule it.
We are also in: Larkspur, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Mill Valley.
The rest are on our complete list of towns.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical work we handle in San Rafael and the surrounding Marin County area. Each row covers what the service includes, who it fits best, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. If a job on your list is not here, call us and we will talk through what it involves.
| Service Type | What's Included | When You Need It | What to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI outlet installation, AFCI outlet installation, Dimmer and smart switch wiring, Outlet and switch replacement | Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exterior locations needing updated protection | GFCI protection is required by code in wet areas. If your kitchen or bathroom outlets are not GFCI-protected, that is worth addressing on the next visit. |
| Electrical Panel & Service Upgrades | 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrades, Panel replacement and breaker upgrades, Subpanel installation, Load calculations and utility coordination | Older homes adding major appliances, EV chargers, or additional circuits | Panel upgrades in San Rafael often involve service-entrance work coordinated with the utility. Load calculations are done before anything is scheduled. |
| Standby Battery for Outages | Battery backup hookup and wiring, Transfer switch installation, Panel integration for battery systems, Generator hookup as an alternative | Households that want grid resilience during Marin County PSPS events | Battery backup and generator hookup both require a properly installed transfer switch. That is the piece that keeps the backup system from back-feeding the grid. |
Call (707) 289-5336 to talk through the job, get a price, and schedule the visit. We are available every day from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
(707) 289-5336