Flickering lights. Tripping breakers. Burning smells. When your electrical system is telling you something is wrong, our licensed electricians find the root cause — not just the symptom — and fix it right the first time.
Your electrical system is trying to tell you something. If any of these are happening in your home, don't ignore them — most are symptoms of a deeper issue that won't fix itself.
Lights flickering or dimming — randomly, or every time you turn on an appliance.
Circuit breakers that keep tripping — the same breaker trips repeatedly even after resetting.
Outlets or switches that stopped working — no power but the breaker looks fine.
A burning smell near an outlet, switch, or panel — a potential emergency; don't ignore it.
Outlets or switches that feel warm or hot — should never feel warm to the touch.
Buzzing, crackling, or humming sounds — from outlets, switches, fixtures, or the panel.
Small shocks when touching switches or outlets — a sign of a grounding or wiring problem.
GFCI outlets that trip and won't reset — losing shock protection in wet areas of your home.
We don't guess and we don't replace parts hoping something works. We find the actual cause, explain it clearly, and repair it properly to BC Electrical Code.
Reach out by text, phone, or the form below. The more detail you can share, the better:
Submit online → or text 778-302-7060 — whatever is easier for you.
Our licensed electrician arrives and systematically diagnoses the problem using professional test equipment:
Once we've identified the problem:
Most troubleshooting repairs are completed in a single visit. If a permit is required for the work (e.g. replacing a panel or adding circuits), we handle all paperwork with TSBC or your city's electrical department.
These are the most common electrical problems we diagnose and repair across Greater Vancouver. Each one has real causes — and each one has a proper fix.
Troubleshooting service calls are billed by the hour plus materials. The total cost depends on how long the diagnosis and repair take. We always provide a clear repair quote before any work begins — you'll know exactly what you're approving.
Simple issues (a tripped GFCI, a loose connection, a failed outlet) are often diagnosed and fixed quickly in a single visit. Complex or intermittent faults take longer to trace. Contact us and describe your symptoms — we can give you a better idea of what to expect before we arrive.
Brief dimming when a large appliance starts (like an air conditioner or fridge compressor) is often normal — big motors draw a current surge at startup. However, significant or frequent flickering is a sign your electrical system is struggling. Common causes include:
Loose connections are especially important to address — they generate heat and are a leading cause of house fires. If flickering is frequent or getting worse, book a diagnostic visit.
Don't keep forcing the breaker to reset. A tripping breaker is protecting your home — it's telling you something is wrong. The most common causes are:
Short circuits and arc faults are particularly dangerous. Call us to diagnose the root cause — don't just reset and hope for the best.
The most likely causes:
If resetting GFCIs and the breaker doesn't restore power, it's likely a wiring or connection fault — give us a call.
They can be. Occasional dimming when heavy appliances start up is generally normal. But persistent, frequent, or worsening flicker is often caused by loose electrical connections — which generate heat and are a leading cause of electrical fires in Canadian homes.
If flickering happens without any appliance starting, affects multiple rooms, is getting more frequent, or comes with any buzzing or burning smell, schedule a diagnostic visit. Don't assume it's just the bulb.
Treat this as a potential emergency:
If you see smoke, flames, or the smell is coming from the panel itself — evacuate and call 911 first.
A burning smell from electrical components always indicates overheating. It can escalate to a fire inside your walls, sometimes well after the smell appears to have gone away.
Minor repairs typically do not require a permit — replacing a failed outlet, tightening a loose connection, or swapping a breaker are generally routine repairs that don't trigger a permit requirement.
Work that typically does require a permit includes adding new circuits, replacing or relocating the electrical panel, modifying existing wiring, or any work on the service entrance. In BC, permitted electrical work must be inspected by TSBC or your city's electrical department — Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, and several other municipalities have their own inspection departments rather than using TSBC directly.
We handle all permit applications and inspection coordination for work that requires it — you don't need to deal with the paperwork.
In BC, homeowners may perform certain electrical work in their own principal residence under the BC Safety Standards Act — but the rules are specific, the work must still comply with the BC Electrical Code, and some of it may still require inspection.
More importantly: electrical troubleshooting without proper training and test equipment is genuinely dangerous. Diagnosing faults in live circuits, working in panels, and tracing intermittent problems carries real risks of shock, arc flash, and fire. DIY electrical work can also affect your home insurance coverage if something goes wrong.
For anything beyond resetting a breaker or a GFCI outlet, we recommend calling a licensed electrician.
Electrical work in BC is regulated under the Safety Standards Act. These are the official government and regulatory resources relevant to electrical repairs, permits, and inspections in Greater Vancouver.
The provincial authority overseeing electrical safety standards and licensing in BC.
Look up any licensed electrical contractor in BC to verify their credentials before hiring.
Rules for what electrical work homeowners may do themselves in BC, and when a permit is required.
Vancouver issues its own electrical permits through the city — not through TSBC. Apply here for work within Vancouver city limits.
Surrey has its own electrical inspection department. Book inspections and check permit requirements for work in Surrey.
Burnaby manages its own electrical inspections. Contact the city's building department for permit and inspection requirements.
Electrical problems rarely fix themselves — they escalate. Our licensed electricians serve Greater Vancouver and can diagnose and repair most issues in a single visit.
Describe your electrical problem and we'll reply with a free estimate — usually within 24 hours. We serve homeowners across Greater Vancouver.
Describe your electrical issue — add a photo or short video if you have one. We'll reply with a free estimate, usually within 24 hours.