No other electrical contractor around the area concentrates on home circuit problems as much as I do. True, you don't know me, but I am a person, not a complex company with weak links in their chain. Just because a large operation has a truck you've seen or a name you've heard doesn't make them responsible. KOMO's Herb Weisbaum (the Consumer Man) listed me as one of the eight best electrical contractors in the area, based on ratings compiled by Puget Sound Consumers Checkbook.
I am Larry Dimock. I have been in the residential electrical business for myself since 1982. And since 1997, as The Circuit Detective, I have made myself very efficient at finding and repairing circuits when they act up. It's all I do anymore, and I enjoy this detective work. To learn more details of what kind of work I do, go to Eastside licensed electrician. And for a closer look at me, go to About.
What Do I Cost You?
My average troubleshooting job runs under $100. In Sammamish WA (98074 and 98075) I charge $40 to come to your home. To this we add $1.00 per minute for the time I am actually working. Since the usual job takes about 40 minutes, I think you'll be glad I track myself by the minute, instead of rounding UP to the next hour. Many "service" companies pride themselves on giving a "firm price". But by its nature, electrical troubleshooting is an unknown up until it is quickly repaired at the end. So "bidding" these has to be generic and high, and often relies on selling you on the dangers of waiting, which are rare. I am not that kind of electrical contractor.
How Available Am I?
You will reach me directly by phone at 425-333-4400 Mon.-Sat. 7am-9pm. I purposely try to answer personally during these times, because I dislike playing phone tag. We are normally able to schedule my visit for within a day or two of your calling. This would tend to be for 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, but exceptions can be made. I think I am an electrician Sammamish 98074 and 98075 will want to remember; put my number on your electrical panel.
Help Yourself First
Whether you consider yourself handy about electrical things or not, you might do well to learn more about your problem before calling me. Many things can be solved more simply than you imagine. To learn more about your system and where the electrical problem might be, see my main page, Trade Secrets.
Some True Circuit Stories from Sammamish WA
A Story from the Beaver Lake Area - 98075. It seems that Andy had been replacing some switches and outlets. Putting in a newer style. I admire that, when homeowners take on projects that are bound to educate them. What he learned from this was how new 3-way switches from the store may not match the configuration of connection points that the old ones had. It didn't take me long to get the new switches connected right. It doesn't help when even the instructions that come with new switches have been known to be wrong (if you can find them in your language and understand what they mean). I wouldn't mind if everyone did their own circuit fixing, putting me out of a job. Until then, I'm the man.
A Plateau Puget Problem. Dave had told me that lights would dim down at times in various rooms. I wasn't sure he had anything wrong, since this can be normal to a degree when heavy appliances turn on. But I came to check it out. And I did start to observe the voltage dragging down at times. At his main panel I found that some other circuits were being subjected to a little higher than normal voltage. This is typical of a poor main neutral wire. When I saw the meter equipment outdoors, it was deja vu. Dave had the same meter-can brand that I do at home. I had been through a similar experience of lights dimming rather pronouncedly, until I saw behind my own meter that Puget Sound Energy's main neutral was too small for the clamp-connector in the meter equipment. Just enough that things would run OK but give lights an annoying deep blink. This situation is not healthy for electronics in a home. I went to bat for Dave by calling Puget myself (do you think they'll listen to a non-electrician, Sammamish?). They promised to come correct the matter.
THE CIRCUIT DETECTIVE