Lighting, Outlets, Switches and Ceiling Fans
Small upgrades change how a house lives: a ceiling fan in a hot bedroom, recessed lights in a dim kitchen, an outlet where the extension cord has lived for years. We install and upgrade lighting, outlets, switches and fans, and we help you settle the details first so the result fits the room.
Popular Upgrades
| Upgrade | Where it helps | What to decide first |
|---|---|---|
| Recessed lights | Kitchens, living rooms, low ceilings | How many, where, and what’s above the ceiling |
| Ceiling fan | Bedrooms, patios, rooms the AC barely reaches | With or without a light, wall control or remote, a box rated for a fan |
| Dimmers | Dining rooms, bedrooms, living rooms | Which bulbs it controls and whether they’re dimmable |
| More outlets | Home offices, kitchens, garages, bedrooms | Which wall, what will plug in, USB or not |
| GFCI outlets | Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, garages, outdoors | Which outlets need it and where the reset will be |
| Outdoor and path lights | Front walks, porches, back patios | Wet-location rating, switch, timer or motion sensor |
| Under-cabinet lights | Kitchen counters | Hardwired or plug-in, and where the switch goes |
Decisions to Make Before Installing
Settling these before the visit saves a second trip and keeps the walls from being opened twice.
- Fixture type: flush, pendant, recessed or a fan with a light, and the size that suits the room.
- Switch location: by which door, and whether you want control from two places.
- Dimmer compatibility: LED bulbs and fixtures need a dimmer made for them, or they flicker and hum.
- Outdoor rating: damp-rated under a covered porch, wet-rated where rain reaches the fixture.
- Light color: warm white for living spaces, a cooler white for garages and workspaces.
Outlets in Older Houses
Many older homes around San Gabriel still have two-prong outlets, too few outlets per room and kitchens wired long before today’s appliances. Swapping in a three-prong outlet doesn’t add a ground by itself. Depending on the wiring, the fix is a new grounded circuit or GFCI protection labeled the way the code allows. We look at what’s behind the wall before recommending either.
Kitchen appliance hookups fall in the same family: a dishwasher, a disposal, a range or a microwave hood each needs the right circuit, and we connect them in residential kitchens.
Rey does amazing work. I called him first time in a pinch needing a quick swap of my ceiling ventilation fan in my bathroom, and he came same day with a new one, which he picked up. That's great service right there.
Lighting and Outlet Questions
What’s a GFCI, and where do I need one?
A GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) cuts power in a fraction of a second when current leaks to ground, as it can around water. They belong in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, garages and outdoors. Test them monthly with the test button.
What does an AFCI do?
An AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupter) watches for the sparking a damaged cord or a loose connection makes, and shuts the circuit off before it can start a fire. Current code calls for them on most living-area circuits in new work.
Why do my LED lights flicker on the dimmer?
Usually the dimmer was made for old incandescent bulbs. An LED-rated dimmer, matched to the bulbs, normally ends the flicker and the hum.
Can a ceiling fan go where a light is now?
Often, but the box has to be rated to hold a fan’s weight and wobble. Many light boxes aren’t. We check the box and the framing above it and swap in a fan-rated box if needed.