Spokane Valley homeowners, landlords, property managers, and businesses all count on reliable electrical work, and that is exactly what Northstar Electric & Service delivers. From a dead outlet to a full panel upgrade, we handle the full range of residential and commercial electrical repair and installation. Whether you need a same-day electrician to chase down a tripped breaker or a licensed professional to wire a new addition, we are available every day from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM to take your call and get the work scheduled.
This is a local operation, and every customer matters.
Electrical problems don't wait, and neither do we, so when something goes wrong in your home or building, getting to the bottom of it quickly is the priority.
Dead outlets, flickering lights, a breaker that keeps tripping, a burning smell near a panel or outlet, sparking receptacles, or a situation where half the house has lost power - each of those is a signal that something in the circuit needs attention. We run full troubleshooting and diagnostics to find the source, not just the symptom. That means checking for overloaded circuits, testing for arc-fault conditions, and confirming that GFCI and AFCI protection is doing its job where code requires it.
Some repairs are straightforward. Others point to a deeper wiring issue. Either way, we get to the bottom of the problem fast.
When the job is done, we leave your home clean and powered, and that starts with getting the small jobs right.
We install and replace standard outlets, GFCI outlets, and USB outlets throughout the home. Bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor locations all require GFCI protection, and we make sure every installation meets code-compliant wiring standards. Dimmer switch installation, standard switch replacement, and three-way switch wiring all fall in this category too.
Landlords and property managers count on us for rental property electrical inspections, smoke detector installation, and carbon monoxide detector wiring. Bathroom exhaust fan wiring is another common call from rental owners getting a unit ready for occupancy. We handle these jobs efficiently so you can keep your property on schedule.
We'll handle the wiring so you don't have to.
The sooner you call, the sooner the power is back on, and a panel problem is one call you should not put off.
A breaker that trips repeatedly is telling you something. It might be a failing breaker, an overloaded circuit, or a panel that has reached the end of its useful life. We handle breaker panel repair, full panel replacement, and 200-amp service upgrades for homes and small businesses that need more capacity. Subpanel installation is a common solution when a detached garage, shop, or addition needs its own dedicated power supply.
For businesses adding equipment or homeowners adding EV chargers, generator circuits, or electric heating loads, we run load calculations to confirm the service entrance and meter can carry the new demand before any work begins. We stand behind every circuit we touch, and that includes the panel work that feeds them all.
Good lighting does more than illuminate a room. Inside, recessed lighting installation and LED lighting upgrades change how a space feels and how much it costs to run. Under-cabinet lighting in kitchens is a popular addition during remodels. Ceiling fan installation and ceiling fan wiring are among the most common calls we get from homeowners looking to improve comfort and airflow.
Outside, the right lighting improves both security and curb appeal. We install outdoor lighting, security lighting, motion sensor lights, flood lights, and landscape lighting. Whether you are lighting a driveway, a commercial parking lot, or the back of a rental property, we size and place fixtures to cover the area properly.
We're one phone call from getting your power right.
Doing electrical work right matters, and we'll help you get it right, especially when the wiring in question is old.
Spokane Valley has a mix of housing ages, and older homes sometimes still carry knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum wiring that needs to be remediated before it becomes a hazard. We handle whole-home rewiring, knob-and-tube replacement, and aluminum wiring upgrades, as well as wiring for additions, finished basements, detached garages, sheds, and outbuildings.
Dedicated circuits matter for high-draw appliances. Dryer outlet installation, range circuits, refrigerator circuits, washer and dishwasher circuits, and 240-volt outlet installation all require their own home run back to the panel. We size and install dedicated appliance circuits with proper grounding and bonding so the appliance runs safely and the panel stays balanced. Hot tub wiring and the dedicated circuit it requires are also in our scope.
Level 2 EV charger installation is one of the fastest-growing requests we handle. A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit and enough panel capacity to support the continuous load. We assess the panel, run the circuit, and install the charger, whether it is a Tesla charger or a standard Level 2 unit for any EV.
Whole-home surge protection is worth adding to any conversation about the panel. Spokane Valley sees weather variability that puts electronics and appliances at risk from voltage spikes. A whole-home surge protector installed at the panel catches surges before they reach your devices. It is one of the more cost-effective things you can do for the electrical system in a home or commercial space.
We'll get your lights back on fast, and we'll protect what keeps them running.
Buying an older home in Spokane Valley? Preparing a rental unit for a new tenant? Concerned about wiring that has never been inspected? An electrical safety inspection gives you a clear picture of what the system looks like, what meets current code, and what needs attention.
We perform pre-purchase electrical inspections, rental property inspections, and general safety checks for homeowners who want to know what they are working with. Older homes in particular benefit from a close look at grounding and bonding, panel condition, and whether AFCI and GFCI protection is in place where it is required. Work performed by licensed electricians means the inspection findings are ones you can rely on.
Spokane Valley winters are hard on infrastructure. Sub-freezing temperatures, ice storms, and wind events drive multi-day power outages, freeze pipes, and load electrical panels to their limits. The three services below come up constantly in this area for exactly those reasons.
When the grid goes down in a Spokane Valley winter, the stakes are high. Heat, medical equipment, refrigerated food, and sump pumps all need power. We handle the electrical side of generator hookup: transfer switch installation, interlock installation, and standby generator wiring. We size the circuit and the transfer equipment to match the generator and the loads it needs to carry, so the switch from grid to generator happens safely without backfeeding the line.
Many older homes in the area were built with panels sized for a much lighter electrical load than what a modern household draws. Add electric heat, an EV charger, and a generator circuit, and a 100-amp panel runs out of room fast. A 200-amp panel upgrade, combined with a proper load calculation, gives the system the headroom it needs to handle winter demand without nuisance tripping or overheating. We show up ready to wire and handle the service-entrance work when the upgrade requires it.
Roof ice dams and frozen pipes are routine winter problems in Spokane Valley, and heat tape is a practical solution for both. The electrical side matters as much as the tape itself. Heat tape systems need a dedicated circuit, correct outlet placement, and proper load sizing. An overloaded or improperly wired heat tape circuit is a fire hazard. We run the circuit right, place the outlet where it is accessible and weatherproof, and confirm the load fits the panel before the tape goes on the roof or the pipe.
Kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, finished basements, and new construction all need an electrician at multiple stages of the project. We work with homeowners and contractors to rough in wiring, install panels and subpanels, and complete the finish work once walls are closed.
On the commercial side, we handle electrical work for small businesses, office spaces, retail locations, and warehouses. Whether you are building out a new space or upgrading an existing one, we assess the load, confirm the service capacity, and get the circuits in place. Landlords and property managers count on us for rental property electrical work across Spokane County.
You get the rate on the phone before anything is booked. Electrical pricing depends on what the job involves: the scope of the repair, the panel size, the number of circuits, and how accessible the wiring is. We walk through that with you on the call so you understand what the work covers before we put it on the calendar.
Ask what it covers and you get a straight answer. We do not guess at scope and we do not pad quotes with work that is not needed. If the job changes once we are on site, we communicate that before we proceed.
We serve Spokane Valley and the communities throughout Spokane County and the wider metro. If you are nearby, we can get to you.
Common signs include breakers that trip repeatedly under normal loads, lights that dim when large appliances start up, a panel that has no open slots for new circuits, and visible signs of heat or corrosion at the breaker connections. If you are planning to add an EV charger, a generator circuit, or electric heating loads, a load calculation is the right first step to confirm whether your current service can carry the addition. Call us and we will walk through what your panel can handle and what an upgrade would involve.
A transfer switch isolates your home's circuits from the utility line before the generator feeds them, which prevents backfeed that could injure utility workers and damage the generator when grid power returns. Without a properly installed transfer switch or interlock, running a generator through the panel is both a safety hazard and a code violation. We install manual and automatic transfer switches sized to match the generator and the loads it needs to carry.
We handle the electrical side of generator installation: the transfer switch or interlock, the dedicated circuit, and the connection at the panel. We size the transfer equipment to match the generator output and the loads you need covered, whether that is the whole house or key circuits like heat, refrigeration, and medical equipment. Portable and standby setups are both in our scope.
Heat tape draws a continuous load through freeze-thaw cycles, and an undersized or shared circuit can overheat the wiring and create a fire hazard. The electrical side of a heat tape installation includes a dedicated circuit, a weatherproof outlet in the right location, and load sizing that matches the tape's draw. We run the circuit correctly so the tape does its job without putting the wiring at risk.
A whole-home surge protector installs at the panel and intercepts voltage spikes before they travel through the branch circuits to your outlets and devices. A single surge from a storm or a grid event can damage appliances, electronics, and HVAC equipment in a fraction of a second. Given the storm patterns Spokane Valley sees, it is a practical addition to any panel upgrade or as a standalone installation.
An inspection makes sense before purchasing an older home, before listing a property for sale, when preparing a rental unit for a new tenant, or when you simply have not had the wiring looked at and want to know what you are working with. We check the panel, grounding and bonding, GFCI and AFCI protection, and the condition of outlets and fixtures throughout the property. The goal is to find anything that needs attention before it becomes an emergency.
We look at the breaker condition, the bus bar connections, the grounding and bonding, the service entrance conductors, and whether the panel has capacity for the circuits currently on it. We also check for double-tapped breakers, improperly sized breakers, and any signs of heat damage or corrosion. If the panel is at capacity or showing signs of wear, we explain what the options are before recommending any work.
GFCI protection is required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoor locations, crawl spaces, and unfinished basements, anywhere moisture is a factor. AFCI protection is required in bedrooms, living rooms, and most other finished living spaces in newer construction and significant remodels. If your home has outlets in those locations that are not protected, we can assess what is there and bring it up to current standards.
A dead outlet that has no power, an outlet cover that is warm or hot to the touch, or a receptacle face that is discolored or shows scorch marks are all signs that something is wrong with the connection or the circuit. These are not cosmetic issues. A warm or discolored outlet can indicate a loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or wiring that has deteriorated. Call us and we will diagnose the problem and tell you what the fix involves.
For most electrical work, yes. The circuit being worked on is de-energized before any connections are made or changed. For panel work, the main breaker is typically shut off for the duration of the job. We let you know in advance what will be without power and for how long so you can plan around it.
A straightforward repair, outlet replacement, or switch installation usually takes one to two hours. Panel upgrades and service entrance work typically run a full day. Larger projects like whole-home rewires are scoped in phases and scheduled accordingly. We give you a realistic time estimate on the call so you know what to expect before the visit.
Northstar Electric & Service is available every day from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Whether you need a repair diagnosed today, a panel upgraded before winter, or a full rewire quoted for an older home, the next step is a phone call.
Call (509) 566-9799 for a quote.
Straight answers on the phone. Real electrical work. Quick to respond.
We handle the full range of electrical work in Spokane Valley, from a single tripped breaker to a complete service upgrade. The table below shows what each service covers, who it is a good fit for, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. If a job is not on the list or you are not sure what you need, a quick call gets you a straight answer and a price before anything is scheduled.
| Electrical Service | What the Job Involves | Common Situations | Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI and standard outlet installation, USB outlet upgrades, dimmer and three-way switch wiring, bathroom and kitchen code compliance | Homeowners, landlords, and remodelers adding or replacing receptacles and switches | Bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor locations all require GFCI protection under current code. |
| Well-Pump Circuits | dedicated well-pump circuit installation, pressure switch wiring, disconnect and grounding, panel capacity check for pump load | Rural and semi-rural properties in Spokane County that rely on a well for water supply | Well pumps draw a significant startup load. We run a load calculation before wiring to confirm the panel can handle it without nuisance tripping. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | dead outlets and tripped breakers, flickering or dimming lights, arc-fault and GFCI diagnostics, burning smells and sparking receptacles | Any home or business with an electrical problem that needs a diagnosis before a fix | We look for the source of the problem, not just the symptom, so the fix holds rather than masking a deeper issue. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | ceiling fan wiring and mounting, fan-rated box installation, switch and remote wiring, replacement of existing fans | Homeowners improving airflow and comfort in bedrooms and living areas | Older ceiling boxes are often not rated to support a fan's weight and motion, so we check the box before mounting. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | panel-mounted surge protector installation, protection for appliances and electronics, coordination with panel upgrades | Any home or business exposed to storm-related voltage spikes or grid fluctuations | Spokane Valley weather variability puts electronics and appliances at real risk. A surge protector at the panel catches spikes before they reach your devices. |
| Snow-Melt System Wiring | dedicated circuit for snow-melt mats, thermostat and sensor wiring, load sizing and panel assessment, outdoor-rated outlet and conduit | Homeowners and commercial properties looking to keep driveways, walkways, or steps clear in winter | Snow-melt systems run a continuous load and need a properly sized dedicated circuit. We confirm panel capacity before any wiring begins. |
| Lighting Installation | recessed and LED lighting, outdoor and security lighting, motion sensor and flood lights, under-cabinet and landscape lighting | Homeowners upgrading interior lighting or adding exterior security and curb-appeal lighting | Outdoor fixtures in Spokane Valley need to be rated for cold-weather exposure to hold up through winter. |
| Electrical Panel & Service Upgrades | 200-amp service upgrades, subpanel installation, load calculations, service entrance and meter work | Homes adding EV chargers, generators, electric heat, or any load that has outgrown the current panel | Many older homes in the area were built with 100-amp panels that run out of capacity fast once modern loads are added. |
| Garage & Block-Heater Circuits | dedicated garage outlet circuits, block-heater outlet installation, timer-controlled outlet wiring, sub-panel for detached garages | Homeowners who park in an unheated garage and need reliable power for cold-weather engine starts | Block-heater outlets in garages are a practical necessity in Spokane Valley winters and are straightforward to add to an existing panel. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | breaker replacement, fuse panel assessment, overloaded circuit diagnosis, double-tap and undersized breaker correction | Homeowners dealing with a breaker that trips repeatedly or a fuse that keeps blowing | A breaker that trips under normal load is often a sign of a failing breaker or an overloaded circuit, not just a nuisance. |
| Heat Tape Installation | dedicated circuit for heat tape, weatherproof outlet placement, load sizing to panel capacity, roof and pipe application wiring | Spokane Valley homeowners dealing with roof ice dams or frozen pipes in winter | An overloaded or shared heat tape circuit is a fire hazard. The electrical side of this job matters as much as the tape itself. |
| Backup Generator Installation | transfer switch and interlock installation, standby generator wiring, dedicated generator circuit, load sizing for key circuits | Spokane Valley homeowners who need reliable power through winter outages | A transfer switch isolates your home from the utility line before the generator feeds it, which is a code requirement and a safety necessity. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | pre-purchase and pre-sale inspections, rental property inspections, GFCI and AFCI protection checks, panel and grounding assessment | Home buyers, sellers, and landlords who need a clear picture of the electrical system's condition | Work performed by licensed electricians means the inspection findings give you something reliable to act on. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | dryer and range circuits, 240-volt outlet installation, washer, dishwasher, and refrigerator circuits, hot tub wiring | Anyone adding a high-draw appliance that needs its own home run back to the panel | Sharing a circuit with a large appliance is a common cause of tripped breakers and overheating wiring. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | new circuit runs, knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring remediation, addition and basement wiring, detached garage and outbuilding wiring | Homeowners remodeling, finishing new space, or dealing with outdated wiring in an older home | Spokane Valley has a range of housing ages, and knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring in older homes often needs attention before it becomes a hazard. |
What causes a breaker to trip repeatedly?
A breaker that trips under normal use is usually telling you one of three things: the circuit is overloaded and drawing more current than it was designed to carry, the breaker itself is worn and no longer holding its rated load, or there is a wiring fault somewhere on the circuit. Running too many high-draw appliances on a single circuit is the most common cause in older homes. We run a full diagnosis to find which situation you are dealing with before recommending a fix.
How do I know if my home needs rewiring?
The clearest signs are knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring that has never been updated, outlets and switches that stop working without an obvious cause, lights that flicker when appliances start up, and a panel that cannot support the circuits you need. Homes built before the 1970s in this area often have wiring that was never designed for today's electrical load. An inspection gives you a clear picture of what is there and what needs attention.
What does an EV charger installation actually require?
A Level 2 charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit with enough amperage to support a continuous load, typically 40 to 50 amps. We start by assessing the panel to confirm it has the capacity and an available slot for the new breaker. If the panel is already at capacity, a service upgrade or subpanel may be the right first step. We run the circuit, install the outlet or hardwired connection, and confirm everything is sized and grounded correctly before the charger goes live.
Work Performed by Licensed Electricians
Every job is handled by licensed electricians who know the code requirements and the wiring common to this area. You get the work done right the first time, with no guesswork on the safety side.
What do flickering or dimming lights usually mean?
Occasional flickering when a large appliance starts up can be normal if the circuit is shared, but persistent flickering or lights that dim across multiple rooms usually points to something that needs attention. Loose connections at the outlet, switch, or panel, a failing breaker, or a problem at the service entrance are all possibilities. If the flickering is widespread or accompanied by a buzzing sound, that is a reason to call sooner rather than later.
Is it safe to have aluminum wiring in an older home?
Aluminum wiring was commonly installed in homes built in the 1960s and early 1970s and is not automatically a crisis, but it does require specific handling. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, which can loosen connections over time and create overheating at outlets, switches, and the panel. The fix depends on the scope: in some cases, installing CO/ALR-rated devices at each outlet is appropriate. In others, full remediation or rewiring is the right call. We assess what is there and explain the options before recommending any work.
How does pricing work and what should I expect on the call?
We go over the scope of the job on the phone and give you a price before anything is scheduled. Electrical pricing depends on what the work involves: the type of repair, the number of circuits, panel size, and how accessible the wiring is. We walk through that with you so you understand what the work covers and what it costs before we put it on the calendar. If something changes once we are on site, we communicate that before we proceed.
Scope Agreed Before the Panel Is Opened
We walk through the job with you on the phone, confirm the price, and explain what the work covers before anything is scheduled. If something changes on site, we tell you before we proceed.
Do I need to be home while the electrical work is being done?
For most jobs, yes. Access to the panel, the affected circuits, and the areas being worked on is necessary, and someone needs to be available to confirm the scope and sign off when the work is complete. If you have a specific situation where access is handled differently, ask about it on the call and we will work through the details with you.
When should I call an electrician instead of handling something myself?
Swapping a light bulb or resetting a tripped breaker is reasonable to do on your own. Anything that involves opening an outlet, switch, or panel, running new wiring, or working near the service entrance is work for a licensed electrician. The risk is not just shock: improper wiring can create arc-fault conditions that cause fires well after the work is done. If you are unsure whether a job is in scope to do yourself, a quick call costs nothing and gives you a straight answer.
Clean and Respectful Workmanship
We protect your floors and finishes while we work and leave the space clean when the job is done. The work is finished, not just functional.
What is grounding and bonding, and why does it matter in older homes?
Grounding gives fault current a safe path back to the panel and then to earth, which is what causes a breaker to trip when something goes wrong instead of letting the current find another path through a person or a structure. Bonding ties metal components together so they stay at the same electrical potential. Older homes often have two-prong outlets with no grounding conductor, or grounding that was added later and done incorrectly. We check both during an inspection and explain what the system looks like and what, if anything, needs to be corrected.
How long does a panel upgrade typically take?
A straightforward 200-amp panel upgrade usually runs a full day. If the service entrance conductors need to be replaced or the meter base is being upgraded at the same time, the timeline can extend, and the utility may need to disconnect and reconnect power at the meter. We give you a realistic time estimate on the call and let you know in advance what will be without power and for how long.
Can a home's electrical system handle added load before I start a project?
That depends on the current panel size, how many circuits are already in use, and what the new load involves. Adding an EV charger, electric heat, a hot tub, or a generator circuit all put meaningful demand on the service entrance. We run a load calculation before recommending any new circuits so you know whether the existing panel can carry the addition or whether an upgrade is the right first step.
Call (509) 566-9799 to get a price, ask what a job involves, or schedule service in Spokane Valley. We are available every day from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM.
(509) 566-9799