Frequently Asked Questions

We accept a variety of payment options including e-checks/ACH payment, Venmo, Zelle, credit cards and checks.

Yes. We offer a great financing option through Wisetack that will allow you to pay month-to-month. Many of our customers have already been approved and used this service successfully. Click here to learn more.

Yes, we will let you know exactly what it will cost to get the job done before we begin the job and we will stick to our pricing.

Troubleshooting is the process of isolating and identifying a fault in something so that it can be repaired.

Knob and tube, or open wiring, was installed from the initial electrical installations in the early 1900s into the 1940s. It is named for the porcelain fittings that were used to support and run cables through wood structures. If it is left alone and no changes have been made to the original installation, and the insulation is still in good, flexible condition, it may still be a safe installation. However, there are a number of issues you should be aware of. If you have knob and tube wiring in your home, you should have it inspected by a licensed electrician.

Based on experience, we recommend customers to find another place to stay during the rewire. This is because your home will be under construction until the final city inspection takes place. 

If your home is 50 years old or older, you probably need to rewire your home. You might be noticing flickering or dimming lights that need to be changed regularly, breakers that trip frequently,  and broken or cracked sockets. Also, if your outlets are not grounded, you don't have enough sockets and the fuse electrical panel is old, rewiring your home, is the solution.

Faulty wiring is very dangerous and could result in house fires and other household accidents. An electrical rewire will eliminate safety and health risks caused by old wiring, avoid electrical surges and prevent short circuits, arc faults and overloads which will decrease your utility bill. The new rewire will be in compliance with the National Electric Code which will bring your house to what is currently needed and what is projected for the next 30 years.

Rewiring a house is a significant home renovation project that will affect every wall in your home - but, it’s all to ensure your safety! New wiring will need to be run throughout your entire house, from the basement, to the crawl space, to the floor joists, to the attic. Many holes (10’’x10’’) will be made in your walls and ceilings so we can get to the wires. Once the wires are replaced, we will seal everything with new drywall and texture to match existing walls. You will be responsible for repainting. Click here to learn more.

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Buildings constructed more than 20 years ago are likely using energy-sucking commercial lighting fixtures that could do with a modern replacement. According to the DOE, older buildings are collectively wasting $50 billion annually through outdated lighting systems. 20 - 50% of your electricity bill is for lighting. Wouldn’t you like to cut that number down? With the right investments now, we can help you start saving money in the future! Click here to learn more.

Yes! Mario Castillo Electric's experienced team works on complex electrical panel upgrade projects, including major commercial electrical projects. Learn more about our Electrical Panel Upgrades and the risk of Uninsured Electrical Panels.

Homeowners must request a meter spot check from their electrical service provider. This step is crucial because if your electrical service provider confirms a different location for your panel upgrade, this will affect the cost of the quote. Note: the homeowner must complete this step as the electrical service provider will only speak with the account owner.

An electrical sub panel upgrade is usually completed in a day. The length of time and exact process will be discussed case by case. Sometimes we have to move the panel, upgrade wires, and make other changes to future proof your home. Click here to learn more.

If you want to upgrade your lights, add dimmers, install USB outlets or even a new ceiling fan, we will gladly do that without any additional charge. You will only have to provide the new outlets or light fixtures.

An electrical panel distributes the electricity in your home. It’s that gray box usually found in the wall hallway, bedroom or garage. The power line from the meter outside connects to this box, which contains the circuit breaker switches for your rooms, appliances and garage. Over time, the panel and circuit breakers can have a difficult time keeping up with the demand of your electrical needs. Click here to learn more.

Today’s homes are more advanced and filled with electronics than they have ever been, and we are increasingly dependent on not only the electronics but the ability to easily charge them. Whole Home Surge Protection provides protection to all the electrical equipment in your home from surges and spikes that can be created outside or even inside your home. It acts just like the high-quality power bars we often buy for our entertainment systems or our computer systems, but instead, it protects all the devices in your home. This means it protects the electronic components of refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryer dishwashers, coffee makers, and anything else that wouldn’t traditionally have protection. We recommend whole home surge protectors be installed in all homes to protect all the electronics.

There are many reasons. When many of these old houses were built, there was no such thing as a building code. Over the years, you may have worked hard to get your home up to code, but you never know what you may have missed. An electric inspection can help you determine if your home's electrical system is up to code and provide code corrections where needed. Click here to learn more.

There are many reasons why people are choosing to buy electric cars. One of the main reasons is that they are much better for the environment than traditional gasoline cars. Electric vehicles produce zero emissions, which means that they don't contribute to air pollution. Additionally, electric cars generally get better gas mileage than gasoline cars. This means that you'll save money on gas in the long run. Click here to learn more.

YES! We are proud to announce that Mario Castillo Electric is now a trusted Tesla Certified Electrician for installing Wall Connector Chargers! Click here to learn more.

Yes - visit our EV Chargers for Condos page to learn more.

An Infrastructure Law has recently been passed. This law represents the largest long-term investment in our nation’s infrastructure and economy, with new federal investments in many projects, including electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Click here to learn more.

There are three levels of EV chargers. All electrical vehicles come with a Level 1 electric car charger. Mario Castillo Electric recommends using a Level 2 charger. Click here to learn more.

All outlets have a “hot” slot (the right one) and a “neutral” slot (the left one). When you plug in an appliance, electricity flows from the hot slot, through your appliance, and back to the neutral slot. Outlets are made to handle a certain amount of electricity. (Usually 120 volts). So, what happens if there is more electricity than what it can handle? That electricity has to go somewhere. If you have a 3 prong grounded outlet, that third slot is the “ground” slot. The ground slot sends the extra electricity into the ground. If you DON’T have that third slot, the extra power/watts can go to you or your home, resulting in injury or electrical fires. Click here to learn more.

Areas with moisture including bathrooms and kitchens need GFCI. GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. A GFCI will protect you from electrical shocks by sensing the amount of electricity flowing through the circuit. If the flow becomes too great, the GFCI will shut off the circuit. That is why these types of outlets are required in areas with an increased risk of shock due to water or other electrical hazards. Click here to learn more.

The National Electrical Code requires that certain appliances have dedicated circuits. These include refrigerators, stoves, and washers and dryers or any other appliance that consumes more than 1200 watts of energy. Generally speaking, a typical single family home has a minimum of 18 circuits to spread electricity evenly throughout the house. A breaker trips when a circuit becomes overloaded. Click here to learn more.

First, you can check your breaker box. Are the circuits labeled by room or by device? If it’s only by room, you probably need to add dedicated circuits.

Next, pay attention to when your breakers trip. Maybe using the toaster and the coffee machine at the same time is fine, but the minute you use the microwave or plug in the blender, the breaker trips. This suggests that the kitchen appliances are all sharing a circuit, and your refrigerator needs its own dedicated circuit. Click here to learn more.

Breakers trip when a surge of energy overloads a circuit. Maybe it’s high winds, lightning strikes, or simply overloading the grid with modern appliances. To keep your home safe, the breaker’s safeguard is to switch off. Turning things back on is a simple process. Click here to learn more.

All breakers are designed to prevent the wiring from becoming overloaded and will automatically turn off if the circuit is overloaded. Arc fault breakers have the additional ability to sense arcing in a circuit. Arcing happens when loose or corroded wiring connect and cause an electrical current to spark - or arc.  The hot wire touches a ground, but doesn’t trigger a traditional circuit breaker. Arcs are extremely hot and a serious fire hazard. Click here to learn more.

There are several things to consider before purchasing a new ceiling fan including diameter, height, and more. Click here to learn more.