Most homeowners can't tell a minor wiring issue from a serious one, and that uncertainty is exactly where we come in. Reading Electrical Company handles electrical repairs, panel upgrades, wiring, outlets, lighting, and everything in between for homes and businesses across Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania. Whether you're dealing with a tripping breaker at midnight or planning a full-service upgrade before a renovation, we're available seven days a week from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM.
A price agreed before every visit. Clear scheduling every visit. Code-compliant every visit.
From a dead outlet in the kitchen to a burning smell near the panel, electrical problems rarely announce themselves clearly. We diagnose the issue first, explain what's causing it, and walk you through what the repair involves before any work starts. That's how every visit goes.
Pay attention if you notice any of these in your home or building:
Each of these symptoms points to something specific. Warm outlets often mean a loose connection or overloaded circuit. Repeated breaker trips can signal a wiring fault, an undersized circuit, or a failing breaker itself. Arc-fault and ground-fault protection, including AFCI and GFCI breakers and outlets, catches the kind of electrical faults that older wiring systems simply weren't built to handle.
We offer prompt response, even for last-minute electrical calls, because some of these symptoms don't wait for a convenient time. Give us a call and consider it handled.
This area has every kind of panel and circuit in it, from 60-amp fuse boxes in older row homes to 200-amp service panels in newer builds. When a panel is aging, overloaded, or simply too small for what the home demands, an upgrade isn't optional. It's the only path forward.
Common reasons a panel upgrade comes up: you're adding circuits for new appliances, the existing panel is a recalled brand, the breakers are tripping under normal loads, or you're adding an EV charger or backup generator. A 200-amp service is the standard for most modern homes, and we handle everything from the load calculation through the service-entrance upgrade. Subpanel installation is part of that work when a detached garage, workshop, or finished basement needs its own circuits.
No pressure and no gimmicks, just safe, solid wiring from the meter to the last outlet. Let us handle the panel and the permits.
Choosing the right electrical fix is easier than it sounds, and most outlet, switch, and lighting jobs are more straightforward than homeowners expect. We handle new installations, replacements, and upgrades for every room in the house and every corner of a commercial property.
Good lighting is as much about function as it is about appearance. A well-placed outdoor fixture cuts down on dark corners around a property. Recessed LEDs in a finished basement change how a space feels entirely. We'll get your lights back on fast, and if you're starting from scratch, we'll wire the new fixtures right the first time.
Ceiling fan installation is a common request, and the job varies depending on what's already in the ceiling. If there's an existing light fixture with a rated box, the swap is direct. If there's no wiring at all, we run a new circuit and install a fan-rated box before the fixture goes up.
We handle ceiling fan replacements, new installations in rooms that have never had one, and wiring for fans with separate light and fan controls. One call is enough to get the visit booked.
From older homes to new commercial builds, the same problem shows up: too many high-draw appliances sharing a circuit that was never meant to carry that load. A refrigerator, washer, dryer, microwave, or dishwasher each performs better and runs more safely on its own dedicated circuit. Sharing a circuit with other loads causes nuisance tripping, shortens appliance life, and in some cases creates a genuine fire hazard.
We install dedicated 120-volt and 240-volt circuits for all major appliances, including dryer outlets, range outlets, and circuits for workshop equipment. If your home or business has grown with additions or new equipment, a load calculation tells us exactly where the panel stands before we add anything new.
We're a local electrician for homeowners dealing with exactly this kind of gradual overload. The fix is usually more straightforward than people expect.
If you've never hired an electrician before, it helps to know that the same work applies whether the property is a single-family home, a rental unit, a retail space, or a commercial warehouse. The code requirements differ by occupancy, but the approach is the same: scope the job, confirm the price, and do the work right.
For landlords and property managers in Reading, electrical safety inspections cover the condition of the panel, the wiring, the outlets, and the grounding system. Pre-purchase inspections give buyers a clear picture of what they're taking on before closing. For businesses, we handle office wiring, lighting retrofits, dedicated circuits for equipment, and code-correction work when an older space needs to be brought up to current standards.
Calls are answered here, and the work gets scheduled properly. Whether you manage one rental or a portfolio of commercial properties in Berks County, the process is the same from the first call forward.
Reading and the surrounding area present a specific set of electrical challenges. The housing stock here is among the oldest in the country. Nor'easters and ice storms knock out power with enough regularity that generator readiness is a real concern. And EV adoption in Pennsylvania has grown steadily, which means charger installations are now a routine part of what we do. These three services come up constantly in this area.
Knob-and-tube wiring was standard in homes built before the 1940s, and aluminum branch wiring was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s. Both present risks that modern wiring doesn't: knob-and-tube has no ground wire and degrades badly when insulation is added around it, and aluminum wiring expands and contracts in ways that loosen connections over time. A large share of Reading's older row homes and pre-war housing still have one or both systems in place. We assess what's present, explain what the remediation involves, and handle the rewiring in stages or all at once depending on what the property needs.
A Level 2 home EV charger runs on a dedicated 240-volt circuit and cuts charging time from overnight to a few hours. The installation visit covers the circuit run from the panel, the outlet or hardwired connection point, and a panel capacity check to confirm the existing service can carry the added load. If the panel is undersized, we address that first. Demand for EV charger installations across the Reading area has grown alongside rising EV ownership, and the electrical side of the job is well within what a standard service visit covers.
The electrical work on a generator hookup centers on the transfer switch, which is the component that isolates your home from the utility grid when the generator is running. Without a proper transfer switch, a generator is a hazard to utility workers and to the home's wiring. We install manual and automatic transfer switches, run the circuit connections, and confirm the panel can handle the generator's output. Pennsylvania winters and the storm seasons that come with them make this a practical investment for a lot of Berks County households.
Point-of-use surge protectors cover individual devices. A panel-level surge protector covers the entire home, including appliances, HVAC circuits, and anything hardwired into the system. A single surge from a nearby lightning strike or a utility fluctuation can damage equipment that no power strip would have reached. Panel-level protection is installed at the main breaker and works alongside the grounding and bonding system already in place.
Electrical safety inspections cover the panel, the wiring, the outlets, and the grounding throughout the property. They're useful before a home purchase, after storm damage, or when a rental property hasn't had a formal review in years. We document what we find and explain what, if anything, needs attention.
The price for any job is confirmed on the call, before anything is scheduled. We cover what the work involves, what the visit includes, and what the rate is. If the scope changes once we're on-site, we explain why before we proceed. Any work beyond the original scope is explained and approved before it starts.
A price agreed before every visit. Clear scheduling every visit. Code-compliant every visit.
We serve Reading and the communities that surround it throughout Berks County, including Wyomissing, Sinking Spring, Shillington, Laureldale, Temple, Birdsboro, Exeter Township, and Muhlenberg Township. If your property is in or near Reading, the scheduling and the work are handled locally.
An electrical emergency is any situation where there is an immediate safety risk: a burning smell from a panel or outlet, sparks when using a switch or receptacle, a breaker that will not reset after a fault, or any sign of heat or scorching around wiring or devices.
If you are seeing or smelling any of those, call us at (484) 926-6495 and describe what is happening so we can assess the urgency.
We take calls every day from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM, including short-notice and urgent requests. When you call, describe the situation and we will tell you what the schedule allows. We take prompt response seriously, even for last-minute electrical calls.
An inspection is a practical step before purchasing an older home in Reading, after storm damage, or when a property has not had a professional review of the wiring in several years. It is also useful when recurring symptoms, like a breaker that trips without an obvious cause, have not been fully explained by a previous repair.
Common signs include breakers that trip under normal loads, a panel that feels warm or makes a buzzing sound, breakers that will not reset, or flickering lights across multiple circuits. Older panels with undersized service, recalled breaker brands, or original fuse boxes are worth evaluating even without active symptoms.
Yes. Panel upgrades, service changes, and rewiring projects typically require a permit and a final inspection by the local authority. We handle the permit side of that process as part of the job, not as a separate arrangement the homeowner has to manage.
It depends on what the job involves. Outlet and switch replacements, breaker work, and panel upgrades require the relevant circuits or the main service to be de-energized during the work. We confirm what will be shut off and for how long before the visit starts, so you can plan around it.
When wiring runs inside walls, ceilings, or conduit that was installed decades ago, the condition of the insulation and the connections is not visible until the work is opened up. Deteriorated insulation, undersized conductors, or improper splices discovered during a job change what the repair actually requires. We explain what was found before proceeding with anything beyond the original scope.
The scope starts with the symptom or the requested installation, then follows the circuit back to find where the fault or the gap actually is. For larger jobs like rewiring or panel upgrades, a load calculation and a review of the existing service are part of establishing what the work involves before a price is set.
Panel checks cover the condition of the breakers, signs of heat or corrosion at the bus connections, the service rating relative to the load, the grounding and bonding, and whether the breakers are the correct type and size for the circuits they protect. If the panel is a known problematic brand or shows signs of wear, that gets noted and explained.
Exterior wiring requires weatherproof boxes, conduit rated for outdoor use, and GFCI protection on any outdoor circuit. The conduit routing and the fixture placement are confirmed before the work starts so the installation holds up to the conditions it will face. We handle exterior lighting, security fixtures, and outdoor outlet installation throughout the Reading area.
Replacing a light bulb or resetting a tripped GFCI outlet is within reach for most homeowners. Anything that involves opening a panel, running new wiring, replacing a breaker, or working on a circuit that has shown signs of heat, sparking, or repeated faults is work that needs a professional assessment. The risk in DIY electrical work is not always visible, and a fault that looks minor can have a cause that is not.
One number. One call. One electrician at your door.
Reading Electrical Company is available seven days a week from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM for repairs, panel upgrades, wiring, EV charger installation, generator hookups, and every other electrical job that comes up for homes and businesses in Reading and across Berks County.
Call (484) 926-6495 to get a quote and get on the schedule. We'll get your lights back on fast.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical services we handle for homes and businesses in Reading and across Berks County. Each row covers what the work involves, who it fits best, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. If you have a specific situation in mind, call us and we will scope it out before anything is scheduled.
| Service | What's Included | Best For | What to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basement & Sump-Pump Circuits | Dedicated sump-pump circuit installationBasement outlet and lighting wiringGFCI protection in below-grade spacesCircuit capacity check before installation | Homeowners finishing a basement or adding a sump pump to an older home | Below-grade spaces require GFCI protection on outlets by code. A dedicated circuit for a sump pump keeps it from sharing load with anything else. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | Fan-rated box installationNew circuit runsFan and light control wiringReplacement of existing fixtures | Rooms with no existing wiring or a fixture box not rated for a fan | A standard light fixture box is not rated to support a ceiling fan. If one is not already in place, we install the correct box before the fan goes up. |
| Lighting Installation | Recessed and LED fixturesSecurity and motion-sensor lightingUnder-cabinet lightingExterior landscape wiring | Homeowners updating interior lighting or adding outdoor security fixtures | Exterior lighting requires weatherproof boxes and conduit rated for outdoor use. We confirm the routing and placement before work starts. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | New outlet installationGFCI and AFCI protectionUSB outlets and dimmer switchesOutdoor weatherproof outlets | Rooms lacking enough outlets or needing code-required GFCI protection | Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas require GFCI protection by code. We confirm what applies at your address. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | Breaker replacementFuse panel serviceTripped or stuck breaker diagnosisAFCI and GFCI breaker upgrades | Any property where a breaker trips repeatedly or will not reset | A breaker that keeps tripping is often a symptom of a wiring fault or an overloaded circuit, not just a bad breaker. We trace the cause first. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | Panel and breaker condition reviewOutlet and grounding checkWiring condition assessmentWritten findings after the visit | Home buyers, landlords, and owners of properties that have not had a formal review in years | An inspection before a home purchase gives buyers a clear picture of the wiring before closing, not after. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | New circuit runsRewiring existing circuitsConduit and cable routingLoad calculation before adding circuits | Additions, renovations, or any space that needs circuits built from scratch | A load calculation before adding circuits tells us whether the existing panel can carry the new demand without an upgrade. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | Fault diagnosisCircuit tracingOutlet and switch repairArc-fault and ground-fault checks | Homeowners or businesses with an active symptom they cannot explain | We identify the cause before recommending any repair, so you know exactly what the work involves and why. |
| Code-Correction Wiring | Bringing older wiring up to current codeGrounding and bonding correctionsImproper splice and junction repairsPre-sale and rental compliance work | Landlords, property managers, and sellers preparing a property for inspection or occupancy | Code requirements for rental properties differ from owner-occupied homes. We confirm what applies before the work is scoped. |
| Electrical Panel UpgradesMost Popular | Service entrance upgrade200-amp panel installationSubpanel installationLoad calculation and permit handling | Homes adding EV chargers, generators, or major appliances to an undersized or aging panel | Panel upgrades typically require a permit and a final inspection. We handle that process as part of the job. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-level surge device installationGrounding and bonding checkProtection for hardwired appliancesCoordination with existing HVAC and appliance circuits | Homeowners with sensitive electronics or properties in areas prone to utility fluctuations and lightning | A panel-level surge protector covers every circuit in the home, including appliances no power strip would ever reach. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | 120-volt and 240-volt dedicated circuitsDryer and range outletsWorkshop and garage circuitsRefrigerator and dishwasher circuits | Homes where major appliances share circuits and breakers trip under normal use | Sharing a circuit between high-draw appliances shortens equipment life and can create a fire hazard over time. A dedicated circuit fixes both problems. |
What causes a breaker to trip repeatedly on the same circuit?
Repeated tripping on the same circuit usually points to one of three things: the circuit is carrying more load than it was sized for, there is a wiring fault somewhere along the run, or the breaker itself is failing. A nuisance trip from a single overloaded outlet is different from a breaker that trips immediately after being reset, which suggests a fault in the wiring or a device connected to it. We trace the cause before replacing anything, because swapping a breaker on a faulted circuit does not fix the underlying problem.
How do I know if my home needs a rewire?
A full rewire is usually called for when the wiring is knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring, when the insulation on older cloth-wrapped wire has become brittle or deteriorated, or when a home has been extended or modified in ways that left the wiring inconsistent and undersized. Symptoms that point toward a rewire include repeated tripping across multiple circuits, outlets that are warm to the touch, flickering lights that are not tied to a single fixture, and a panel that cannot support the load the home currently places on it. An inspection tells us what is present and what the remediation actually involves.
What are the electrical requirements for a Level 2 home EV charger?
A Level 2 charger runs on a dedicated 240-volt circuit, typically sized at 40 to 50 amps depending on the charger. The installation covers running the circuit from the panel to the charger location, installing the outlet or hardwired connection point, and checking whether the existing panel has the capacity to carry the added load. If the panel is already near its limit, we address that before the charger circuit is added. The permit and inspection requirements for EV charger installations vary by jurisdiction, and we confirm what applies at your address.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We diagnose the cause of an electrical problem before recommending a repair. Replacing a breaker or an outlet without finding out why it failed means the same problem comes back.
What is involved in a backup generator hookup?
The electrical work on a generator installation centers on the transfer switch, which isolates the home from the utility grid when the generator is running. A proper transfer switch is not optional: without one, a generator running during an outage can back-feed power onto the utility lines and create a serious hazard. We install manual and automatic transfer switches, run the circuit connections between the switch and the panel, and confirm the panel can handle the generator's output. The generator itself is a separate piece of equipment. Our work is on the electrical side of the hookup.
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 rooms where work is happening is necessary, and someone needs to be available to confirm what was found if the scope changes. For straightforward replacements where the access points are all in one area, it may be possible to arrange otherwise. When you call to schedule, we will confirm what the job requires and what makes sense for your situation.
How does pricing work for an electrical job?
The price is confirmed on the call, before anything is scheduled. We cover what the work involves, what the visit includes, and what the rate is. If the scope changes once we are on site, because something unexpected is found behind a wall or inside the panel, we explain what was found and what it changes before we proceed with anything beyond the original scope. You are not asked to approve additional work without knowing what it is and what it costs.
Permits and Inspection Handled Where Required
Panel upgrades, rewiring projects, and service changes require a permit and a final inspection. We handle that process as part of the job, not as a separate step the homeowner has to manage.
What does flickering or dimming lights usually mean?
Flickering on a single fixture usually points to a loose connection at the fixture itself or at the switch. Flickering across multiple rooms or on multiple circuits is a different situation and can indicate a loose connection at the panel, a problem at the service entrance, or a utility-side issue. Dimming that happens when a large appliance starts up is often a sign that the circuit or the panel service is undersized for the load. Any flickering that comes with a buzzing sound or a burning smell is worth treating as urgent.
What is the risk of warm or buzzing outlets?
A warm outlet plate or a buzzing sound from an outlet or switch usually means a loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or a failing device. Loose connections generate heat at the contact point, and heat at a connection point is how electrical fires start. A buzzing sound often indicates arcing, which is electricity jumping a gap it should not be crossing. Neither symptom is one to wait on. Stop using the outlet, avoid overloading the circuit, and call us to have it looked at.
Older and Newer Wiring Both Handled
Reading's housing stock runs from pre-war row homes with knob-and-tube wiring to newer construction with modern panels. We work across all of it and explain what we find before any work begins.
What does GFCI protection cover and where is it required?
A GFCI outlet or breaker monitors the current flowing through a circuit and cuts power in a fraction of a second if it detects an imbalance, which is the signature of current flowing through a person or an unintended path. Code requires GFCI protection in areas where water is present or nearby: kitchens, bathrooms, garages, unfinished basements, outdoor outlets, and crawl spaces. Older homes often have these areas wired without GFCI protection because the requirement was added after the home was built. We can add GFCI outlets or breakers to bring those circuits up to current standards.
What are the concerns with aluminum branch wiring in older homes?
Aluminum branch wiring was used widely in residential construction during the 1960s and 1970s as a substitute for copper. The problem is that aluminum expands and contracts more than copper does with changes in temperature, and over time that movement loosens the connections at outlets, switches, and fixtures. Loose connections generate heat, and heat at a connection point is a fire risk. Homes with aluminum branch wiring are not necessarily unsafe, but the connections need to be evaluated and, where necessary, corrected using the right materials and methods. We assess what is present and explain the remediation options before any work is scoped.
How long does a panel upgrade typically take?
Most panel upgrades are completed in a single day. The work involves pulling the permit, shutting down the service, removing the old panel, installing the new one, reconnecting the circuits, and restoring power. A final inspection by the local authority is required before the job is closed out, and the timing of that inspection depends on the jurisdiction. We handle the permit and coordinate the inspection as part of the job. If the service entrance also needs to be upgraded, that may add time and involves coordination with the utility.
Call (484) 926-6495 to get a price and get on the schedule. We are available seven days a week from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM.
(484) 926-6495