A lot of Citrus Heights homes were built in an era of smaller electrical loads and wiring practices that have since changed. We frequently find undersized panels, ungrounded outlets, and in some homes aluminum branch wiring that needs safe remediation. These aren't emergencies, but they're the kind of things that get worse if you ignore them.
We help Citrus Heights homeowners bring older systems up to current safety standards, whether that's a panel upgrade, added GFCI protection, or a targeted rewire. You get an honest assessment, a clear price, and work that makes your home safer for the long run.
Older ranch homes here often benefit from panel upgrades and safety updates. We assess honestly and never push work you don't need.
The 1965 to 1973 problem: aluminum wiring
Citrus Heights built out fast in exactly the years when copper was expensive and builders used aluminum for branch circuits. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, so connections at outlets and switches loosen over decades, and a loose connection under load gets hot. Warm cover plates, flickering lights, and a faint burning smell at an outlet are the signs.
There are two honest fixes. The thorough one is a rewire in copper. The practical one, and the one most Citrus Heights homeowners choose, is an approved connector at every termination so the aluminum never meets a device directly. Both are permitted and inspected, and we document either one for your insurer.
Aluminum wiring in Sacramento homes
Two-prong outlets and bootleg grounds
Half the ranch homes in Citrus Heights still have two-prong outlets somewhere, and a lot of the three-prong ones were swapped in by a previous owner with no ground behind them. A tester will even say they're fine. That's a bootleg ground, and it defeats the protection a ground is supposed to give you.
Retrofit grounding is a real, code-approved fix: a ground wire run back to the panel where it's practical, GFCI protection where it isn't, and labels that tell the next electrician what was done. A safety inspection finds the bootlegs before they find you.
Bootleg grounds: the dangerous older-home shortcut
Retrofit grounding for older homes
Panel upgrades in Citrus Heights
The original 100-amp panels here are 50 years old, and a fair share are brands no longer considered safe. A 200-amp replacement runs $2,500 to $10,000, takes a day, and goes through SMUD and the City of Citrus Heights. If you're adding central air or an EV charger to a 1970 panel, the upgrade usually belongs first.
Panel upgrades and service changes
Six signs your panel needs replacing
Zinsco, Federal Pacific, Challenger, Pushmatic: what to do
Our Services in Citrus Heights
Whatever your home or business needs, electrical is the only trade we work in. Explore the services we provide throughout Citrus Heights: