Dean Electric has served Rochester Hills homeowners and businesses since 2002, delivering reliable residential and commercial electrical work across Oakland County. Family-owned. Locally rooted. Ready to wire. Whether you need a fast repair or a full panel upgrade, we're available same-day and ready to respond when urgency matters. Call (248) 791-9979 for a quote.
Before a small wiring issue turns into a hazard, get it looked at by someone who can diagnose the real cause. Flickering lights, dead outlets, tripping breakers, burning smells, and rooms that have lost power are all signs that something in your electrical system needs attention. These problems rarely fix themselves, and putting them off usually makes them worse.
Our licensed electricians work through a proper diagnostic process to find the source, not just the symptom. That means checking for arc-fault and ground-fault conditions, inspecting AFCI and GFCI protection, and confirming that the wiring meets current code. We give you honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell, so you know exactly what the job involves before any work begins. We keep your home powered and safe.
Whether this is your first repair or your tenth, getting the right outlet or switch in the right place makes a real difference in how your home or building functions. We install and replace GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas where code requires them, and we add new outlets to rooms that simply don't have enough. Dimmer switches, USB outlets, and smart switch wiring are all part of the work we handle regularly.
We also wire bathroom exhaust fans, run under-cabinet lighting circuits, and install smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector wiring as part of a complete approach to interior electrical safety. For landlords and property managers, outlet upgrades and code corrections on rental units are a regular part of what we do. Office additions and commercial tenant improvements follow the same standard: code-compliant wiring, proper grounding and bonding, and work done right the first time. Pick up the phone and we'll handle the wiring.
Every home's wiring tells a different story, and in Rochester Hills, that story often includes a panel that was sized for a household from decades ago. Older homes throughout Oakland County were built when a 60-amp or 100-amp service was plenty. Today, with EV chargers, home offices, and larger appliances all drawing power, many panels simply can't keep up.
We handle 200-amp panel upgrades, fuse box replacements, subpanel additions, and service-entrance upgrades from start to finish. When a new dryer, refrigerator, or large appliance needs its own circuit, we run it properly with a load calculation to confirm the panel can carry the additional demand. This is permit-level electrical work, and we bring everything up to code so inspections go smoothly. We treat your home and its wiring the way we would our own, which means no shortcuts and no guesswork on work that matters this much. Call and we'll get the current flowing right.
Good lighting does more than brighten a room. It changes how a space feels, how safe it is, and how much energy it uses. We install recessed lighting, LED retrofit fixtures, ceiling fans, and under-cabinet lighting for kitchens, living areas, and finished basements throughout the area.
Outside, lighting serves a different purpose. Oakland County winters bring early sunsets and long dark evenings, and exterior lighting adds both security and curb appeal when natural light is short. We install motion sensor lights, flood lights, security lighting, and weatherproof outdoor outlets for homes and commercial properties alike. Landscape lighting, pathway fixtures, and building-mounted exterior lights for businesses are all part of the work. Office lighting upgrades and commercial fixture replacements follow the same approach: practical, efficient, and installed cleanly. One ring and we're on it.
Michigan winters are hard on homes and harder on electrical systems. Sub-freezing temperatures, ice storms, and heavy wind events are a regular part of life here, and they drive electrical needs that aren't common everywhere. We've been part of this community long enough to know every road, and we understand exactly what Rochester Hills homes face when the temperature drops and the power flickers.
When an ice storm knocks out power for two or three days, a backup generator is not a luxury. It keeps the lights on, the sump pump running, and the household functioning until the grid comes back. We handle the electrical side of generator installation: installing the transfer switch, running the dedicated circuit from the panel, and wiring the hookup so the generator connects safely and switches cleanly. This is the kind of electrical work neighbors pass along by word of mouth, because a properly wired generator setup is one you can trust when you actually need it.
Older housing stock across Oakland County was not designed for the electrical loads that Michigan winters now demand. Electric heat tape circuits, block heater outlets in garages, and EV chargers all add to a panel that may already be near capacity. If your breakers trip regularly in winter or you're planning to add any high-draw circuits, a panel assessment is a smart first step. We evaluate your current service, run the load numbers, and upgrade the panel when the capacity isn't there.
Frozen pipes and roof ice dams are a routine winter risk in this part of Michigan, and heat tape is one of the most effective ways to prevent both. The electrical side of heat tape installation matters as much as the product itself. Undersized circuits, improper connections, and unprotected outdoor wiring are all common problems we see on DIY installs. We run a properly sized dedicated circuit, use weatherproof connections rated for exterior use, and make sure the installation meets code so the system works safely all winter. Pick up the phone and we'll handle the wiring.
Calling an electrician doesn't have to be stressful, and for EV charger installation, the process is straightforward when you work with someone who knows the electrical side of the job. We start by assessing your current panel capacity, then run a dedicated 240-volt circuit and install the Level 2 outlet or hardwired charging unit. If the panel needs an upgrade to support the new load, we handle that too.
Whole-home surge protection is a natural companion for any home adding an EV charger, running a home office, or carrying sensitive electronics. A single surge event can damage appliances, electronics, and the EV charger itself. We install whole-home surge protection at the panel level, where it protects every circuit in the house. For businesses, we wire commercial EV charger circuits and install commercial-grade surge protection for offices, shops, and multi-tenant buildings. One ring and we're on it.
Rochester Hills has a mix of housing ages, and some older homes in the area still carry knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch-circuit wiring from earlier eras. Both present real safety and insurance concerns, and both are jobs we handle with care. Whole-home rewiring replaces aging systems with modern, code-compliant wiring that meets today's load demands and safety standards. Aluminum wiring remediation addresses the connection points where aluminum wiring poses the highest risk.
Electrical safety inspections are useful for more than just older homes. Pre-purchase buyers, landlords preparing a rental unit, and anyone finishing a basement or adding a room benefit from a thorough inspection before work begins or a property changes hands. We also wire kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, garage conversions, and home additions, making sure new construction ties into the existing system correctly. Our experienced electricians respect your home and work through every inspection or rewire with the same attention to detail. We keep your home powered and safe.
We serve Rochester Hills as our home base and cover the broader Oakland County area for both residential and commercial work. Nearby communities we serve regularly include Troy, Auburn Hills, Shelby Township, Lake Orion, Clarkston, and Sterling Heights. If you're just outside this list, call us anyway. We cover a wide area and are happy to confirm service availability for your location.
Electrical work comes with real questions about cost, and we think those questions deserve straight answers. We don't quote rates before we've seen the job, because every home and every project is different. What we do offer is honest pricing once we understand the scope, with no surprises added after the fact. Call for a quote and we'll walk through what the job involves before any work starts.
Same-day appointments are available for repairs that can't wait, and we offer emergency service for situations that need immediate attention. After-hours and weekend scheduling is available for customers whose schedules don't fit a standard weekday window. Schedule it. We wire it. You're powered.
Clear a path to the breaker panel and to any outlets, switches, or fixtures involved in the job. If the panel is in a utility room or storage area, moving boxes or shelving out of the way in advance saves time. For ceiling work or lighting installation, clearing the area below the fixture helps the job go smoothly.
For most repair and installation work, we shut off the affected circuit rather than the entire home. For panel work, service upgrades, and whole-home rewiring, a full or partial power shutoff is required for part of the job. We let you know in advance what to expect and work as efficiently as possible to minimize the time without power.
A panel that cannot keep up with your home's electrical load shows up as tripping breakers, flickering lights, and circuits that will not hold a steady draw. In older Oakland County homes, a 60-amp or 100-amp service was standard, but it was sized for a household with far fewer appliances and devices than most homes run today. An undersized panel is not just inconvenient. It can be a safety issue when circuits are consistently overloaded.
A breaker trips when a circuit draws more current than it is rated to carry, which is normal protection behavior. If a breaker trips repeatedly on the same circuit without an obvious cause like a heavily loaded outlet, it can point to a wiring fault, a failing breaker, or a panel that is undersized for the home's current load. We trace the cause rather than simply resetting the breaker and moving on.
Flickering or dimming lights can mean a loose connection at the fixture, a failing switch, a circuit that is overloaded, or a problem at the panel. In older homes, it can also point to deteriorating wiring that needs attention. It is worth having it diagnosed, because the same symptom can have causes that range from minor to serious.
Discolored or warm outlets, a burning smell near receptacles or the panel, breakers that trip without explanation, and two-prong ungrounded outlets throughout the home are all signs that the wiring may need attention. Knob-and-tube and aluminum branch-circuit wiring are common in older Rochester Hills homes and carry specific risks that a safety inspection can identify. We explain what we find and what the options are before recommending any work.
We inspect the panel, branch circuits, grounding and bonding, AFCI and GFCI protection, and the condition of visible wiring throughout the home. We note any code deficiencies, identify signs of overloading or deterioration, and give you a clear picture of what the system looks like today. Pre-purchase buyers, landlords, and homeowners finishing a renovation all benefit from knowing what they are working with before a project or transaction moves forward.
A whole-home surge protector installs at the panel and intercepts voltage spikes before they travel through your home's circuits. A single surge event from a lightning strike or a utility fluctuation can damage appliances, electronics, and an EV charger in one shot. Panel-level protection covers every circuit in the house, which is a more complete solution than individual plug-in surge strips.
A repair addresses a specific fault: a bad outlet, a failing breaker, a loose connection. A rewire replaces the wiring itself, either in a specific area or throughout the whole home. Rewiring becomes the right answer when the existing wiring is too old, too deteriorated, or the wrong material to repair reliably. We give you an honest assessment of which approach makes sense for your situation.
There are code-approved methods for upgrading ungrounded outlets without running new wiring all the way back to the panel. GFCI outlets can be installed in ungrounded locations and labeled correctly to meet code requirements. Where a true ground is needed, we assess whether running a new circuit is the right approach. We explain the options and the tradeoffs so you can make an informed decision.
Yes. We pull permits for work that requires them under Oakland County and Michigan electrical code, and the job is inspected through the proper local process. Permitted work protects you when you sell the home, file an insurance claim, or need to demonstrate that the electrical system was brought up to code. We do not skip the permit process to save time.
Additional costs come up when a job involves more than the original scope: a panel that turns out to need replacement rather than repair, wiring that is damaged further back than the visible fault, or code corrections that are required before new work can be completed. We stop and explain any change in scope before we proceed, so you are never presented with a larger invoice than you agreed to.
Dean Electric has been wiring Rochester Hills homes and businesses since 2002, and we're ready to take your call today. Reach us at (248) 791-9979 for a quote on any electrical job, large or small. We answer the phone, we show up on time, and we do the work right.
From a tripping breaker to a full service upgrade, we handle the electrical work Rochester Hills homes and businesses need most. The table below covers every service we offer, who it fits best, and what to keep in mind before you call. If you have questions about your specific situation, a quick call to (248) 791-9979 gets you a straight answer.
| Service Type | What the Job Involves | Ideal For | What to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow-Melt System Wiring |
| homeowners with heated driveways, walkways, or steps | Snow-melt systems draw a sustained load; the panel needs to have the capacity before the system is installed. |
| Backup Generator Installation |
| Rochester Hills homeowners who cannot afford multi-day outages during winter ice storms | A properly wired transfer switch is required by code and prevents back-feed onto utility lines, which is a serious safety issue. |
| Electrical Panel & Service Upgrades |
| older homes adding EV chargers, electric heat equipment, or major appliances | Most Oakland County homes built before 1990 are still on 100-amp service, which is not enough for modern electrical loads. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits |
| homeowners adding a major appliance or planning for an electric vehicle | Running a dedicated circuit before the appliance arrives saves a return trip and avoids nuisance tripping on a shared line. |
| Wiring & Rewiring |
| owners of 1960s through 1980s Oakland County homes with original wiring | Aluminum branch-circuit wiring requires specific devices and connections; not all standard outlets and switches are compatible. |
| Garage & Block-Heater Circuits |
| Michigan homeowners who plug in vehicles during sub-freezing temperatures | A timed outlet prevents the block heater from running all night and keeps energy use in check without sacrificing cold-weather starts. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting |
| homeowners or tenants with an active electrical problem | We diagnose the source, not just the symptom, so the fix holds rather than coming back next month. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation |
| homeowners adding comfort without a full lighting overhaul | Older boxes rated only for light fixtures are not rated for fan weight and movement; we replace the box when needed. |
| Well-Pump Circuits |
| rural and semi-rural properties outside the Rochester Hills water main area | Well pumps draw significant startup current; the circuit must be sized correctly or the pump will trip its breaker on every start cycle. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair |
| any home where breakers trip often or a fuse blows repeatedly | A breaker that trips under normal load may signal a wiring fault or an overloaded circuit, not just a weak breaker. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections |
| buyers, sellers, and owners of older homes with unknown wiring history | An inspection before a home sale often surfaces small issues that are far cheaper to fix before closing than after. |
| Heat Tape Installation |
| homeowners dealing with frozen pipes or roof ice dams in Michigan winters | Heat tape without a properly protected dedicated circuit is a fire and shock risk; the electrical side of the installation matters as much as the tape itself. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation |
| homeowners updating kitchens, bathrooms, garages, or outdoor spaces | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, and all outdoor locations. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection |
| homeowners with smart TVs, home offices, or expensive appliances they want to protect | A panel-level device protects everything in the home at once, including appliances that are not plugged into individual surge strips. |
| Lighting Installation |
| homeowners remodeling or anyone adding outdoor security lighting | Exterior fixtures need to be weatherproofed and properly sealed to hold up through Michigan winters. |
How do I know if my home needs a panel or service upgrade?
The most common signs are breakers that trip under normal use, lights that dim when a large appliance starts, and a panel that feels warm or buzzes. If your home is still on 100-amp service and you are adding an EV charger, electric heating equipment, or major appliances, the panel almost certainly needs to be upgraded before the new load is added. We perform a load calculation on every panel job so the new service is sized for what the home actually needs.
What causes breakers to trip repeatedly?
Repeated tripping usually means one of three things: the circuit is overloaded and drawing more current than it was designed to carry, the breaker itself is aging and no longer holding its rated load, or there is a wiring fault somewhere on the circuit. A kitchen circuit that trips when the microwave and toaster run at the same time is almost always an overload. A breaker that trips with nothing unusual running points to a fault or a failing breaker. We trace the cause rather than just resetting and moving on.
Is electrical work in Rochester Hills permitted and inspected?
Most significant electrical work, including panel upgrades, service changes, new circuit installation, and rewiring, requires a permit and inspection in Rochester Hills and throughout Oakland County. We handle the permit process on jobs that require it, and the work is performed by licensed electricians so it passes inspection the first time. Permitted work also protects you at resale; unpermitted electrical work is a common issue that surfaces during home inspections.
Upfront Quotes With No Surprise Fees
We give you a clear quote before any work begins and get your approval before we start. What we quote is what you pay.
Is the wiring in an older Oakland County home safe?
It depends on the type of wiring and how it has been maintained or modified over the years. Knob-and-tube wiring that has been left alone and is not overloaded may be functional, but it was not designed for modern electrical loads and lacks a ground. Aluminum branch-circuit wiring from the 1960s and 1970s is safe when connected with the correct devices, but it becomes a fire risk when connected with standard copper-rated outlets and switches. We inspect what is there and explain your options before recommending any work.
What does a Level 2 EV charger installation involve?
A Level 2 charger runs on a dedicated 240-volt circuit, the same voltage as a dryer or range. We start with a panel capacity check to make sure the existing service can carry the added load. If it can, we run the dedicated circuit from the panel to the garage or parking location, mount the charger, and make sure the wiring is sized correctly for the charger model. If the panel is already near capacity, we discuss a service upgrade at the same time so everything is handled in one visit.
How does backup generator hookup work?
We wire a transfer switch between the generator and your main panel. The transfer switch is what allows the generator to power your home safely; it isolates your home from the utility line so the generator does not back-feed onto the grid, which is a serious hazard for utility workers. For standby generators, we wire the automatic transfer switch so the generator starts and switches over on its own when utility power fails. We work with generators you already own or handle the electrical side of a new installation.
Experienced With Older and Newer Homes
We work regularly with knob-and-tube systems, aluminum wiring, and outdated panels in Oakland County's older housing stock, as well as new construction and modern additions.
Do I need to be home while the work is being done?
For most jobs, yes, at least at the start. We need access to the panel and the areas where work is being done, and we walk you through what we find before any work begins. For larger projects that span more than one visit, we can often work with your schedule so you are not home for every hour of the job. We give you a clear scope and quote upfront so there are no surprises while work is in progress.
How do you handle pricing and estimates?
We give you a straight quote before any work begins. Once we have seen the job, we explain what it involves and what it will cost, and we get your approval before we start. We do not give vague ranges and settle up later. For larger projects like panel upgrades or rewiring, we may need to do a brief walkthrough before quoting, but the quote is firm once it is given. Call (248) 791-9979 to get the process started.
Work Performed by Licensed Electricians
Every job is handled by licensed electricians who know the code requirements for Rochester Hills and Oakland County, so the work passes inspection and holds up over time.
What do flickering or dimming lights usually mean?
Occasional flickering when a large appliance starts, like a refrigerator compressor or an air handler, is usually a voltage dip and may point to an undersized service or a circuit that is carrying more load than it should. Flickering that happens without any obvious trigger, or that affects multiple rooms at once, can indicate a loose connection at the panel, a failing breaker, or a problem with the utility connection at the meter. Either way, it is worth having someone look at it rather than waiting to see if it gets worse.
Are warm or buzzing outlets something to worry about?
Yes. An outlet that feels warm to the touch or buzzes under load is a sign of a loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or a failing device. These conditions can cause arcing inside the wall, which is one of the leading causes of residential electrical fires. Stop using the outlet, avoid plugging anything else into nearby outlets on the same circuit, and call us. This is not a situation to monitor and revisit later.
Are you available for same-day or emergency electrical work?
We schedule work every day of the week, including weekends, from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Most urgent situations fall within that window. For problems that genuinely cannot wait, call (248) 791-9979 and we will do our best to get to you the same day. Sparking outlets, burning smells, and partial power loss are situations we prioritize.
Every home and every job is a little different; call (248) 791-9979 and we will give you a straight answer about what your situation actually needs.
(248) 791-9979