Written by licensed electricians, for Utah Valley homes
Home Electrical Tips From Orem's 24 Hour Electricians
Good answers before you pick up the phone. These guides come from the problems our licensed Orem electricians fix every week, written at a level anyone can follow. If something is sparking, smoking or hot right now, skip the reading: our 24 hour emergency line is open, and we offer same day visits when you need an electrician near you fast.
Advice built for Utah Valley homes
National articles miss local details. Here, we write about the things that matter in Orem and nearby cities:
- Utah uses the 2023 National Electrical Code, so our safety advice matches what inspectors check today.
- Most of the county is on Rocky Mountain Power, while cities like Provo, Lehi and Springville run their own power. We tell you who to call.
- Cold winters and hot, dry summers shape what fails, from heat tape to AC circuits.
- Many homes here are 1970s ramblers or busy 2000s builder homes, each with its own weak spots.
Every article links to the matching service, so you can go from a question to a fix in one step. You can also browse all electrical services.
Latest home electrical guides
Eight practical guides, each one focused on a single question homeowners ask us most.
Why Your Breaker Keeps Tripping
Overloads, short circuits, ground faults and worn breakers, plus what you can safely check yourself.
100 Amp vs 200 Amp Service
How to tell if your home has outgrown its service before adding an EV charger, hot tub or AC.
What to Do When the Power Goes Out
A step-by-step plan for the first hour of an outage, from checking your panel to reporting it.
Level 1 vs Level 2 EV Charging
How many miles each charging level adds overnight and what a 240V circuit takes.
Winter Electrical Safety Tips
Space heaters, heat tape, holiday lights and cords: keep a Utah winter cozy, not dangerous.
GFCI vs AFCI Protection
One protects people from shock. One protects the house from fire. Here is where each one goes.
Electrical Red Flags in Older Homes
Fuse boxes, recalled panels, aluminum wiring and two-prong outlets: what to ask before you close.
How to Choose LED Bulbs
Lumens, color temperature and dimmer fit, explained in plain words so the first bulb is the right one.
Find the right guide fast
Start with what is happening at your house. The last column tells you when it's time to stop reading and call us instead.
| What's happening | Read this | Call an electrician if |
|---|---|---|
| A breaker trips again and again | Why Your Breaker Keeps Tripping | It trips right after you reset it, or the breaker feels hot |
| The whole house went dark | What to Do When the Power Goes Out | Neighbors have power and your main breaker is on |
| You want an EV charger, hot tub or new AC | 100 Amp vs 200 Amp Service | Your panel is full or the main breaker is 100 amps or less |
| You just bought an electric car | Level 1 vs Level 2 EV Charging | You need a 240V circuit added in the garage |
| A kitchen or bath outlet keeps shutting off | GFCI vs AFCI Protection | It won't reset, or it trips with nothing plugged in |
| Cold snap, heaters and holiday lights | Winter Electrical Safety Tips | Cords feel warm or outlets turn brown |
| You're buying a house built before 1980 | Electrical Red Flags in Older Homes | The inspector flags the panel or wiring |
| New bulbs flicker, buzz or look harsh | How to Choose LED Bulbs | Flicker stays after you change the dimmer and bulb |
When to skip the reading and call now
These are not do-it-yourself problems. Turn off the breaker if you can do it safely, then call.
Burning smell or smoke
Leave the home and call 911 first if you see smoke or flames.
Sparks from an outlet or panel
Arcing can start a fire inside the wall.
Outlet or cover plate is hot
A loose or failing connection is heating up.
Water near the panel
Stay away from the panel and keep others away.
From reading to repair
When a guide points to a fix, these are the services, brands and nearby cities we cover.
Questions about our guides
Who writes these articles?
Our licensed electricians share what they see on real jobs in Orem and Utah County. We keep the language simple on purpose.
Can I fix electrical problems myself using these guides?
Some checks are safe, like resetting a breaker or a GFCI outlet. Anything inside a panel, a wall box or a fixture should be done by a licensed electrician.
How often are the guides updated?
We review them when codes, utility rules or products change. Each article shows the date it was last updated.
Do the guides apply outside Orem?
Yes. The advice fits homes across Utah Valley, and we point out when a city has its own power utility.
What if I can't find my problem here?
Call us. Many problems are quick to diagnose on the phone, and we can send an electrician the same day.
Have a question a guide didn't answer?
Talk to a licensed Orem electrician. We answer the phone 24 hours a day.
Licensed through Utah DOPL and fully insured. Learn about our team.