Pasadena has a lot of older housing, a mix of apartment buildings and single-family homes, and a commercial corridor that keeps running whether or not the wiring behind the walls is keeping up. When something goes wrong electrically, the question is usually the same: what is causing it, and how fast can someone get here to fix it. G. E. Shears Electric handles that work across Pasadena, any hour of the day or night, with licensed electricians and pricing confirmed before anything is scheduled.
We work with homeowners, property managers, landlords, and commercial tenants throughout the city. Whether the call is for a dead outlet in a rental unit, a panel that cannot carry a new appliance load, or a full rewire on a property that has not been touched since it was built, we take the call and get the job done. Call (626) 929-3282 for a quote.
Most electrical hazards do not announce themselves. A breaker that trips and resets. An outlet that stopped working on one side of the room. A light that flickers under load and then settles. Each of these is easy to ignore, and each of them points to something in the wiring that is worth understanding before it becomes urgent. The risk is not always obvious from the outside, which is exactly why it tends to go unaddressed.
We handle the diagnostic work that tells you what is actually going on. That means tracing the fault through the circuit, checking the panel for overloaded or failing breakers, and looking at grounding and bonding where older wiring leaves gaps in protection. The inspection findings are explained plainly, and the work that needs to happen is scoped before anything is scheduled. No pressure and no gimmicks, just safe, solid wiring and a straight answer about what the property needs.
Pasadena has a substantial share of older housing, and the wiring in those properties reflects when they were built. Knob-and-tube wiring is a common finding: an open-air system that was standard for its era but was never designed to carry modern electrical loads. It lacks a ground conductor, it cannot support GFCI protection in the way current code requires, and it degrades over time in ways that are not always visible without a proper inspection.
Aluminum branch-circuit wiring turns up in a different generation of homes. The material itself is not the problem. The connections are. Aluminum expands and contracts at a different rate than the devices and terminals it connects to, which loosens joints over time and creates heat at the connection point. Remediation does not always mean a full rewire. In some cases, proper connectors and device replacements bring the circuit into a safe and code-compliant condition. In others, replacement is the right call. We assess each situation and explain the options before any work begins.
Wiring work is checked against code before sign-off, which means the assessment is not just about what is failing now but about what the property needs to meet current standards.
Electrical calls in a city this size come from a wide range of situations. A repair call is not the same job as a panel upgrade, and neither is the same as a new installation. Here is how those categories actually break down in practice.
The most common call is something that stopped working or started behaving strangely. Dead outlets, tripping breakers, flickering lights, a section of the house with no power after a storm. Each symptom points somewhere specific in the wiring, and finding that location is the first part of the job. We trace the fault, explain what caused it, and fix it. If the fault is a symptom of something larger, we say so before the repair is done.
A panel that was sized for a different era of electrical demand cannot safely carry a modern household or commercial load. When a property adds an EV charger, a major appliance, or a home addition, the panel has to be assessed before the new circuit is run. We handle load calculations, panel replacements, 200-amp service upgrades, and fuse box conversions. For commercial tenants and landlords managing multi-unit buildings, a panel assessment is often the first step before any fit-out or renovation work begins.
Installation work covers a wide range: recessed lighting, ceiling fans, outdoor circuits, dedicated appliance circuits, EV charger hookups, and whole-home surge protection installed at the panel. Each of these starts with confirming that the panel has room for the added load. The service page carries the full breakdown of what we install and what each job involves.
Quick response. Code-correct work. Tidy finish.
We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Same-day appointments are often available for repairs and troubleshooting. For larger jobs, we schedule at your convenience and confirm the details on the call.
For rental properties and commercial spaces, we understand that the property cannot always go dark to accommodate the work. Where a repair or installation can be isolated to one circuit, the rest of the building stays live. Where a full shutdown is needed, we plan it around the tenant's schedule or the business's operating hours. The appointment window and any preparation needed are confirmed before anyone shows up.
Some calls are for a clearly defined piece of work rather than a repair or a full installation. These are the jobs that come up regularly in Pasadena and the surrounding area.
Outdoor outlets need to be rated and enclosed correctly to hold up to the elements and to meet code. We install weatherproof receptacles and covers for patios, garages, exterior walls, and garden areas. An outdoor outlet that is not properly enclosed is a GFCI failure waiting to happen, and in a yard or a commercial exterior, it is a code issue as well.
A panel with missing or inaccurate labels is a problem for anyone who needs to isolate a circuit quickly. We trace each circuit to its destination, label it correctly, and leave the panel in a condition where the next person who opens it knows exactly what they are looking at. For landlords and property managers, this is often part of a broader inspection or handover process.
When a detached garage or workshop needs more than a single circuit, a subpanel fed from the main panel is the right solution. It keeps the load organized, allows for future expansion, and avoids overloading the main panel with a run of individual circuits. We size the subpanel to the actual demand and run the feed correctly from the main service.
A new range, a dryer, a hot tub, or a table saw all require a dedicated circuit sized for the load. Running that circuit means the right wire gauge, the right breaker, and a panel that has capacity for both. We handle the circuit from the panel to the device location, and panel capacity is confirmed before the job is scheduled so the scope is clear from the start.
An inspection tells you what is actually in the walls before something goes wrong. For pre-purchase assessments, rental property reviews, or insurance-related code compliance checks, we conduct a full inspection and provide a written report of findings. In older Pasadena properties, that report often covers knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, missing GFCI protection, grounding gaps, and panel issues that were never addressed.
Not every job requires a full shutdown. Repairs and installations that are isolated to one circuit can usually be completed with only that circuit de-energized, leaving the rest of the property live. Outlet replacements, fixture installations, and individual circuit additions fall into this category most of the time.
Panel work is different. Replacing or upgrading a breaker panel requires the main breaker to be shut off for the duration of the work. For a household, that means planning around work-from-home schedules, refrigeration, and any medical equipment that needs to stay powered. For a commercial property, it means coordinating with tenants or operations staff to find a window that works. We discuss this on the call before the appointment is set, so the day of the job is not the first time anyone has thought it through.
We are accountable to the community we work in, and that means the planning conversation happens before the appointment, not after the crew arrives.
Pricing is explained on the phone, before anything is confirmed. When you call, describe what you are seeing or what you need, and we give you the rate for that scope. If the job cannot be fully scoped without a site visit, we tell you that on the call and explain what the diagnostic covers.
What changes a quote is a change in scope. If the electrician arrives and finds something that was not visible from the description, that conversation happens before any additional work begins. You are not presented with a different number at the end of the job without a prior discussion about what changed and why. Ask what the quote covers and you get a straight answer.
Pick the date. We do the wiring. We clean up after.
We cover Pasadena and the communities around it throughout this part of Los Angeles County. That includes Altadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, East Pasadena, and San Pasqual. If your property is in or near any of these areas, we can get a licensed electrician out to take a look.
Coverage for your specific address is confirmed when you call. There is no separate service area map to check.
the page covering electrical jobs explains how the work is handled.
We are available around the clock, including nights, weekends, and holidays, so there is no separate process for after-hours commercial calls. You call (626) 929-3282, describe the scope, and we confirm availability and pricing on the call.
We install what the job requires from a code standpoint first, and where there is flexibility in the device style or finish, we can work with what is already in the home. If you have a preference, mention it when you call and we will confirm what is available.
Yes, provided access to the panel and the work area can be arranged. We work through the access details on the call when the appointment is scheduled. In some cases, a key with a neighbor or a lockbox code is enough. What matters is that the electrician can reach the circuit and the panel safely, and that any preparation the tenant needs to do beforehand is communicated clearly before the appointment.
That depends on the circumstances and who is managing the project. What we can do is diagnose the damage, document what we find, and repair the wiring correctly. If you need that documentation for a dispute with another contractor, we provide an accurate account of what we found and what was required to fix it.
We cover Pasadena and the surrounding communities, including Altadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, East Pasadena, and San Pasqual. Coverage for your specific address is confirmed when you call, and there is no additional step required to find out whether we serve your area.
Yes. Any circuit we add or modify gets labeled at the panel before we leave. If existing breakers are unlabeled or mislabeled, we note that and can update the directory as part of the job.
Yes. If someone in the property depends on powered medical equipment, we need to know before any circuit is de-energized. We plan the work sequence to minimize disruption to those circuits and confirm with you in advance which areas can be safely shut down and when.
Older homes in Pasadena frequently have knob-and-tube or aluminum branch-circuit wiring, undersized panels that were never upgraded, and missing GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas. These are not always urgent failures, but they create real risk under modern electrical loads and are worth having assessed. A safety inspection is the clearest way to find out what is actually in the walls.
We let you know before the end of the first day if the work cannot be finished in a single visit. The rate for the additional time is confirmed with you before we return, not after the job is complete.
Describing what you are seeing is enough. G. E. Shears Electric takes calls at any hour, confirms the rate before scheduling, and sends licensed electricians who know how to find the fault and fix it. Call (626) 929-3282 and tell us what is happening. We'll handle the rest.
Neighboring towns we serve: Alhambra, Temple City, Glendale, Rosemead.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical work we handle across Pasadena and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley communities. Each row covers what the service includes, who it fits best, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. If a job you need is not listed here, call us and we will tell you whether it falls within our scope.
| Service | Scope of Work | Common Situations | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV Charger Installation | Level 2 charger circuit, 240-volt dedicated run, panel capacity assessment, garage and driveway installation | Pasadena homeowners who have purchased or are planning to purchase an electric vehicle | California's EV adoption rate is among the highest in the country, and demand for this work in the San Gabriel Valley reflects that. If the panel needs an upgrade to support the charger, we handle both in one visit. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | dryer and range circuits, refrigerator and dishwasher circuits, hot tub and spa circuits, workshop and garage circuits | homeowners adding a major appliance, a hot tub, or workshop equipment that needs its own protected circuit | Sharing a circuit between a major appliance and other loads is a common cause of nuisance tripping and wiring wear. A dedicated circuit eliminates both. |
| Hot-Tub Circuits | 240-volt dedicated circuit, disconnect installation, GFCI protection for spa equipment, outdoor conduit and weatherproof wiring | homeowners installing a hot tub or spa who need the electrical side permitted and inspected correctly | Hot tub wiring requires a dedicated circuit, a disconnect within sight of the unit, and GFCI protection. Code requirements for this work are specific and we handle the permit as part of the job. |
| Electrical Panel & Service UpgradesMost Popular | 200-amp service upgrades, full panel replacement, fuse-to-breaker conversion, subpanel installation | older homes adding EV chargers, appliances, or remodel circuits that the existing panel cannot safely carry | We run a load calculation before sizing the replacement so the new service fits the actual demand of the home, not just a round number. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | panel-level surge device installation, protection for appliances and electronics, HVAC and EV charger circuit protection, wildfire outage voltage spike coverage | Pasadena households with sensitive electronics, EV chargers, or concerns about grid instability during peak summer and public-safety shutoff events | A panel-level surge protector shields the entire house in one step. It catches voltage spikes from grid events and equipment switching before they reach your devices. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | new circuit runs, remodel and addition wiring, grounding and bonding, permit and inspection coordination | kitchen remodels, home additions, and any project that requires new circuits or updated wiring to pass inspection | Permit work is handled as part of the job. The circuit does not go into service until it passes inspection. |
| Standby Battery for Outages | battery backup circuit wiring, critical load panel setup, transfer switch installation, coordination with battery system specs | Pasadena households that need power for critical loads during public-safety shutoff events or grid outages | Southern California's grid sees real stress during peak summer demand and wildfire-season shutoff events. We wire the electrical infrastructure so a battery system can carry the loads that matter most when grid power is unavailable. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | fan and wiring installation, ceiling box upgrade for fan weight, switch and remote wiring, covered patio fan circuits | bedrooms, living rooms, and covered patios where a fan improves comfort without adding to the cooling load | A standard ceiling box is not rated for a fan's weight and movement. We install the correct rated box before the fan goes up. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | breaker replacement, fuse box assessment, tripped breaker diagnosis, panel interior inspection | homes with breakers that trip repeatedly or a fuse box still in service | A breaker that keeps tripping is telling you something. We find out whether the breaker itself is the problem or whether the circuit is simply overloaded. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | dead outlets and switches, flickering or dimming lights, burning smells near receptacles, circuit fault diagnosis | any homeowner or property manager with an electrical problem that needs a fast answer | We find the fault before touching anything else. A proper diagnostic prevents a repair that only masks a deeper wiring issue. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | GFCI outlet installation, AFCI breaker upgrades, USB outlet installation, dimmer and smart switch wiring | homeowners updating kitchens, bathrooms, garages, or outdoor areas to current code | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas. Installing it correctly means the device trips when it should and not when it should not. |
| Older-Home Rewiring | knob-and-tube removal and replacement, aluminum branch-circuit rewiring, grounding system upgrades, code compliance for older wiring | Pasadena homes with original or early-era wiring that cannot safely carry modern electrical loads | Knob-and-tube and aluminum branch-circuit wiring are both common findings in the San Gabriel Valley's older housing stock. Replacement brings the home to current code and removes risks that older wiring carries under modern loads. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | pre-purchase and pre-sale assessments, rental property inspections, code compliance reviews, panel and wiring condition reports | buyers, sellers, landlords, and property managers who need a clear picture of a property's electrical condition before a transaction or tenant move-in | In Pasadena's older housing stock, inspections regularly turn up panel issues, missing GFCI protection, and outdated wiring the current owner was not aware of. Catching those items before closing is far less expensive than addressing them after. |
| Solar & Battery Backup | solar-ready panel wiring, battery backup circuits, transfer switch installation, subpanel work for added load | homeowners preparing for solar or battery storage who need the electrical infrastructure done correctly before installation day | We handle the electrical side: wiring, transfer switches, and panel work. We do not install solar panels or battery units themselves. What we deliver is a system that is wired correctly and ready for inspection. |
| Lighting Installation | recessed and LED lighting, outdoor and security lighting, under-cabinet lighting, motion sensor and landscape lighting | homeowners updating a space or adding exterior lighting for security and curb appeal | Outdoor wiring in Southern California needs weatherproof materials and proper conduit on exposed runs. We spec the right materials for the location. |
Call (626) 929-3282 and we will walk through your job, give you a clear rate, and set the appointment on your schedule.
(626) 929-3282