Electrical Repairs
Skilled electrical repairs from a team that shows up on time, gets it right, and keeps you in the loop the whole way.
Cole Electric handles electrical repairs for homeowners in the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth areas with care and expertise. Whether you're dealing with a dead outlet, a tripping breaker, or aging wiring, our licensed team gets to the root of the issue, safely and efficiently. You’ll get honest pricing with no surprises, and if the final cost is lower than our estimate, you pay the lower price.
Our Electrical Repair Process
We make electrical repairs simple and stress-free with expert advice, clear communication, and efficient service. When you call, we’ll talk through your issue, answer questions, and help you understand your options.
On appointment day, our licensed electricians arrive on time and ready to work. With years of experience, they complete repairs safely, efficiently, and with cost in mind — getting it done right the first time.
Popular Electrical Repairs
Outlet Repair
If an outlet stops working, it could be a tripped breaker or faulty wiring that needs attention. We’ll pinpoint the issue, make repairs, and get reliable power flowing again where you need it.
Light Fixture Repair
Flickering lights or unresponsive fixtures can point to issues like a faulty switch, worn components, or damaged wiring. We identify the cause and complete reliable, lasting repairs.
Pool Pump Wiring Repair
If your pool pump isn’t running properly, we will inspect the connections, breakers, GFCIs, and wiring to identify the problem. We will then fix the issue to return your pool pump’s operation to normal.
Repairing Cut or Damaged Wires
Damaged or cut wiring can put your safety at risk and cause power loss. We locate the problem, repair or replace the wiring, and confirm everything meets the current code for safe, reliable power.
Fixing Corrosion-Related Electrical Failures
Corroded wiring and connections can cause power loss or fire hazards over time. We identify corrosion damage, make all needed repairs or replacements, and keep your electrical system safe and dependable.
These are just our most popular repairs — electrical problems come in all shapes and sizes, and we handle them all. From outlets that won’t work to flickering lights, old panels, broken switches, or unexpected wiring issues, our team finds the root cause and makes lasting repairs. We work carefully, keep you informed, and make sure every repair meets today’s codes and your expectations. Give us a call for any of our electrical repair needs.
Safety Tips for Electrical Repairs
Protect your home and family with these quick safety tips for handling electrical problems safely and knowing when to call an expert.
- Don’t assume it’s just a tripped breaker
- Never touch exposed or damaged wires
- Be cautious with outlet testers
- Don’t overload circuits
- Leave older houses to the professionals
How have wiring practices changed over time, and how does my home’s history affect electrical repairs?
Wiring has evolved significantly over the decades. In the early 1900s, homes used knob-and-tube wiring. That gave way to BX cable with horsehair insulation, which becomes brittle over time and must be handled carefully. In the late 1960s and early ’70s, many homes were wired with aluminum branch circuits, which brought their own set of challenges. Today, most homes use Romex.
Older homes weren’t built with modern electrical loads in mind, no central air, microwaves, or garbage disposals. In the ’50s and ’60s, it wasn’t unusual for just a few circuits to power the entire house. Over time, new appliances and devices have been added to those already limited systems, often leading to overloaded circuits. That’s why the current code requires more dedicated circuits and why we always ask about the age of your home before making repairs.
What can cause half my house to lose power?
It depends on the age of your home and the configuration of its electrical circuits. If it's just one outlet or lighting circuit that's out, the cause may be different than if half the house has lost power. One of the most common reasons for a large outage like that is an issue with the electrical provider. In our area, that's often Dominion Energy.
Your home is powered by two incoming "hot legs," each carrying 120 volts of electricity. If one of those legs is damaged or compromised, appliances that require 240 volts (such as your HVAC system, electric stove, or dryer) may turn on but not have sufficient power to run properly. You may also notice smaller, seemingly random circuits throughout the home not working. That's because the affected leg feeds them.
If your symptoms match this scenario, we'll provide you with Dominion's urgent response number before starting any in-home troubleshooting.
Can you repair or replace outlets in different wall types, like studs, interior walls, or exterior walls?
Yes, if the outlet itself is the issue and the junction box inside the wall is still intact, repairs or replacements are usually straightforward. If the box is damaged, we can remove it and install a new one, as long as the wiring in the wall is still in good condition.
Outlet installs get more complex with different wall types. Interior and exterior walls are built differently. Exterior walls may have added insulation and blocking that require extra care to work around.
Can faulty GFCIs or timers cause my pool pump to stop working?
In a nutshell, yes. Faulty GFCIs or timers are common culprits, but they’re not the only ones. Improper wiring, water intrusion, outdated wiring practices on new equipment, or even simple operator error can also cause your pool pump to stop working.
How to repair an electrical outlet?
Sometimes outlets and switches wear out. If an outlet is loose, cracked, or won’t hold a plug, it likely needs to be replaced. We don’t typically repair outlets, but if the wiring is in good shape, we’ll replace the device itself. We always swap out “backstab only” outlets, as they can become unreliable over time. Some backstab-style devices allow wiring to be run under the screw, which is our preferred method. And if an outlet isn’t working, it may be controlled by a wall switch, which is something we always check first.
How to repair damaged electrical wires in the wall?
If wiring is damaged by rodents or wear, it usually needs to be replaced. In most cases, we’ll “refeed” the device by running new wire from a known good point. If the exact location of the damage is known, we can repair it by adding a junction box and blank cover plate, since the code requires all wire connections to be accessible. If there’s access through a crawl space or attic, that’s often the most efficient way to restore the circuit.
