Most homeowners can't tell a minor wiring issue from a serious one, and that uncertainty is exactly why having a reliable electrician to call matters. Kentwood Electrical Company handles electrical repairs, panel work, new installs, and the full range of jobs that come up in between. Whether you own a home, manage a rental, run a small business, or oversee a commercial property, we handle the full range of electrical work that keeps your building safe and running. Straight answers on the phone. Real electrical work. Quick to respond. We offer prompt response, even for last-minute electrical calls. Call us and we'll walk you through the fix.
This area has every kind of panel and circuit in it, from decades-old wiring in postwar bungalows to modern breaker boxes in newer construction. When something goes wrong, the symptoms can look similar even when the causes are very different. Flickering lights, dead outlets, tripping breakers, sparking outlets, a burning smell near a panel or outlet, or an unexplained electrical short all point to something worth investigating before it gets worse.
We start with a thorough diagnosis. The fault is traced before anything is replaced, so you are not paying to swap parts that were never the problem. We test circuits, check breaker function, and look at GFCI and AFCI protection to make sure the right safeguards are in place. Arc-fault and ground-fault breakers are now standard in kitchens, bedrooms, and other living spaces, and we check that existing protection is working and that any new work meets current code. Reach out and we'll start at the panel.
Your breaker panel is the center of everything electrical in the building. When it is undersized, outdated, or showing signs of wear, the whole system is working against you. We handle breaker panel repair, full panel replacements, and service upgrades, including 100-amp to 200-amp upgrades and service-entrance work where the utility connection itself needs attention.
A panel upgrade visit starts with a load calculation to understand what the home or building actually draws. From there, we confirm what size service is needed, whether a subpanel makes sense, and what the meter and service entrance require. We keep you informed from diagnosis to final test, so you understand what is being done and why at every stage. Call us and the rest is handled.
You shouldn't have to chase an electrician for answers when you want something as straightforward as a new outlet or a ceiling fan wired correctly. These are among the most common calls we get, and we handle them cleanly and efficiently.
On the outlet and switch side, we install and replace standard outlets, GFCI-protected outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages, AFCI-protected circuits in bedrooms and living areas, standard and dimmer switches, and smart-switch wiring. For lighting, we do recessed lighting installation, under-cabinet lighting, indoor fixture replacement, and outdoor lighting, including landscape lighting and security lighting that covers driveways, entries, and perimeter areas. Ceiling fan installation and wiring is a regular part of what we do, whether that means running new wiring to a location that does not have a ceiling box or replacing an existing fixture.
We protect your floors and finishes while we work, so the space looks the same when we leave as it did when we arrived, minus whatever problem brought us out. Call us and we'll walk you through the fix.
Modern homes and businesses put more demand on electrical systems than they were originally designed to handle. A dedicated circuit separates a high-draw appliance from the rest of the system, preventing nuisance trips and protecting both the appliance and the wiring. We install dedicated circuits for dryers, ranges, refrigerators, and other large appliances, as well as for any heating or cooling unit that requires its own circuit and disconnect at the panel.
Level 2 EV charger installation is one of the faster-growing requests we handle. Getting a charger installed at home means running the right circuit from the panel to the garage or driveway location, confirming the panel has capacity, and making sure the wiring meets current requirements. If the panel needs an upgrade to support the load, we handle that as part of the same project.
Whole-home surge protection installs at the panel and shields every circuit in the building from voltage spikes that can damage appliances, electronics, and wiring over time. It is a straightforward addition that takes a single visit to complete.
We know schedules shift, so we keep booking flexible for property managers, landlords, and business owners who need electrical work done without a lot of back-and-forth. Whether it is a failed inspection repair, a code violation that came up during a sale or rental turnover, or routine outlet and lighting work in an office or retail space, we treat commercial and rental calls the same way we treat residential ones: scope it clearly, price it on the call, and get the work done.
This area's panels, permits, and utility rules are familiar ground. That matters when you are trying to get a rental unit back online or bring a commercial space into compliance before an inspection. We handle electrical safety inspections, permit work, and code-compliant wiring for apartment buildings, offices, retail storefronts, and mixed-use properties across Kent County.
West Michigan winters are hard on buildings and on electrical systems. Multi-day outages from ice storms and high winds are a real part of life here, and the combination of cold temperatures and older housing stock creates specific electrical demands that come up every season. The three services below address those demands directly.
When a winter storm knocks out power for two or three days, a backup generator moves from a nice-to-have to a practical necessity. We handle the electrical side of generator hookups: the transfer switch installation, the grounding and bonding, and the circuit connections that let a standby generator carry the loads you need during an outage. The transfer switch is what keeps the generator safely isolated from the utility line, protecting both the equipment and anyone working on the lines outside. We scope the hookup based on what you want the generator to cover and confirm what the panel can support.
Kentwood has a wide range of housing stock, and many homes are running on panels that were sized for a different era. A 100-amp service that worked fine decades ago can struggle under the combined load of modern appliances, electric heating equipment circuits, and an EV charger. We perform load calculations to confirm what the home actually needs, then handle the panel replacement and any service-entrance work that goes with it. A 200-amp upgrade is the most common outcome, but the right answer depends on the specific load and the condition of the existing equipment.
Ice dams and frozen pipes are routine winter risks in this part of Michigan. Heat tape runs along gutters, downspouts, and exposed pipe runs to keep water moving when temperatures drop. The electrical side of a heat tape installation requires a dedicated circuit and, in many cases, a GFCI-protected outlet at the right location. We run the circuit, install the outlet, and make sure the wiring meets code for exterior and attic applications. The work is straightforward, but it needs to be done correctly to avoid a tripped breaker or a wiring problem in a hard-to-reach spot.
Electrical work comes with a lot of questions about cost, and we think those questions deserve straight answers. When you call, we talk through what you are dealing with, give you a price before anything is scheduled, and tell you what that price covers. You are not left guessing until someone shows up at the door.
That applies whether you are asking about a simple outlet replacement, a full panel upgrade, an EV charger circuit, or a whole-home rewire. The scope is confirmed on the call, and the price follows from that. Book the visit. Know the scope. Know the price before it starts. Call us and we'll walk you through the fix.
We work throughout Kentwood and the broader Kent County area, including Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grandville, Caledonia, Byron Center, and Cutlerville. If you need electrical work scheduled in any of these communities, call and we will confirm what is available. Whether you are searching for a residential electrician near you or need commercial electrical work handled on a tight timeline, we are a call away.
Common signs include breakers that trip frequently under normal loads, a panel cover that feels warm to the touch, a buzzing or crackling sound near the panel, breakers that will not reset and hold, and lights that dim when a large appliance starts. Any of these conditions points to a panel that needs to be assessed before the load on it increases further. Call us and we will walk you through what the diagnostic involves.
An undersized or deteriorating panel limits what circuits can carry, which shows up as nuisance trips, flickering lights, and appliances that do not perform correctly. A fuse box that has been modified with the wrong fuse ratings is a more serious condition because there is no automatic protection against an overload on those circuits. Replacing the panel addresses the capacity problem and brings the protection up to current standards at the same time.
A panel replacement starts with a load calculation to determine what the home or building actually draws and what size service is needed. From there, the work covers removing the old panel, installing the new one, reconnecting the branch circuits, and coordinating with the utility for the service disconnect and reconnection. In many cases a permit is required, and we handle the process from the initial assessment through the final inspection.
Generator hookup covers the transfer switch installation, the grounding and bonding, and the circuit connections that allow the generator to carry the loads you designate during an outage. The transfer switch is what safely isolates the home from the utility line when the generator is running, which is a code requirement and a safety necessity. We scope the hookup based on the panel and the loads you want covered, then size the transfer switch accordingly.
Heat tape for gutters, downspouts, or exposed pipes requires a dedicated circuit sized to the load and, in most cases, a GFCI-protected exterior outlet at the right location. Running the circuit to an attic or exterior location and installing the correct outlet is the core of the electrical work. We handle the circuit, the wiring, and the outlet so the heat tape is on protected power rather than sharing a circuit with something else.
A sparking outlet or panel, a burning smell near any electrical component, a breaker that will not reset after tripping, a partial or total loss of power with no clear cause, and any situation where you can see or smell signs of overheating all qualify as conditions that should not wait.
Call (616) 226-9351 during our hours of 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM and we will talk through what is happening and what the next step is.
A burning smell typically indicates that insulation on the wiring is overheating, that a connection has failed and is arcing, or that a device has been drawing more current than the wiring behind it can safely carry. Any of these conditions requires a diagnostic visit rather than a wait-and-see approach. Stop using the affected outlet or circuit and call us so the fault can be traced before anything else is connected to it.
A Level 2 charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit run from the panel to the charger location, typically a garage wall or an exterior mounting point. The panel needs available capacity for the circuit, and in many cases an older 100-amp service needs to be upgraded before the charger circuit can be added. We assess the panel first, confirm what is available, and run the circuit to the correct location for the charger.
Homes built in the mid-twentieth century were wired for a fraction of the electrical load a modern household puts on a system. The panel was sized for fewer circuits, the outlets were spaced for fewer devices, and the wiring was not designed to carry the combined draw of modern appliances, lighting, and electronics. Adding circuits and upgrading the panel are the practical fixes, and we scope both on the same call.
Knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, and wiring that has been modified without permits can all change the scope of a repair or installation once we are inside the walls. We describe what we find during the diagnostic and explain what it means for the job before any additional work is authorized. The goal is that you are never surprised by a scope change without a clear explanation of why it is necessary.
An inspection is worth scheduling before purchasing a home, after a major renovation, when a panel is aging and showing signs of stress, or when the wiring in a property has not been reviewed in a long time. Landlords and property managers use inspections to establish a documented baseline for a unit or building. The visit covers the panel, branch circuits, grounding, outlets, and visible wiring so you have a clear picture of what is working correctly and what needs attention.
A straightforward repair, like replacing a faulty outlet or tracing a tripped circuit, is usually completed in a single visit of one to two hours. Ceiling fan installation, dedicated circuit runs, and EV charger installations typically take a half day or less. Panel replacements and whole-home rewiring are multi-hour or multi-day jobs depending on the size of the property and the condition of the existing wiring. We give you a realistic time estimate on the call so you can plan accordingly.
Kentwood Electrical Company is available every day from 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM for repairs, panel work, new installs, and everything in between.
Call (616) 226-9351 to get a quote or to schedule a service call.
Tell us what you are dealing with and we will scope the job and give you a price before anything is booked. Call us and the rest is handled.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical work we handle in Kentwood and the surrounding Kent County area. Each row covers what the service includes, who it fits best, and one practical thing worth knowing before you call. If a job does not fit neatly into one of these categories, call us and we will talk through what you are dealing with.
| Electrical Service | Scope of Work | Ideal For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | Breaker testing and replacement, Fuse box assessment, Reset failures and nuisance trips, Arc-fault and ground-fault breaker checks | Homes with breakers that trip repeatedly or will not hold after resetting | A breaker that trips under normal load is a symptom, not just an inconvenience. We diagnose the cause before replacing the breaker. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | Panel and branch circuit review, Grounding and bonding check, Outlet and visible wiring assessment, Documented findings after the visit | Home buyers, landlords, and owners of properties with aging wiring | An inspection before a purchase or rental turnover gives you a documented baseline rather than a guess about what the wiring actually looks like. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | Tracing faults before replacing parts, Flickering lights and dead outlets, Sparking or burning-smell diagnostics, GFCI and AFCI protection checks | Any home or business with an unexplained electrical problem | The fault is traced before anything is replaced, so you are not paying to swap parts that were never the problem. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | Standard and GFCI outlet installation, AFCI-protected circuits, Dimmer and smart-switch wiring, Outlet replacement and relocation | Homeowners adding outlets or upgrading protection in kitchens, baths, and garages | GFCI protection is required by current code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations. Older homes often lack it. |
| Lighting Installation | Recessed and under-cabinet lighting, Outdoor and security lighting, Landscape lighting circuits, Indoor fixture replacement | Homeowners upgrading interior lighting or adding exterior coverage for driveways and entries | Outdoor lighting wiring runs to weatherproof boxes and GFCI-protected circuits where code requires it. |
| Electrical Panel & Service Upgrades | 100-amp to 200-amp upgrades, Full panel replacement, Load calculation and service-entrance work, Subpanel installation | Older homes adding EV chargers, electric appliances, or heating equipment circuits | A load calculation is always the starting point. The right panel size follows from what the home actually draws, not a default assumption. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | Dryer and range circuits, Refrigerator and dishwasher circuits, Heating and cooling unit disconnect and circuit, Workshop and garage circuits | Homeowners adding large appliances or separating high-draw equipment from shared circuits | A dedicated circuit prevents nuisance trips and protects both the appliance and the wiring feeding it. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | New circuit runs from the panel, Whole-home rewiring, Wiring for additions and renovations, Aluminum and knob-and-tube assessment | Older homes being renovated or properties adding significant new load | Knob-and-tube and aluminum branch wiring are common in Kent County housing stock. We describe what we find before any additional scope is added. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | New wiring to locations without a ceiling box, Existing fixture replacement, Switch and remote wiring, Box and brace installation | Rooms without a ceiling box or homes replacing old fixtures | A ceiling fan needs a rated box and brace, not just a standard light fixture box. We confirm the right setup before the fan goes up. |
| Heat Tape Installation | Dedicated circuit for heat tape load, GFCI-protected exterior outlet, Attic and exterior wiring runs, Code-compliant connections for cold-weather applications | Homes with ice dam or frozen pipe problems during West Michigan winters | Heat tape shares a circuit with nothing else. A dedicated GFCI-protected circuit is the correct setup and prevents nuisance trips when temperatures drop. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-mounted surge device installation, Protection for every circuit in the building, Single-visit completion, Appliance and electronics coverage | Homes with sensitive electronics or properties in areas with frequent voltage fluctuations | Surge protection installed at the panel covers every circuit in the building, not just the outlets where a plug-in strip is connected. |
| Backup Generator Installation | Transfer switch installation, Grounding and bonding, Circuit connections for designated loads, Panel capacity confirmation | Kentwood homeowners preparing for multi-day winter outages | The transfer switch isolates the home from the utility line when the generator is running. It is a code requirement, not an optional add-on. |
What causes breakers to trip repeatedly under normal use?
Repeated tripping usually points to one of three things: a circuit that is carrying more load than it was sized for, a failing breaker that no longer holds its rated current, or a fault somewhere in the wiring or a connected device. We start by testing the circuit under load and checking the breaker before assuming either one is the cause. Replacing a breaker without tracing the reason for the trip often means the same problem comes back.
Is the electrical work permitted and inspected?
Panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuit runs, and most structural wiring work require a permit and a final inspection in this area. We handle the permit process as part of the job and schedule the inspection so the work is documented and signed off correctly. Whether a specific job requires a permit depends on the scope and the local authority, and we confirm that on the call before anything is scheduled.
How do I know if the wiring in an older Kentwood home is still safe?
Age alone does not make wiring unsafe, but certain conditions in older homes do raise the risk. Knob-and-tube wiring that has been covered with insulation, aluminum branch circuits with the wrong devices at the outlets, and wiring that has been modified without permits are all conditions worth assessing. An electrical safety inspection gives you a clear picture of what is in the walls and what, if anything, needs attention.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We diagnose before we replace. Every repair starts with a thorough check of the circuit, the breaker, and the connections so the actual cause is identified and addressed, not just the most visible symptom.
What are the signs that a home needs a rewire rather than just repairs?
A home may need a rewire when the existing wiring is knob-and-tube throughout, when aluminum branch circuits are widespread and the outlets and switches have not been updated to compatible devices, or when a renovation exposes wiring that is deteriorated or has been modified unsafely. We scope rewiring jobs the same way we scope repairs: we describe what we find, explain what it means, and give you a price before any work starts.
Do I need to be home while the electrical work is being done?
For most jobs, yes. Access to the panel is required for nearly all electrical work, and questions come up during a visit that are easier to answer when the homeowner or property manager is on site. For rental properties, a property manager or authorized contact can be present instead. We confirm the access requirements when the job is scoped on the call.
What should I know about GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas?
GFCI protection is required by current electrical code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and outdoor locations. Many older homes in this area were built before those requirements were in place, so the outlets exist but the protection does not. Adding GFCI outlets or GFCI breakers to those circuits is a straightforward upgrade that brings the home in line with current standards.
Older and Newer Wiring Both Handled
Kentwood has a wide range of housing stock, from postwar bungalows with original wiring to newer construction with modern panels. We work across all of it and describe what we find before any scope is added to a job.
How does surge protection at the panel differ from a plug-in power strip?
A plug-in surge strip protects only the devices connected to it. A whole-home surge device installed at the panel protects every circuit in the building, including appliances, lighting, and any device that is hard-wired rather than plugged in. The two can work together, but panel-level protection is the more complete solution and takes a single visit to install.
What are the concerns with aluminum branch wiring in older homes?
Aluminum branch wiring was used in residential construction during the 1960s and 1970s and is still present in a number of homes in this area. The concern is not the aluminum itself but the connections: aluminum expands and contracts at a different rate than the devices and terminals it connects to, which can loosen connections over time and create overheating at outlets and switches. The standard remediation involves installing CO/ALR-rated devices or using approved connectors at each termination point. We assess the extent of the aluminum wiring and describe the options before any work is authorized.
Scope Agreed Before the Panel Is Opened
The price and the scope are confirmed on the call before anything is scheduled. You know what the visit covers and what it costs before we start, not after the work is done.
When is it reasonable to attempt a DIY electrical fix versus calling an electrician?
Replacing a plug-in device or a light bulb is straightforward. Replacing a switch or outlet on a circuit you can confirm is de-energized is within reach for a careful homeowner who understands the risk. Anything involving the panel, new wiring runs, adding circuits, or diagnosing a fault that is not immediately obvious is work where the downside of a mistake is significant enough to warrant a call. We are happy to talk through what you are dealing with on the phone before you decide.
What does it mean when outlets or switches stop working without tripping a breaker?
An outlet or switch that goes dead without a tripped breaker is often on a circuit that runs through a GFCI outlet elsewhere. GFCI outlets protect downstream outlets on the same circuit, so a tripped GFCI in one location can cut power to outlets in another room or area. The other common cause is a loose connection at the outlet, switch, or junction box. We trace the circuit to find the source rather than replacing devices that are not the problem.
Is a home ready for added electrical load, such as an EV charger or electric appliances?
That depends on the panel size, the current load, and what circuits are already in use. A 100-amp service that is running near capacity may not have room for a 240-volt EV charger circuit without a panel upgrade. We start with a load calculation to see what the panel is actually carrying before recommending a circuit addition or an upgrade. The answer is specific to the home, and we give you that answer on the call.
Call (616) 226-9351 to talk through your electrical situation and get a price before anything is booked.
(616) 226-9351