Common Electrical
Problems We Fix
Flickering lights, tripping breakers, dead outlets, burning smells — our team has seen it all and fixed it all. Good Times Electric resolves every common electrical issue in San Antonio safely, quickly, and correctly the first time.
Good Times Electric
Fixes It All
At Good Times Electric, our team of experienced electricians has repaired every type of electrical problem in San Antonio homes — from basic outlet failures to complex wiring faults hiding behind walls. Whether you need a quick electrical repair, a panel upgrade, or a 24/7 emergency response, our team is ready.
Electrical work must always be done by a licensed professional for two critical reasons: it needs to work correctly, and it needs to be safe. DIY electrical repairs are one of the leading causes of residential electrical fires in the U.S. Our licensed San Antonio electricians do the job right the first time — every time.
See a problem on this page that matches what you’re experiencing? Call us right now at (210) 760-6407 — a real person answers 24/7.
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(210) 760-6407 Get a Free QuoteFlickering Lights
or Dimming Bulbs
A light that flickers once in a while usually isn’t cause for alarm — but persistent or widespread flickering in your San Antonio home is a signal that something is wrong in your electrical system. Once you’ve ruled out a loose or damaged bulb, it’s time to call a licensed electrician.
Flickering that happens when large appliances (AC units, refrigerators, washing machines) turn on often points to voltage fluctuations from an overloaded circuit or an undersized panel. This is particularly common in older San Antonio homes built before modern electrical loads were standard.
Common Causes
- Loose bulb or lamp connection — check this first before calling
- Loose wiring at the outlet, switch, or fixture junction box
- Overloaded circuit drawing more current than the breaker rating
- Voltage fluctuations from a failing electrical panel or meter
- Loose main service connection — a serious hazard requiring immediate attention
- Arcing wiring inside walls — a leading cause of electrical fires
Flickering / Dimming Lights
Could be minor or very serious
- Check the bulb first — loose or failing
- Note: does it flicker when appliances start?
- Whole-home flickering = call immediately
- Do NOT ignore flickering for more than a few days
Tripping
Circuit Breakers
Circuit breakers are your home’s built-in safety mechanism — they trip to prevent overheating and fires. A breaker that trips occasionally during heavy use is doing its job. A breaker that trips repeatedly, trips immediately after resetting, or trips without an obvious cause is telling you something is dangerously wrong.
San Antonio homes with older 100-amp panels are especially vulnerable — modern homes with multiple TVs, computers, EV chargers, and high-efficiency HVAC systems often exceed what those panels were designed to handle. A panel upgrade may be the permanent solution.
Common Causes
- Overloaded circuit — too many devices drawing power simultaneously
- Short circuit — a hot wire touching a neutral wire inside an outlet, switch, or appliance
- Ground fault — hot wire touching a ground wire or grounded surface
- Faulty or aging breaker — the breaker itself is failing and needs replacement
- Undersized panel — your home’s electrical demand exceeds the panel’s capacity
Reference: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Electrical Safety
Tripping Circuit Breakers
Repeated tripping = serious wiring issue
- Unplug devices and reset once
- If it trips again immediately — stop and call us
- Never tape or block a tripping breaker
- Older San Antonio homes may need panel upgrade
Dead or
Non-Working Outlets
If you plug something in and nothing happens, you likely have a dead outlet. Before calling, check two things: your breaker panel for a tripped breaker, and your GFCI outlets (the ones with the “Test/Reset” buttons, typically in bathrooms, kitchens, and garages). A tripped GFCI can cut power to several outlets on the same circuit across your home.
If neither of those is the issue, you have a wiring problem. Outlets can fail due to loose wire connections, burned contacts, or wiring that has deteriorated over time. Outlets in San Antonio homes built before 1990 may still use aluminum wiring, which requires special handling and a licensed electrician.
Common Causes
- Tripped GFCI outlet elsewhere on the same circuit — press “Reset”
- Tripped circuit breaker — check your panel
- Loose wire connection at the outlet — common in older outlets
- Burned or damaged outlet contacts from a power surge
- Half-hot outlet where one plug is switch-controlled — check the light switch
- Deteriorated wiring from age, moisture, or pest damage
Dead Outlets
Often simple — but check these first
- Step 1: Check breaker panel
- Step 2: Find & reset any GFCI outlets
- Step 3: Check if outlet feels warm or smells burned
- Still dead? Call Good Times Electric
More Electrical Issues
We Fix in San Antonio
Every one of these problems is something our licensed San Antonio electricians encounter and resolve daily. None of them should be ignored or attempted as a DIY repair.
Electrical Shocks
Receiving a mild shock or tingling when touching an appliance, switch, or outlet is not normal and should never be dismissed as “static.” It indicates a grounding fault or wiring problem that poses a real risk of serious injury. If anyone in your home has been shocked, call us immediately.
- Faulty or missing ground wire in outlets or appliances
- Damaged wiring or improper electrical repairs
- Moisture intrusion near electrical components
- Appliance with internal wiring failure — the appliance itself
- Ungrounded outlets (common in San Antonio homes built before 1970)
Burning Smell or Sparks
A burning plastic or rubbery smell coming from an outlet, switch, or your electrical panel is a fire emergency warning sign. Stop using the outlet or device immediately, turn off the breaker for that circuit if safe to do so, and call us. Do not attempt to investigate inside the wall yourself.
- Arcing wires — live wires making intermittent contact
- Overloaded outlet melting wire insulation
- Faulty appliance overheating internally
- Burned outlet contacts from a power surge or overload
- Panel wiring failure — requires immediate inspection
Faulty Light Switches
A light switch should feel solid, operate cleanly, and never feel warm. If your switch sparks when toggled, makes crackling sounds, causes lights to flicker, or feels warm to the touch — it needs to be replaced by a licensed electrician. A faulty switch is both a fire hazard and a shock risk.
- Worn-out internal contacts from years of use
- Loose wire connection at the switch terminals
- Switch rated for the wrong load (e.g., used with a dimmer incompatible with LEDs)
- Moisture damage — common in bathrooms without exhaust fans
- Old push-button or knob-and-tube era switches still in service
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We’re not done until the job is done right and you’re completely satisfied.
24/7 Emergency Service
Electrical emergencies don’t follow business hours — neither do we.
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All work is performed by Texas-licensed electricians, fully bonded and insured.
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Real Reviews from
Real Customers
“Lights were flickering in our kitchen and two outlets stopped working on the same day. Good Times came out next morning, found a loose connection at the panel feeding that circuit. Fixed in under an hour. Super clean and professional.”
“Our breaker kept tripping every time we ran the AC and the microwave at the same time. Turns out the panel was undersized for a modern home. They installed a new 200-amp panel — no more trips, everything works perfectly. Worth every penny.”
“Smelled something burning behind our living room wall late at night. Called Good Times and they had someone at our house within the hour. Found an arcing wire behind an outlet. Could have been a house fire. These guys are lifesavers — literally.”