Howard Simons Electrical has been serving homeowners, landlords, property managers, and businesses in Skokie and throughout Cook County since 1992. Whether you need a quick outlet repair, a full panel upgrade, or emergency electrical service on a weekend, we show up ready to work. Same-day appointments are available, and we take after-hours calls because electrical problems do not wait for business hours. Honest quotes. Code-compliant work. Reliable power.
Most homeowners can't tell a minor wiring issue from a serious one, and that uncertainty is exactly why a proper diagnostic visit matters. When you call us for a repair, we start by tracing the problem to its source before we touch anything. Flickering lights, dead outlets, breakers that keep tripping, burning smells near a panel or outlet, warm or sparking receptacles, partial power loss to one side of the house, a tripped main breaker that will not reset. These are all symptoms, and the real cause is not always obvious.
Our electricians check for arc-fault and ground-fault conditions, inspect GFCI and AFCI protection devices, and test circuits for shorts, overloads, and loose connections. You get a clear explanation of what we found and what it takes to fix it. No guesswork, no pressure. Reach out and an electrician will follow up.
Seeing flickering lights or a warm outlet? Sometimes the fix is a single receptacle. Sometimes it points to a wiring issue that needs attention before it becomes a hazard. Either way, we handle the full range of outlet and switch work for homes and commercial spaces throughout the area.
We install and replace standard outlets, GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations, dimmer switches, smart switches, and weatherproof outdoor receptacles. When a major appliance needs its own circuit, we run it correctly: dedicated circuits for dryers, stoves, ovens, and 240-volt equipment, all wired to code with proper grounding and bonding. Whether you are adding outlets in a finished room or upgrading an older home that never had enough circuits, we size and install the work to meet current code requirements. Call and we'll handle the lights, outlets, and panel.
The hardest part of an electrical problem is knowing when to call, but lighting upgrades are usually straightforward to plan. We install recessed and LED fixtures, under-cabinet lighting, accent lighting, and ceiling fans throughout the home. Outside, we handle security lighting, motion-sensor lights, landscape lighting, and patio and deck fixtures.
On a typical lighting job, we confirm the circuit can carry the load, run any new wiring needed, mount the fixture, and test everything before we leave. Ceiling fan installation follows the same process: we check the box rating, handle all the wiring, and make sure the fan is balanced and operating correctly. Commercial lighting installation for offices, retail spaces, and multi-unit properties is part of what we do as well. Your panel is in good hands with us.
Cook County's housing stock includes a large share of homes built before modern electrical standards were in place. Add a four-season climate that puts real demand on heating and cooling circuits, along with severe thunderstorms, the occasional tornado warning, and winter ice storms, and it becomes clear why panel upgrades, generator hookups, and whole-home surge protection come up as often as they do around here.
Not every electrician works the same way, and panel upgrades are one area where experience shows. Many homes in Skokie were built with 60-amp or 100-amp service, which falls short of what a modern household draws. We perform 200-amp panel upgrades, circuit breaker replacement, subpanel installation, and service-entrance upgrades. Before we start, we run load calculations to confirm the new panel will handle your actual demand, not just today's but with room for what you add later. An aging or undersized panel is a fire and reliability risk. We pull the proper permits, do the work to code, and coordinate with the utility when a meter upgrade is part of the job.
Power outages in the Chicago metro are not rare events. Storms knock out service for hours or days, and for households with medical equipment, sump pumps, or simply a full freezer, that is a real problem. We handle the electrical side of standby generator installation: running the circuit from the panel, installing the transfer switch, and confirming the panel has the capacity to carry the generator load safely. We do not service the generator equipment itself, but we make sure the wiring and transfer switch are done right so the system works when you need it.
A single lightning strike or utility surge can damage every appliance and electronic device in the house at once. Point-of-use surge strips help, but panel-level protection is a different category entirely. We install whole-home surge protectors directly at the main panel, where they intercept voltage spikes before they reach your circuits. It is one of the more cost-effective upgrades available, and in an area that sees regular storm activity, it is worth doing. We assess your panel, install the device correctly, and verify the grounding and bonding are solid.
Skokie has a lot of homes built in the mid-twentieth century, and many of them still carry the original wiring. Knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuit wiring, and undersized panels are common findings in older homes across the north suburbs. We handle whole-home rewiring, knob-and-tube replacement, and aluminum wiring remediation, along with electrical code violation repairs and permit work when required.
Remodels, additions, and basement finishing projects all need electrical work done correctly from the start. We wire new construction additions, run circuits for finished basements, install dedicated sump-pump circuits, and handle garage and workshop wiring. If you are renovating and need an electrician who can coordinate with your contractor and pull the right permits, that is a normal part of what we do. Work performed by licensed electricians, documented and inspected to code.
Home EV charger installation starts with a panel assessment. Before we run a single wire, we check whether your existing panel has the capacity for a Level 2 charger, which typically draws 40 to 50 amps on a dedicated circuit. If the panel needs an upgrade or a subpanel first, we handle that as part of the same project.
A typical Level 2 EV charger installation involves running a dedicated circuit from the panel to the garage or parking area, mounting the charger, and testing the connection. Most installations are completed in a few hours. We make sure the circuit is sized correctly for your charger and that the wiring meets current code. Call for a quote and we can walk you through what the job involves at your property.
The hardest part of an electrical problem is knowing when to call, and a safety inspection takes the guesswork out of it. We perform home and commercial electrical inspections that cover the panel, branch circuits, outlets, grounding and bonding, GFCI and AFCI protection, and visible wiring conditions.
Inspections make sense before buying a home, when a rental property needs to meet local code requirements, after a renovation, or simply when an older home has never been looked at by a licensed electrician. Property managers and landlords find them useful for staying ahead of compliance issues in apartment buildings and multi-unit properties. We provide a clear written summary of what we found and what, if anything, needs attention. Straight answers about your panel and wiring, no surprises.
We work on both sides of the meter. Homeowners and renters call us for repairs, upgrades, and new installations. Businesses, property managers, and building owners call us for commercial electrical repair, office and retail wiring, restaurant electrical service, and multi-unit building work.
With a local company, your questions go straight to the people doing the work. When a property manager needs outlets added to a commercial space or an apartment complex owner needs panel work across multiple units, we coordinate the job efficiently and keep the work on schedule. We are familiar with the building stock in this part of Cook County and the permit requirements that come with it. Reach out and an electrician will follow up.
Electrical pricing depends on the job: what needs to be done, what materials are required, and whether the work involves permits or panel access. We do not give vague ranges over the phone and then surprise you on the day of the job. When you call, we ask the right questions, give you a clear quote before work starts, and explain what affects the final number.
Permit costs, material choices, and the condition of existing wiring can all influence what a job runs. We walk you through that before you commit to anything. One call. One electrician. One fair price.
We serve Skokie and the surrounding communities across the north side of Cook County, including Evanston, Lincolnwood, Niles, Morton Grove, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Wilmette, and Glenview. If you are just outside this list, call us anyway. Our service area covers a broad stretch of the northern suburbs, and we are familiar with the neighborhoods, housing types, and permit offices throughout the region. A local electrician homeowners rely on, right here in the area.
A burning smell near an outlet or panel is a warning sign you should not ignore. It can indicate overheating insulation, a loose connection arcing inside the wall, or a breaker or bus bar that is failing under load. Turn off the affected circuit if you can and call us right away. This is not a situation where waiting is a safe option.
That depends on your current panel capacity and what else is already running on it. A Level 2 EV charger typically requires a dedicated 40 to 50 amp circuit, and many older Skokie homes with 100-amp service do not have the headroom to add that load without an upgrade. We run a load calculation before we run any wire so you know exactly what is needed before the work starts.
A breaker trips when a circuit is drawing more current than it is rated for. A single trip after running too many appliances at once is usually not a concern. Repeated tripping on the same circuit, tripping without an obvious overload, or a breaker that trips and will not reset are signs of a wiring fault, a failing breaker, or a panel that is undersized for the load. We trace the cause rather than just resetting the breaker.
Common signs include two-prong ungrounded outlets throughout the home, a fuse box rather than a breaker panel, lights that flicker or dim when appliances run, outlets that feel warm or discolored, and wiring that has never been inspected since the home was built. Knob-and-tube and aluminum branch-circuit wiring are both found in Cook County homes built before the 1970s and carry specific risks that a licensed electrician should evaluate.
Frequent breaker trips, a panel that is full with no open slots, lights that dim when large appliances start, difficulty adding circuits for new equipment, or a plan to install an EV charger or add significant load are all indicators. Many Skokie homes built in the mid-twentieth century were wired for a fraction of today's electrical demand. We run load calculations to confirm whether an upgrade is warranted and what size panel makes sense.
We take calls around the clock, every day of the year. For urgent situations like a sparking panel, a burning smell, or a main breaker that will not reset, we prioritize the call and get an electrician out as fast as the schedule allows. Call (224) 592-9789 and describe what you are seeing so we can assess the urgency.
After-hours and emergency calls may carry a different rate than standard scheduled appointments. We are upfront about that when you call. You will know what the visit involves before anyone comes out, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Flickering or dimming lights can have several causes: a loose connection at the fixture or outlet, a failing breaker, a circuit that is overloaded, or a problem at the service entrance. Lights that dim throughout the house when a large appliance starts can point to a panel or service capacity issue. We trace the symptom back to the source rather than assuming the fixture is the problem.
For most repairs and installations, we isolate the affected circuit at the panel rather than shutting off power to the whole house. Some jobs, particularly panel work, service upgrades, and whole-home rewiring, require a full shutdown for part of the job. We let you know in advance what to expect so you can plan accordingly.
We look at the breaker condition and sizing, the bus bars and connections, the grounding and bonding, the service entrance conductors, and whether AFCI and GFCI protection is in place where code requires it. For older panels, we also check for signs of overheating, corrosion, or double-tapped breakers. The panel assessment is part of most service calls because many problems trace back to it.
GFCI protection is required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoor locations, unfinished basements, and anywhere near a water source. AFCI protection is required on most bedroom circuits and, under current Illinois code adoptions, on additional living areas as well. If your home was built or last updated before these requirements were in place, we can assess your current coverage and bring it up to code.
Yes. There are code-compliant ways to add GFCI protection to ungrounded circuits, which provides shock protection even without a ground wire. We can also run a new grounded circuit where one is needed. We explain the options and what each involves before we do any work so you can make an informed decision.
Howard Simons Electrical is ready to take your call today. Same-day appointments are available for repairs and urgent work, and we schedule after-hours and weekend service when the job cannot wait. Whether you need a single outlet replaced or a full panel upgrade, we give you clear communication from the first call to the final test.
Call (224) 592-9789 for a quote. You schedule it. We power it. Simple as that.
From a dead outlet to a full panel upgrade, we handle the electrical work that keeps Skokie homes and businesses running safely. The table below covers everything we do, who each service is right for, and what to expect when you call. Same-day appointments are available for urgent work, and every job starts with a straight quote before any work begins.
| Type of Work | What It Covers | Best For | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backup Generator Installation |
| Skokie homeowners who want to keep power during summer storms or winter ice events | A properly wired transfer switch is what makes a standby generator safe. We handle the electrical side of the installation from panel to hookup. |
| EV Charger Installation |
| electric vehicle owners who want overnight charging at home without relying on a slow standard outlet | Before we run any wire, we check your panel capacity. If an upgrade is needed, we walk you through the options before the work starts. |
| Electrical Panel & Service UpgradesMost Popular |
| homes with an undersized or aging panel that cannot support modern electrical loads | We run a load calculation before recommending a panel size. The upgrade is matched to what your home actually needs, not just what fits the opening. |
| Lighting Installation |
| homeowners updating interior lighting or adding outdoor safety and curb appeal | Exterior lighting tied to a properly wired circuit adds both security and value. We handle the fixture and the wiring in one visit when possible. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections |
| home buyers, landlords, and owners of older homes who want a clear picture of what they have | An inspection gives you a written picture of what we found and what it would take to address it. No padded scope, just straight answers. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection |
| homeowners with smart devices, home offices, or expensive appliances they want to protect from voltage spikes | A solid ground is what makes surge protection effective. We check grounding and bonding at the same time we install the device. |
| Older-Home Rewiring |
| owners of mid-century and older Skokie homes with original wiring that has never been updated | Knob-and-tube and aluminum branch-circuit wiring show up more often than most homeowners expect in this area. We assess what is there before recommending a scope. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation |
| homeowners upgrading protection or adding convenience in kitchens, baths, garages, and outdoors | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations. We confirm your home meets current standards. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation |
| homeowners finishing a basement, adding a room, or adding load that the existing circuits cannot handle | A sump pump on a shared circuit is a risk. A dedicated circuit keeps it running when it matters most, especially during a Cook County storm. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation |
| homeowners adding comfort and airflow to bedrooms, living spaces, or covered patios | Installing a fan where no ceiling box exists requires a rated fan-support box and proper wiring. We handle both. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting |
| any homeowner or business with an unexplained electrical symptom | Symptoms like warm outlets or a buzzing panel can signal a serious fault. Getting a look sooner rather than later is the safer call. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits |
| homeowners adding a major appliance or finding that a circuit keeps tripping under load | Most large appliances require their own breaker and wire gauge. We size the circuit to the appliance so it runs reliably and safely. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair |
| homes where breakers trip repeatedly or a fuse keeps blowing | A breaker that trips under normal load is telling you something. We trace the cause before replacing the breaker so the fix actually holds. |
How do I know if my electrical panel needs to be upgraded?
A few signs point clearly toward a panel upgrade: breakers that trip under normal loads, a fuse box that was never replaced, lights that dim when a large appliance kicks on, or a panel that simply cannot accommodate the circuits a modern home needs. Many Skokie homes still have original 100-amp service, which was adequate decades ago but falls short when you add central air, an EV charger, a home office, or a second refrigerator. We run a load calculation before recommending anything so the upgrade matches what your home actually uses.
What causes a breaker to keep tripping?
A breaker trips because it is doing its job: protecting the circuit from more current than the wire can safely carry. Repeated tripping usually means the circuit is overloaded, there is a short somewhere in the wiring or a connected device, or the breaker itself has worn out and is tripping below its rated threshold. Resetting it repeatedly without finding the cause is not a fix. We trace the fault to its source so the problem is actually resolved.
Is older wiring in a Skokie home safe?
It depends on the type and condition. Knob-and-tube wiring from the early and mid-twentieth century was installed without a ground wire and was not designed for modern electrical loads. Aluminum branch-circuit wiring from the 1960s and 1970s can loosen at connections over time and create a fire risk. Neither is automatically unsafe the day you move in, but both deserve a professional look. A safety inspection tells you what type of wiring you have and whether it needs attention.
Work Performed by Licensed Electricians
Every job we take on is handled by licensed electricians who know the local code and what older and newer homes in this area actually need. You get competent work, not guesswork.
How do I know if my home needs to be rewired?
Signs worth acting on include outlets that feel warm to the touch, lights that flicker without a clear cause, breakers that trip repeatedly, a panel that buzzes or smells like burning, or wiring that has never been inspected since the home was built. Homes in Skokie and the surrounding north suburbs often have original wiring that was adequate for the loads of its era but was never updated. A safety inspection is the right starting point. We assess what is there and give you a clear picture of what, if anything, needs to change.
What does EV charger installation involve?
A Level 2 home charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit sized for the charger and the vehicle. Before we run any wire, we check your panel to confirm it has the capacity to carry the added load. If it does not, we talk through the options before the work starts. Installation typically means running a circuit from the panel to the garage or driveway location, mounting the charger, and testing the connection. Most installations are completed in a single visit.
Do I need to be home when the electrician comes?
For most jobs, yes. We need access to the panel, the areas where we are working, and any outlets or fixtures you want us to look at. If a job involves only exterior work or a specific accessible area, we can sometimes work out an arrangement, but for troubleshooting and interior work, having someone present makes the visit go more smoothly and lets us walk you through what we found.
Upfront Quotes With No Surprise Fees
We give you a clear quote before any work begins and do not start until you have approved it. What we quote is what you pay, with no add-ons discovered after the fact.
How does pricing and estimating work?
We do not quote a number before we know what we are dealing with. Electrical work varies depending on the job, the panel, the age of the wiring, and how much access is involved. When you call, we ask a few questions about what you are seeing, and we tell you what the visit looks like and what factors will affect the final price. We do not start work before you have approved the estimate, so there are no surprises after the fact.
When should I call an electrician instead of trying to fix it myself?
Swapping a light bulb or resetting a tripped breaker is reasonable to do yourself. Anything beyond that, including replacing outlets, installing fixtures, running new wire, or touching the panel, involves real risk if the circuit is not properly de-energized or the work is done incorrectly. Code-required work also needs to be done by licensed electricians and, in many cases, inspected. If you are unsure whether something is a DIY fix, a quick call to describe what you are seeing is the fastest way to find out.
Experienced With Older and Newer Homes
Skokie has a real mix of housing stock, from mid-century bungalows with original wiring to newer builds adding EV chargers and upgraded panels. We work on both and know what to look for in each.
Are same-day and emergency appointments available?
Yes. We take calls around the clock because electrical problems do not keep business hours. Same-day appointments are available for urgent work. If you have a sparking outlet, a burning smell near the panel, or a main breaker that will not reset, call us right away. We will ask a few questions and get someone scheduled as fast as the situation allows.
Why do outlets or switches stop working?
The most common reasons are a tripped GFCI outlet somewhere upstream on the same circuit, a loose wire at the outlet or in the wall, a worn or failed device, or a wiring fault in the circuit. A tripped GFCI is easy to check: look for a GFCI outlet nearby with a reset button and press it. If that does not restore power, the issue is further upstream and worth a professional look, especially if the outlet feels warm or the problem is spreading to other locations.
What is whole-home surge protection and do I need it?
A whole-home surge protector installs at the panel and catches voltage spikes before they reach your circuits. A single lightning strike or utility surge can damage every appliance, smart device, and piece of electronics in the house at the same moment. Panel-level protection is a practical layer of defense, especially in an area that sees summer thunderstorms regularly. We install surge protection devices sized for the panel and check grounding and bonding at the same time, since a solid ground is what makes the protection effective.
Every home and job is a little different. Call (224) 592-9789 and we will tell you exactly what your situation calls for and what it will take to get it handled.
(224) 592-9789