Skip to main content

Licensed & insured · Serving MA, Southern NH & Southern ME

Ryan Gath Electric

Troubleshooting & repair

Electrical Repair in Westford, Newton & Nearby Towns

Dead outlets, half the house in the dark, lights that flicker for no reason. We trace the problem to its source and fix it there, so you’re not calling us back for the same thing next month.
Request free estimate(978) 569-4775
  • Licensed & insured
  • Free estimates
  • Warranty-backed work

Electrical Repair

Good troubleshooting saves you money.

Most electrical repairs aren’t hard once you know exactly what’s wrong. The skill is in finding it. A dead kitchen outlet might be a tripped GFCI two rooms away, a failed backstab connection in the outlet before it, or a loose neutral at the panel that’s also making the bedroom lights flicker. Replacing the dead outlet fixes none of those.

We test methodically: from the panel out, device by device, measuring rather than guessing. When we find the fault we show you, explain why it happened, and fix the cause. That’s how one customer described Ryan and the crew: they went above and beyond to track down the issue.

We handle repairs in houses of every age, from a failing switch in a 2010 townhouse in Tewksbury to a burnt splice in a 1910 two-family in Lowell. If it runs on your household wiring, we can diagnose it.

“He was on time. He was knowledgable and explained everything very well. He was friendly, helpful and efficient. He finished everything in one day even though he had to go and get a part, which he did very quickly. I was very pleased.”
Anne K. · Customer review

Signs to watch for

Problems we fix every week.

  • 01

    Dead outlets or switches

    Often a tripped GFCI upstream, a failed connection, or a worn device. Sometimes a sign of a bigger wiring fault.

  • 02

    Partial power loss

    Half the house out while the other half works usually points to a service or panel problem, and it deserves prompt attention.

  • 03

    Flickering lights

    Flicker that follows appliances cycling on and off can mean a loose neutral or an overloaded circuit.

  • 04

    Breakers that won’t reset

    A breaker that trips instantly on reset is telling you there’s a short or ground fault on that circuit.

  • 05

    Warm or discolored devices

    Heat at an outlet, switch or dimmer means resistance at a connection. Stop using it and call.

  • 06

    Shocks or tingles

    Any shock from a fixture, appliance or faucet is a warning sign. Turn off the circuit and get it checked.

What the job involves

How we track a problem down.

  1. 1

    Tell us the symptoms

    When it started, what was running, what else acts up. Those details narrow the search before we arrive.

  2. 2

    Test from the source out

    We check the panel and service first, then work along the affected circuit device by device with proper test equipment.

  3. 3

    Explain what we found

    We show you the fault and explain the fix and the price before doing the work.

  4. 4

    Repair it properly

    Failed connections get remade in boxes, worn devices are replaced with quality parts, and damaged wire is cut back or replaced.

  5. 5

    Verify and document

    We test the circuit under load, confirm the fix, and note anything else worth watching.

Why it matters

Small faults grow if you leave them.

An intermittent problem is usually a connection that’s getting worse. Each time it heats and cools, it loosens a little more. Left alone, a flicker can become an outage, and a warm outlet can become a burnt one. Early repairs are faster, cheaper and far safer.

Fixing the real cause also means fewer repeat visits. We’d rather spend an extra half hour finding the actual fault than leave you with a quick fix that fails in a month.

  • Methodical testing
  • Cause fixed, not the symptom
  • Price before work
  • Emergency help available
Opened exterior disconnect with new conductors landed, mounted on house siding
Newly installed breaker panel with neatly dressed and labeled circuits
USB combination outlet with a bronze plate set into a granite backsplash

Electrical Repair FAQ

Questions we get about this work

Half my house lost power. What should I do?

Check whether any breakers are tripped. If not, or if lights are dim or flickering in the part that still works, turn off major appliances and call us at (978) 569-4775. It can be a utility or service problem and should be looked at quickly.

Can I replace an outlet myself?

In Massachusetts, electrical work on your home’s wiring should be done by a licensed electrician. And a dead outlet is often a symptom of something elsewhere on the circuit, so replacing it may not fix anything.

Why does my GFCI keep tripping?

It may be doing its job: moisture in an outdoor box, a failing appliance, or a ground fault on the circuit. It can also be a worn GFCI. We test to find out which.

Do you charge to diagnose?

Call us and describe the problem. We’ll explain how we price the visit before we come out, so there are no surprises.

Related services

Often done together.

Nearby service areas

Electrical Repair across the region.

Full service area

Free estimates · Financing · Warranty

Ready to talk electrical repair?

Call Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 4:30, or send a note and we’ll get back to you with a time for your free estimate.

Request service(978) 569-4775
Call now Free estimate