Frequently Asked Questions about Add On Electric

Add On Electric proudly serves the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Los Lunas areas in New Mexico for all residential and commercial electrical needs.

Absolutely! All of our electricians are fully licensed and insured, providing you with peace of mind and professional, reliable service.

We offer a comprehensive range of electrical services for both residential and commercial properties, including:

• Electrical additions and remodels
• New construction electrical installations
• Panel upgrades and lighting enhancements
• Service and repairs
• Specialized services for manufactured/mobile homes
• EV charger installations
• Solar panel installations and maintenance
• Emergency electrical services (on request)

With over 35 years of experience and a commitment to excellence since 2006, Add On Electric is a trusted name in the Albuquerque and Los Lunas area. We prioritize clear communication, exceptional customer service, and delivering knowledgeable, high-quality solutions for all your electrical projects.

Yes, we offer free estimates for our residential and commercial electrical services. Contact us today to discuss your project!

Yes! We specialize in comprehensive electrical remodels for both residential and commercial properties in Albuquerque, Los Lunas, and Santa Fe. Our services include rewiring, new fixture installations, and ensuring your electrical system meets the demands of your newly renovated space.

Absolutely. Add On Electric has extensive experience with new construction electrical installations, ensuring your new home or business has a safe, efficient, and up-to-code electrical system from the ground up.

Expert rewiring services from Add On Electric improve the safety and efficiency of your electrical system, reduce the risk of electrical hazards, and can enhance the overall value of your property. It's often essential for older homes or extensive remodels.

An electrical panel upgrade is often necessary if your current panel is outdated, can't handle your modern electrical demands (e.g., new appliances, EV chargers), or if you're experiencing frequent tripped breakers. Upgrading your electrical panel ensures enhanced safety, improved electrical capacity, and compliance with current electrical codes.

A full electrical panel change-out by Add On Electric offers numerous benefits, including:

• Improved electrical capacity for modern appliances and technology.
• Reduced risk of electrical fires and hazards.
• Increased home or business value with an updated electrical system.
• Compliance with the latest safety standards.
• Enhanced energy efficiency, potentially lowering utility bills.

Common signs that your electrical panel may need an upgrade include frequently tripping breakers, flickering lights, outlets that don't work, burning smells from the panel, or if your home is older and hasn't had an upgrade in decades. Our licensed electricians can assess your current system and provide expert recommendations.

Yes, Add On Electric provides top-notch solar panel installations and maintenance services for both commercial and residential properties in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Los Lunas.

Installing solar panels with Add On Electric offers significant benefits, such as:

• Reducing your monthly energy bills.
• Increasing your property's value.
• Contributing to a greener environment with sustainable energy.
• Enjoying low-maintenance energy systems with reliable performance.
• Access to versatile installation options (roof mounts and ground mounts).

Yes, in addition to installations, we provide ongoing solar panel maintenance to ensure your system operates efficiently and reliably for years to come.

Our residential electrical services in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Los Lunas include:

• EV charger installations
• Emergency electrical service
• Lighting upgrades (indoor and outdoor)
• Troubleshooting and repairs
• Installation of chandeliers and ceiling fans
• Specialized services for mobile and manufactured homes.

Absolutely! We offer comprehensive lighting solutions to enhance the aesthetics and efficiency of both your indoor and outdoor spaces.

Yes, emergency electrical services are available on request to address urgent electrical needs in your home.

Add On Electric provides expert commercial electrical services to keep businesses running smoothly in Albuquerque, Los Lunas, and Santa Fe. Our services include:

• EV charger installations for commercial properties.
• Lighting system upgrades for improved energy efficiency and cost reduction.
• Prompt troubleshooting and repairs to minimize operational downtime.
• Comprehensive indoor and outdoor lighting solutions.
• Emergency electrical services for urgent business needs.

We proudly serve a variety of businesses, including offices, retail spaces, and apartment complexes, ensuring their electrical systems are efficient and reliable.

Our commercial electric services can enhance your business efficiency by providing state-of-the-art EV charger installations, upgrading lighting systems for energy savings, minimizing downtime with swift repairs, and offering comprehensive lighting solutions for optimal productivity and safety.

A Level 2 charger operating at 240 volts and 30 to 50 amps handles most daily driving needs, adding 25 to 40 miles of range per hour of charging. This setup works well if you drive under 60 miles per day and park at home overnight.

Your panel needs available breaker slots and enough spare capacity to handle the charger's amperage draw without exceeding the main service rating. An electrician measures the existing load and compares it to your service size, typically 100 or 200 amps, to determine if an upgrade is required.

Most installations are completed in four to six hours, depending on the distance between your panel and the charger location and whether conduit needs to run along exterior walls. If a panel upgrade is required, the timeline extends by one or two additional visits.

The charger and circuit remain in place and are compatible with most electric vehicles that use the standard J1772 connector. If you upgrade to a vehicle with faster charging capability, the existing circuit may need to be resized to support higher amperage.

You need smoke detectors in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide detectors are required near sleeping areas and in any room with fuel-burning appliances.

Smoke detectors last ten years from the manufacture date printed on the back. Carbon monoxide detectors last five to seven years depending on the model.

The battery backup activates immediately and keeps the detector operational until power returns. You should replace the backup battery every two to three years.

Chirping usually means the detector has reached the end of its useful life and the sensor no longer functions reliably. Replacing the entire unit stops the chirping and restores detection capability.

Installing or replacing detectors in a typical home takes one to two hours depending on how many units you need and whether we need to run new wiring.

Lightning strikes near power lines cause most large surges. Utility companies switching grid sections and large appliances cycling on and off inside your home create smaller surges that accumulate over time.

Most protectors last three to five years depending on how many surges they absorb. The indicator light tells you when the device no longer provides protection and needs replacement.

Whole-home protectors stop large surges at the panel, but smaller surges can still reach outlets. Plug-in strips add a second layer of protection for sensitive devices like computers and televisions.

A direct strike delivers more voltage than any surge protector can handle. Whole-home devices protect against indirect strikes and utility surges, which are far more common.

Installing a whole-home surge protector typically takes one to two hours depending on panel access and whether we need to upgrade the grounding system.

Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when it heats up. Over time, this movement loosens connections at outlets and switches, which creates heat and increases fire risk.

We attach a short copper wire to each aluminum wire using a connector that prevents corrosion. The copper wire connects to the outlet or switch, eliminating direct contact between aluminum and device terminals.

Rewiring an entire home costs significantly more and requires opening walls. Pigtailing corrects the hazard at connection points, which is where most failures occur, without removing wiring inside walls.

Most insurers accept pigtailing when performed by a licensed electrician using approved connectors. We provide documentation that confirms the work meets safety standards.

Pigtailing a typical home with ten to fifteen outlets and switches takes four to six hours depending on box accessibility and the number of circuits involved.