ASL
Outlets and switches are the parts of your electrical system you touch every day, and they are also where many problems start. Loose, worn or overloaded devices cause dead outlets, plugs that fall out, warm faceplates and flickering lights. ASL Electric installs, replaces and upgrades outlets, switches, dimmers, GFCI and AFCI protection in homes and businesses across Orange County, wired properly and to current code.
Whether you need a single outlet moved, a kitchen of GFCI outlets replaced, USB and USB-C charging outlets added, dimmers installed for new lighting, or ungrounded two-prong outlets made safe, we handle it with proper terminations, the right protection and a clean finish. Small jobs are welcome: no job is too big or too small.
Outlet and switch services
⚡New outlets and relocations
Adding outlets where you need them, such as behind a TV, at a kitchen island, in a home office or outdoors, and moving outlets during remodels.
⚡GFCI outlets and protection
Ground-fault protection for kitchens, bathrooms, garages, laundry areas, outdoors and other locations where code requires it, using GFCI outlets or GFCI breakers.
⚡AFCI protection
Arc-fault protection for bedrooms, living areas and other rooms where code requires it when circuits are added or extended, and repairs for AFCI breakers that trip.
⚡USB and USB-C outlets
Outlets with built-in charging ports for kitchens, bedrooms and offices, so chargers do not take up plug space.
⚡Switches, dimmers and smart switches
Standard, three-way and four-way switches, LED-compatible dimmers, timers, occupancy sensors and smart switches.
⚡Outdoor and weatherproof outlets
GFCI-protected outdoor outlets with in-use covers for patios, yards and holiday lighting.
Signs your outlets or switches need attention
Call an electrician if you notice:
- Plugs that fall out or feel loose
- Warm or discolored outlets or switch plates
- Sparks when plugging in or switching on
- Outlets or switches that stopped working
- A GFCI that will not reset or keeps tripping
- Two-prong outlets with no ground
- Buzzing from a dimmer or switch
- Too few outlets and too many extension cords
Why worn outlets and switches matter
A worn outlet that no longer grips a plug firmly creates a poor connection that can heat up. Backstabbed wires, pushed into the back of a device instead of secured under screws, are a common cause of failure in homes. Missing GFCI protection in wet areas leaves people exposed to shock. These are small, inexpensive fixes that remove real risks, which is why we always check connections when we replace a device.
Recent work by our electricians
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Real ASL Electric jobs in Orange County homes and businesses.
How we install outlets and switches
Check the circuit
We confirm the circuit's capacity and condition before adding outlets, so new devices do not overload it.
Proper terminations
We secure wires under terminal screws or use rated connections, not loose backstab connections, and replace damaged wire ends.
The right protection
We add GFCI and AFCI protection where the California Electrical Code requires it, and tamper-resistant receptacles where required.
Clean finish
New boxes are secured, devices are level, and plates are clean and matched to your other devices.
Outlet upgrade options
Standard replacement
Replace worn or damaged outlets and switches with new, properly terminated devices.
GFCI upgrade
Add ground-fault protection in wet and outdoor locations.
USB and smart upgrade
Add charging ports, dimmers and smart switches for convenience.
Add circuits and outlets
Add new outlets and, when needed, new circuits to end reliance on extension cords.
Where GFCI protection is required
GFCI protection shuts off power in a fraction of a second when it detects current leaking to ground, the kind of fault that can cause a shock. The electrical code requires it in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, laundry areas, outdoors, crawl spaces and unfinished basements, and near sinks, and recent code editions have expanded the requirements to more outlets, including many 240-volt outlets.
If your home was built before these rules, adding GFCI protection is one of the most cost-effective safety upgrades you can make. One GFCI outlet or breaker can protect the outlets downstream of it on the same circuit.
Two-prong outlets: your options
Two-prong outlets mean the circuit has no equipment ground. Simply swapping in a three-prong outlet without a ground is unsafe and misleading. The code allows a few correct options: rewire the circuit with a ground, add a separate grounding conductor, or protect the outlet with a GFCI and label it "No Equipment Ground".
We will recommend the right option for each circuit, usually adding ground where it is practical, such as for computers and appliances, and GFCI protection elsewhere.
Tamper-resistant and weather-resistant outlets
The code requires tamper-resistant outlets in most locations in homes, with internal shutters that help keep children from inserting objects. Outdoor and damp locations require weather-resistant outlets with in-use covers that protect the plug while it is connected.
We install the correct type for each location so your outlets are safe and pass any inspection.
“He quickly diagnosed that builder had improperly secured the electrical wiring inside of the outlet causing arching and finally a complete meltdown. New outlet is in place. Dishwasher and garbage disposal back up and running.”
“Cory helped me with my electrical inspection and a few weeks later installed GFCIs in my units. Cory was extremely professional and likeable. He treated my tenants and me with complete respect. He wore shoe covers, cleaned up after he finished and each GFCI was perfectly installed.”
What affects the cost of outlet and switch work
Cost depends on the number of devices, the type (standard, GFCI, AFCI, USB, dimmer or smart), whether new boxes and wiring are needed, wall and attic access for new locations, the condition of existing wiring, and whether a new circuit is required. Many outlet and switch jobs are completed in a single visit, and estimates are free.
How it works with ASL Electric
Let us know which outlets or switches, and where you want new ones.
We check the circuits and give you a price before starting.
We install the devices, test each one and clean up.
Outlets, Switches, GFCI & AFCI across Orange County
Outlet and switch calls come from every kind of Orange County home. In Irvine, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Tustin, older homes often have two-prong outlets, worn devices and too few kitchen and bedroom outlets. Newer homes can have builder problems too: one customer called after an outlet that a builder had wired improperly arced and melted down, and our electrician diagnosed it quickly and replaced it so the dishwasher and disposal were back up and running.
We also handle the small, nagging jobs, like an Irvine homeowner's hard-to-reach disposal outlet tucked behind the pipes under the kitchen sink, or a Laguna Hills kitchen outlet that had stopped working. Small jobs matter to us as much as big ones.