Szeto Handyman
What we swap
- English
- Mandarin Chinese
- Cantonese
- Outlets and switches, including dimmers and USB outlets.
- GFCI outlets in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry and garages where an outlet already exists.
- Light fixtures, pendants and vanity lights on existing boxes.
- Ceiling fans on existing fan-rated boxes.
- Bath exhaust fans in the existing opening.
- LED retrofits for recessed cans.
- Doorbells, smoke and CO alarms on existing wiring.
Scope on handyman jobs
Our electrical work stays within existing boxes and circuits. If we open a box and find a problem, we stop, leave the breaker off and show you what we found.
Ceiling fans
A ceiling fan needs a box rated for its weight and motion. If the existing box is not fan-rated, we can sometimes replace it through the existing opening with a retrofit brace made for that purpose. If not, the fan cannot hang from that box.
Bath fans
Old bath fans get loud and stop moving air. We replace the fan in the same opening with a quieter model, connected to the existing duct and wiring. If the duct needs rerouting, we tell you before we start.
Before we swap anything
We turn the breaker off, confirm the circuit is dead with a tester, and look at the existing wiring before connecting a new device. Old cloth-insulated wire that crumbles, a missing ground where the new device needs one, or signs of overheating mean we pause the job.
- Foothills to the 10
- Fixture work for owners and renters
When choosing new fixtures, check the box size, the weight and the bulb type. A photo of the existing fixture with the canopy removed helps us confirm it will fit.
- Try a known-good bulbRules out the easy cause first.
- Check the switchNote if it feels loose or warm.
- Look at the socketA flattened tab or dark marks matter.
- Photo and textThe fixture, the socket and the switch.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
California requires smoke alarms and, in homes with gas appliances or attached garages, carbon monoxide alarms. We replace hardwired alarms on existing wiring and install battery units where no wiring exists, following the maker's placement instructions.
Signs a device needs replacing
- An outlet that will not hold a plug or feels warm.
- A switch that crackles, sparks or has to be jiggled.
- Lights that flicker on one fixture only.
- A GFCI that will not reset or trips without a cause.
- A ceiling fan that wobbles or hums loudly.
- A bath fan that runs but does not clear mirror fog.
Flickering throughout the house, breakers that trip repeatedly, scorch marks or a burning smell are different. Those point to wiring or panel issues. Switch that breaker off and leave it off until the wiring is checked.
GFCI and AFCI basics
A GFCI outlet shuts off power when it detects current leaking to ground, which protects people near water. Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas, garages and outdoor outlets are the usual places. AFCI protection, typically at the breaker, guards against arcing faults that can start fires. We install GFCI outlets where outlets already exist.
- A photo of the old fixture, switch or outlet
- A photo of the new one or a link to it
- Ceiling height, if the fixture is up high
- Which breaker controls it, if you know
- Whether anything flickers, buzzes or feels warm
- How many fixtures are on the list
Choosing LED fixtures
Look at the color temperature on the box: 2700K is warm and close to old incandescent bulbs, 3000K is slightly crisper, and 4000K and up reads as cool white. Pick dimmable fixtures if they go on a dimmer, and match the dimmer to LED loads to avoid flicker. For bathrooms, a fixture rated for damp locations holds up better.
- Sockets and switches in existing fixtures
- Tightening loose canopies and mounts
- Replacing worn pull chains
- Swapping a failed fixture like-for-like
- Tracing a dead circuit
- Panel or breaker problems
- New wiring or relocated boxes
- Melted or scorched wiring
What is outside our scope
New circuits, new boxes, moving switches, adding outlets, panel upgrades, aluminum wiring and adding ground wires are all outside our scope. We stop as soon as we find any of those and tell you exactly what we saw.
Dimmers and smart switches
Swapping a switch for a dimmer or a smart switch is common. Many smart switches need a neutral wire in the box, which older switch boxes may not have. We check the box before you buy.
Three-way and four-way switch setups need matching devices on every location. Dimmers must be rated for LED loads and for the total wattage on the circuit.
Doorbells and alarms
Video doorbells usually need a working transformer that meets the doorbell's voltage requirement. If the existing transformer is too weak, the camera may reboot or the chime will not ring. We replace the doorbell and the transformer when it is accessible on an existing box. Hardwired smoke alarms are replaced with compatible units so interconnection keeps working, and we test the whole set when we are done.
Ceiling fan sizing
Fan blade span depends on room size, and blades should clear the floor by a comfortable margin. In rooms with low ceilings, a flush-mount fan keeps clearance. In vaulted rooms, a downrod and a sloped-ceiling adapter are needed. We check the existing box rating before hanging any fan.
- Wide shotThe whole fixture and the space around it.
- Close-upLabels, model numbers, the leak or break.
- ConnectionsValves, pipes, wires or brackets.
- Send itText the photos with your cross street.
Outdoor and under-cabinet lighting
Porch lights, motion floodlights and garage fixtures can be replaced on existing outdoor boxes with fixtures rated for wet locations, sealed so rain cannot get into the box. Under-cabinet LED strips can plug into an existing outlet or connect to an existing switched circuit inside the cabinet line.
Related guide: Our GFCI reset checklist.
Photo checklist
- The fixture, switch or outlet you want replaced
- The ceiling or wall around it
- The new fixture’s box or model number
- The breaker panel labels, if handy
Questions we get
Can you add an outlet where there is none?
No. A new outlet means a new box and circuit, which is outside our scope.
Can you put a GFCI in my bathroom?
Yes, where an outlet already exists.
Will you hang a heavy chandelier?
Yes, if the box is rated for the weight. We check before we start.
- One step back
- The fixture from the side
- Nearby corner
Can you replace a fluorescent fixture with an LED one?
Yes, on the existing box. Kitchen and garage fluorescent fixtures are among the most common swaps we do.
My GFCI keeps tripping. What should I do?
Unplug everything on it and reset. If it holds, something plugged in is faulty. If it still trips, the device or the wiring downstream may be the issue, and we can test and replace the GFCI.
Can you replace a two-prong outlet?
Like-for-like, yes. A GFCI outlet can add shock protection where there is no ground wire.
- Send pictures
- You approve the fixture quote
- Checked with you
Why does my LED bulb flicker on a dimmer?
Many older dimmers are not made for LEDs. An LED-compatible dimmer usually fixes it.
A GFCI will not reset. What should I check?
Make sure the circuit has power and that no other GFCI upstream has tripped. If it still will not reset, it may need replacing.
Is a warm outlet a problem?
Yes. Stop using it and switch off its breaker until the wiring is checked.
- The fixture alone
- Tack on extras
Why does my light fixture buzz?
Dimmers that do not match LED bulbs, a failing ballast or a loose connection are the usual causes. We find which one before replacing anything.
Why does my fixture keep blowing bulbs?
Bulbs over the fixture’s rated wattage, a loose socket tab or heat trapped in a closed globe wear bulbs out early. We check each one.
Do I need a ground wire for a new fixture?
Metal fixtures should be grounded. If the box has no ground, we tell you what we find and what the options are before going ahead.
- A text before the fixture visit
- Drop cloths, then cleanup
Get a quote for electrical fixture repairs
Text a photo and your cross street. Free estimates, and most texts are answered within the hour.
Good to fix along with the fixture
While we work on the fixture, we can also look at swapping worn outlets and switches and swapping ceiling lights and sconces. Problem turns out not to be the fixture? Read ceiling fan installation and replacement, smoke and CO alarm installation or doorbell and video doorbell installation.
Repairs related to the fixture
Service area for this job: West Covina, Covina, Baldwin Park, Azusa, Temple City, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Glendora.
Hood light or fan quit? We also handle range hood replacement on existing ducts.Fan humming or wobbling? Our notes on Hunter and Hampton Bay fans cover the usual fixes.