Knob-and-tube
Single wires on porcelain knobs, with no ground wire. The insulation gets brittle with age, and attic insulation packed around it can trap heat. Some insurance companies ask about it before covering a home.
Wiring and Rewiring in Los Angeles
Knob-and-tube, cloth-covered or aluminum wiring, outlets with no ground, or a remodel that needs new circuits? We repair, replace and add wiring in homes and businesses, and we handle the permit and the city inspection.
What happens when you call: our office answers, asks a few quick questions and books your free on-site evaluation. If you know roughly when your home was built, tell us.
Office hours: Sat–Thu 8 AM–11:30 PM · Fri 8 AM–5 PM
- 4.9 Google rating
- CA Lic. C-10 #1100197
- Permit & inspection handled
- 2-year labor warranty
How a rewire works, room by room
An older Los Angeles home, drawn in cross-section. Follow a real rewire in five steps: what we find, how we plan it, where we open, how the new circuits go in, and the inspection.
1. Inspect. We trace every circuit and find the old wiring: knob-and-tube in the attic, cloth-covered cable in the walls, two-prong outlets with no ground.2. Plan. New circuits are mapped room by room, sized for how you live now, and you get a clear quote before any work starts.3. Open. Where the house allows it, we open narrow strips along the top of the walls and at each box, not whole walls. You can see it in the photos below.4. Run new wire. New copper circuits go in one by one, with grounded boxes. The old wiring is disconnected, and removed where it can be reached.5. Inspect and power up. The city inspects the new wiring before the walls are closed. Then every circuit is tested and labeled at the panel.
Illustration. Every home is different: your electrician walks you through the plan for yours at the free on-site evaluation.
Signs your wiring needs attention
Old wiring rarely fails all at once. These are the warnings we see first. The photos are from real Volta service calls.
Damaged or brittle insulation
Cracked, torn or crumbling insulation leaves live wires exposed.
Loose, worn outlets
Plugs that fall out, cracked faces and no ground wire.
Scorch marks or a burning smell
A sign of heat at a connection. Stop using it and call.
Crowded, corroded wiring
Decades of add-ons and corrosion where the circuits start.
- Breakers trip or fuses blow oftenCircuits carrying more than they were built for.
- Lights flicker or dimEspecially when something big turns on.
- Warm outlets or switch platesHeat at a connection is never normal.
- Buzzing or cracklingFrom an outlet, a switch or the panel.
- Two-prong outlets throughoutUsually means the home has no ground wire.
- Knob-and-tube or cloth wiring in sightIn the attic, the crawl space or an open wall.
Burning smell, smoke or a hot outlet?
Turn off that circuit at the panel if you can do it safely, and stop using it. If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911. Then call us at (844) 425-1889.
Old wiring we replace in LA homes
Much of Los Angeles was built before the 1970s. If your home is one of them, it may still have one of these. None of them is an emergency by itself, but each deserves a look.
Cloth-covered cable
Rubber insulation under a cloth jacket. The rubber dries out and cracks, especially near light fixtures and in hot attics. Usually no ground wire.
Aluminum branch wiring
Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, so connections can loosen and overheat over time. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends permanent repairs, with copper rewiring as the best and most complete fix.
Two-wire circuits, no ground
Two-prong outlets usually mean no ground wire. Swapping in three-prong outlets without a ground isn’t a fix. A new grounded circuit is, or GFCI protection where the code allows it.
Source for aluminum wiring: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Repairing Aluminum Wiring”.
Wiring work we do
From one damaged circuit to a whole house. Every job is permitted where the code requires it and finished with a labeled panel.
- Wiring repairs: damaged, loose or overheating wiring
- Whole-home rewiring
- Partial rewiring: one room, a kitchen, an addition
- Knob-and-tube, cloth and aluminum wiring replaced with copper
- New circuits for kitchens, laundry rooms, garages and home offices
- Grounded outlets in place of two-prong outlets
- Wiring for remodels and renovations
- Wiring upgrades for offices, shops, restaurants and warehouses
- Preventive checks: wiring inspections, circuit and breaker testing, outlet and switch safety checks
Not sure what you need? Start with an electrical inspection.
How a rewiring project works
You make one call. We plan it, pull the permit, do the work and schedule the city inspection.
Call our office
Tell us what you’re seeing and roughly how old the home is. We book your free on-site evaluation.
On-site evaluation
Your electrician checks the wiring, the panel and the grounding, and talks through what you plan to add.
A clear plan and quote
Which rooms, which circuits, and the price, before any work starts. Financing options available for qualifying projects.
Permit
We pull the electrical permit with your city.
Open and remove
Small openings where the house allows. Old wiring is disconnected, and removed where it can be reached.
New wiring
New copper circuits, grounded boxes and outlets, and new breakers where needed.
Inspection and testing
The city inspects the new wiring before the walls are closed. Every circuit is tested and labeled.
What customers say
Every review, connected.
Real Google reviews, word for word. Follow the current, or scroll at your own pace.
Real Google reviews. Click any review to stop the slideshow.
andre dunnCalled them out lookin for an electrical fix out in Los Angeles, they came out quick and offered some good options. Thanks a lot Roy super helpful!
Lissa SholtyA circuit tripped furing the extreme hear so I called Volta at 6pm and they were able to schedule service for the next day. On arrival, Eric and his associate were so polite and ready & willing to help. Luckily my problem was just a tripped circuit I didn't know about but they checked all the breakers and made sure everything worked before they left. I'd highly recommend Volta.
Ken OgboguI was having an issue with my Tesla EV wall charger at home, Omer arrived on time the next day, diagnosed the issue and made recommendations. Very professional and knows what he's doing.
Debbie McclainStellar experience. Roy was very professional and easy to talk to, he offered several options at different costs, very affordable as well. Thanks so much to Volta, they made my electrical fix an easy experience.
Colleen NelsonThe electrician Libar was very thorough and professional during his on site assessment. Provided me with a ETA, very considerate about our schedule. Was honest and really explained our options thoroughly. If anyone is in need of electrical services in Los Angeles call Volta Electric!
liran engelhardtHave an amazing experience with Volta electric I needed to replace my subpanel in my condo. Eric came over to give me a quote. He was very professional and a real gentleman. He helped me out through the whole process with permit inspection. Everything was included very happy with them will recommend to anyone in needs for electrician in Los Angeles.
Keh-Chuh TingCalled these guys out for an estimate, and Roy came out, very easy to talk with, went over options with me, and offered something that helped with a discount! Thanks a lot guys.
sheila MixThe best electrical service i ever had! You will be pleased with service and professionalism.
kory smithExcellent job, did what was needed and did it fast.
Christine MunstermanThank you so much Roy! He came back twice because my phone wasn't with me and trouble-shooted our problem in 10 minutes! He billed it as a courtesy call. He's the best!!
Amy PEric is absolutely amazing. He came to help us identify an electrical issues that caused malfunction of our HVAC. The issue has been bothering us for almost 2 years and he’s the first one to identify and fix the issue. Absolutely amazing service and would highly recommend!
JEAN DEJESUSHad a great service with Volta electric Eric was the technician he was very professional and knowledgeable. I needed my electric panel upgraded to 200 AMP they handled the permits and inspection everything from scratch very happy with their services. Will definitely recommend their electrician service services to anyone in needs.
Estela ChavezIt is with great pleasure that I recommend Eric for all your Electrical needs. Eric diagnosed the problem right away and acted swiftly to solve the problem. Eric is the best electrician in the Long Beach area. The prices are very reasonably and the work is of great quality. We will continue to call them for our electrical needs.
Ariel DavidiBest electrician company ever!!! I had Eric from Volta electric come over to give me a quote for outlets installation. He was super professional, knowledgeable and very kind. …
Benjamin Rouillé-d'OrfeuilI needed an electrician for an EV charging project and a a technician named Libar cam to my house to look at the outlet in my garage along with the electrical panel. …
lolashowmeThe absolute best electric company in Los Angeles. Ram Came very quickly after I called and turned what was a complete disaster with my electric into something really simple and easy. And I’m so grateful for their help and I can’t recommend them enough. He was also very patient and friendly. Thank you ram and Volta!
Eunice ZetinoI had Volta electric install light fixtures in my backyard. They did a fantastic job very professional, from the office team to Eric and Junior The electricians, Very satisfied with their services, The price was super competitive. …
Albert TorresHad Volta electric install recessed lights in my kitchen, Oscar the electrician was super professional and easy to work with. 100% recommend anyone in needs for a licensed electrician in Los Angeles ! …
ANGEL TUICOLooked for an electrician in the Los Angeles area and im happy i found Volta Electric. Explained all of the work i needed to get done thoroughly, professionally and was very knowledgable about the trade. …
Annie MarkHad a great experience with Libar from Volta Electric. They were professional, communicative and very thorough from start to finish. The electrician showed up on time, explained everything clearly and efficiently. …
Rewiring across Southern California
We repair and replace wiring throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, from 1920s bungalows to 1970s ranch homes.
Do we serve your city?
Type your city or neighborhood and we’ll check it against our service list.
Related services
Rewiring questions
Straight answers to what customers ask us most. Still wondering about something? Call (844) 425-1889.
How do I know if my house needs rewiring?
The age of the home is the first clue: many homes built before the 1970s still have knob-and-tube, cloth-covered or aluminum wiring. Then the signs: breakers that trip often, flickering lights, warm outlets or switch plates, a burning smell, or two-prong outlets throughout. A free on-site evaluation tells you what you actually have.
Is knob-and-tube wiring dangerous?
Not automatically, but it’s old. It has no ground wire, its insulation gets brittle, it was never meant to be buried in attic insulation, and after decades it has often been modified. Some insurance companies ask about it. We check its condition and tell you honestly whether to replace it now or plan for it.
Do you have to tear out walls to rewire a house?
Usually not whole walls. Where the house allows it, we open narrow strips along the top of the walls and small openings at each box, then run the new cable through them. You can see it in the photos on this page. How much opening your home needs depends on its construction and access from the attic or crawl space.
Do I need a permit to rewire?
Yes. Rewiring needs an electrical permit, and the city inspects the new wiring before the walls are closed. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection for you.
Can you replace two-prong outlets with three-prong outlets?
Only properly. A three-prong outlet needs a ground. The fix is a new grounded circuit, or GFCI protection where the code allows it, labeled as having no equipment ground. See outlets and GFCI.
What should I do about aluminum wiring?
Have it evaluated. Aluminum branch wiring, used from about 1965 to the mid-1970s, can loosen and overheat at its connections over time. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends permanent repairs, with copper rewiring as the best and most complete fix.
What are the benefits of rewiring an older home?
A safer home, with fewer overheating connections and grounded outlets. Enough circuits for today’s appliances, chargers and electronics. Fewer surprises when you insure or sell the home. And wiring you won’t have to think about for decades.
Will I need a panel upgrade too?
Not always. If your panel still has fuses, is a brand known for problems, or has no space for new circuits, it often makes sense to do both together. See panel upgrades.
How much does rewiring cost?
It depends on the size of the home, how many circuits it needs, access from the attic or crawl space, and the walls and ceilings. We don’t quote over the phone. Call (844) 425-1889 for a free on-site estimate; you get a clear quote before any work starts. Financing options available for qualifying projects.
Do you do commercial wiring?
Yes: wiring upgrades and new circuits for offices, shops and restaurants. See commercial electrical services.
What warranty do I get?
Our work comes with a 2-year labor warranty, and the equipment carries the manufacturer’s warranty of up to 10 years.
What areas do you serve?
Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. See all the cities we serve.
New customers
10% off your first job with Volta Electric.
Mention this offer when you call to lock in your discount on any electrical service.
Call now: (844) 425-1889
Ready for wiring you
don’t have to worry about?
Call our office to book your free on-site evaluation. We look at your wiring and your panel, explain what we find, and give you a clear quote.
Hours: Sat–Thu 8 AM–11:30 PM · Fri 8 AM–5 PM
- Free on-site estimates, with a clear quote before any work starts
- Licensed, bonded & insured · CA Lic. C-10 #1100197
- Financing options available for qualifying projects