Hear from Our Customers
You flip a switch and nothing happens. Or worse, you smell something burning near an outlet. Your chest tightens because you know electrical problems don’t wait for convenient timing.
That’s where we come in. When your home’s electrical system acts up, you need someone who can diagnose the real issue fast and fix it permanently. Not a temporary patch that fails again in three months.
Our focus is simple: get your power back on safely, upgrade outdated systems that can’t handle modern demands, and make sure your family isn’t at risk from electrical hazards. You get a licensed, bonded, and insured electrical contractor in Thornton, IL who’s been handling residential emergencies for 25 years. We’ve seen the flickering lights that signal a loose connection. The breakers that trip because your panel can’t support your EV charger. The burning smell that means you need help now, not tomorrow.
After we’re done, your lights work. Your outlets are safe. Your electrical panel can handle what you’re plugging into it. You’re not wondering if something’s about to go wrong again.
We’re Jimco Electric, and we’ve been the local electrical company Thornton, IL homeowners call when something goes wrong. For a quarter century, we’ve focused on residential electrical work because that’s where we can make the biggest difference.
Thornton’s median home age and diverse housing stock means we see everything from outdated fuse boxes to modern smart home installations. We know the electrical challenges in this area. Older homes with 100-amp panels trying to run central air, electric ranges, and now EV chargers. Additions that were wired by someone’s “handy” brother-in-law. Flickering lights that everyone ignores until they can’t anymore.
We’re licensed, bonded, and insured because that’s not optional when you’re working inside someone’s walls. We offer discounts for military, first responders, seniors, teachers, new customers, and students because this community has given us 25 years of business. When you call, you’re getting electricians who’ve made a living solving problems like yours.
First, we listen. You tell us what’s happening. Lights flickering in one room or the whole house? Burning smell from a specific outlet? Breaker tripping every time you run the dryer? These details matter because they point us toward the real problem.
Then we schedule a time that works for you. For emergencies, that means as soon as we can get there. For planned work like panel upgrades or adding circuits for an EV charger, we find a time that doesn’t disrupt your whole week.
When we arrive, we diagnose the issue properly. That means testing circuits, checking connections, and looking at your electrical panel to see what’s actually going on. Not guessing. Not assuming. Finding the source.
Once we know what’s wrong, we explain it in plain terms. What failed, why it failed, what it takes to fix it, and what it costs. You decide if you want to move forward.
If you do, we fix it. We replace the faulty breaker, rewire the circuit, upgrade the panel, install the new outlet, whatever the job requires. We test everything before we leave. You get a system that works the way it should, and we clean up after ourselves.
Ready to get started?
You get emergency electrical repairs when something goes wrong at the worst possible time. Power outages, burning smells, sparking outlets, lights that won’t turn on. We handle the urgent stuff that can’t wait until Monday.
You get electrical panel upgrades when your current panel can’t keep up. Thornton homes often have 100-amp or 150-amp panels that were fine 30 years ago but struggle with modern electrical loads. If you’re adding an EV charger, a hot tub, or central air, your panel might need an upgrade to handle it safely.
You get new circuits installed for specific needs. EV chargers pull serious amperage and need dedicated circuits. Same with home offices, workshop equipment, or kitchen remodels. We run the new wiring, install the breaker, and make sure everything’s up to code.
You get electrical safety inspections if you’re buying a home in Thornton or just want to know your system is safe. We check for outdated wiring, overloaded circuits, improper installations, and fire hazards. You get a clear picture of what needs attention and what can wait.
You get service changes when your home needs more power capacity. If you’re upgrading from 100-amp to 200-amp service, we coordinate with the utility company and handle the entire installation. Your home gets the electrical capacity it needs for modern living.
Your panel needs an upgrade if breakers trip frequently, you smell burning near the panel, or you’re adding high-draw appliances like an EV charger. Most Thornton homes built before 1990 have 100-amp or 150-amp panels, which struggle with modern electrical demands.
Here’s what to watch for: breakers that trip when you run multiple appliances at once, lights that dim when the AC kicks on, or a panel that feels warm to the touch. These are signs your panel is overloaded. If you’re planning to add an EV charger, that alone often requires a panel upgrade because Level 2 chargers need dedicated 40-amp or 50-amp circuits.
Another clear sign is if your panel still uses fuses instead of breakers, or if you see rust, corrosion, or scorch marks inside the panel box. Those are safety hazards that need immediate attention. We can assess your current panel, calculate your home’s electrical load, and tell you exactly whether an upgrade makes sense or if you’re fine with what you have.
Turn off the breaker that controls that outlet or switch immediately, and don’t use it until we can inspect it. A burning smell means something is overheating, which can lead to an electrical fire.
Common causes include loose wire connections, outlets with damaged internal components, or circuits that are overloaded. Sometimes it’s as simple as a plug that’s making poor contact, creating resistance and heat. Other times it’s a more serious wiring issue inside the wall. Either way, it’s not something to ignore or “keep an eye on.”
If you can’t figure out which breaker controls the problem area, turn off the main breaker and call us for an emergency repair. We’ll identify what’s causing the burning smell, fix the damaged components, and make sure your wiring is safe. This is exactly the kind of electrical emergency we handle regularly in Thornton, and it’s one you shouldn’t try to diagnose yourself.
Electrical work in Thornton typically costs between $38 and $56 per hour for labor, plus materials. Simple repairs like replacing an outlet might run $100-$200, while a full panel upgrade can cost $1,500-$3,000 depending on the amperage and complexity.
The actual cost depends on what you need done. Troubleshooting a circuit problem might take an hour. Installing a dedicated circuit for an EV charger takes longer because we’re running new wire, installing a new breaker, and possibly upgrading your panel. Service changes that increase your home’s electrical capacity involve coordination with the utility company and more extensive work.
We give you a clear estimate before we start any work. You’ll know what the job costs, what’s included, and how long it should take. We offer discounts for military, first responders, seniors, teachers, new customers, and students, which can reduce your final cost. If you’re dealing with an emergency, we prioritize getting your power back on safely, then discuss any additional repairs that make sense for your situation and budget.
Lights flicker because of loose connections, overloaded circuits, or problems with your electrical panel. Whether it’s dangerous depends on the cause, but it’s always worth having us check it out.
If lights flicker only when you turn on a high-draw appliance like your AC or microwave, that usually means the circuit is overloaded or you have a voltage drop issue. If lights flicker randomly throughout your house, that points to a loose connection somewhere in your electrical system, possibly at the panel or the meter base. If flickering happens in just one room, the problem is likely a loose wire connection at a switch or outlet in that area.
Loose connections are the dangerous ones because they create heat, which can damage wiring insulation and lead to electrical fires. Flickering lights are often an early warning sign. We trace the problem back to its source, tighten or replace faulty connections, and make sure your circuits aren’t overloaded. Most homeowners in Thornton ignore flickering lights until something worse happens. Better to get it checked now while it’s still a simple fix.
Yes, most electrical work in Thornton requires a permit, especially panel upgrades, service changes, new circuits, and any work that involves opening walls. Simple repairs like replacing a switch or outlet typically don’t require permits, but anything more involved does.
Permits exist to make sure electrical work meets safety codes. When we pull a permit for your job, an inspector comes out to verify the work was done correctly. That protects you if you ever sell your home, because buyers and their inspectors will ask about permits for electrical upgrades. Unpermitted work can kill a home sale or force you to pay for expensive corrections.
We handle all permit requirements as part of our service. We know Thornton’s local codes, we pull the permits, we schedule the inspections, and we make sure everything passes. You don’t have to deal with the village building department or worry about whether the work is up to code. That’s part of hiring a licensed electrical contractor instead of trying to DIY it or hiring someone working under the table.
Yes, we install EV chargers throughout Thornton, including running the dedicated circuit your charger needs. Most Level 2 home chargers require a 240-volt, 40-amp or 50-amp circuit, which means new wiring from your electrical panel to your garage or wherever you’re parking.
First, we assess your current electrical panel to see if it has capacity for the additional load. Many Thornton homes have 100-amp or 150-amp panels that are already near capacity, which means you might need a panel upgrade before we can safely add an EV charger circuit. If your panel can handle it, we run the new circuit, install the appropriate breaker, mount the charger, and test everything to make sure it’s working correctly.
The entire installation typically takes a day, depending on how far we need to run the wiring and whether your panel needs upgrading. We pull the necessary permits and coordinate inspections. You end up with a properly installed EV charger that won’t overload your electrical system or create a fire hazard. This is one of the most common requests we’re getting lately as more Thornton residents switch to electric vehicles.
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