Get matched with top electricians in Altona, IL

Q: What is the red wire in a ceiling light kit?

• <div><p>Most ceiling light fixtures only have a black, white, and green wire, but in some cases, you&rsquo;ll also find a red wire in the box. This is a second hot wire, like the black wire, and is included for ceiling light kits that have a fan.</p></div>

Q: How do you release a wire connection?

• <div><p>Electrical fixes are best handled by a licensed electrician, but it&rsquo;s possible to release a wire connection on your own. Be sure to always turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker before beginning your project to avoid electric shock. Carefully insert the tip of a flat screwdriver into the rectangular hole beneath the wire. Hold the outlet in the palm of your other hand. Pull out the wire as you apply pressure with the screwdriver. </p></div>

Q: Is it common to tip an electrician?

• <div><p>Tipping an electrician is not a requirement nor is it expected, as they build a fair wage into the price of the job. It&rsquo;s up to your discretion. There are no set rules for tipping electricians, but if they did a great job and you&rsquo;re so inclined to tip 10% to 15%, it will likely be received with thanks.</p></div>

Q: Can I ground an outlet to plumbing?

• <div><p>Before the widespread use of PVC, affixing a ground wire to plumbing pipes was generally considered to be an acceptable workaround. Nowadays, not so much. There are plenty of nonmetallic water pipes and fittings out there, so any ground previously provided by the metallic piping would be interrupted in these cases, which is dangerous.</p></div>

Q: Should I use a voltmeter or a multimeter?

• <div><p>Ultimately, the best device depends on what you&rsquo;re measuring. A voltmeter only measures volts, while a multimeter measures volts, current, resistance, humidity, and possibly much more, depending on the model. If you think you&rsquo;ll need to measure more than volts, consider investing in a multimeter so you have a tool that can help you with various household projects. </p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Electrical Service pros in Altona, IL

*The Angi rating for Electrical Service companies in Altona, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Electrical Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Electrical Service companies in Altona, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Electrical Service needs.

Last update on November 06, 2025

Reviewed in November 2025
My pro, Bob, did an excellent job at installing my over the range microwave. He also removed and hauled away my old one. Bob was punctual, efficient, and talked me through the process of the exact work he would be performing. He was friendly and also cleaned up nicely when the job was complete....
Redemption Home Improvement LLC
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Reviewed in October 2025
Very good job. They're professional and friendly. Cleaned up after left yard looking good.
Haney Tree Care
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Reviewed in August 2025
Couldn’t be happier with the work and products that I received from Finn AV & IT. I would highly recommend them to anyone. No complaints whatsoever. A+ rating.
FINN AV & IT Solutions
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Reviewed in July 2024
That he is very hard working and polite
Williams Construction
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Reviewed in June 2023
Great work. Easy to work with. Will use again!
AJ Concrete
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Reviewed in March 2023
Very polite, works fast, and reliable.
Handy Services LLC
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Reviewed in August 2021
The Professionals at Oak Electric rewired our existing outdoor lighting, which we originally thought would have to be replaced. This saved us significant expense and allowed us to use our existing light fixtures which are a focal point in our backyard. Their professionalism, promptness and...
Oak Electric, Inc.
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Reviewed in March 2019
Mike called me as soon as I submitted my request, showed up on time and did excellent work. He was fast and very personable and professional. I will definitely call him for other electrical work in the future.
DT Electric
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Reviewed in January 2016
Jesse did a great clean job in completing the wiring for ceiling fans with both attic and no attic access. He wired a garbage disposal and relocated the fireplace switch and relocated my cable connection with a receptacle next to it. He then installed the 5 ceiling fans and switches. Great...
Luke Electric, LLC
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Reviewed in March 2015
Called with no hot water at 7:45am and had hot water by 9:00am. And I ended up needing an electrician which they provided. I have spent thousands of dollars over the last 15 years with these folks. I got irritated with one of their management team about 6 months ago and tried another local...
Mechanical Service Inc
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Find Electricians in Altona

RP Electric

4.9(

)

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Quick efficient experience job done right."

Response time3 hrs

Response rate92%

6 neighbors recently requested a quote

Request Quote

Mid America Lightning Protection

4.5(

)

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1969

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Mr. Gorman is very professional. He gave me a reasonable rate. He did the job in one day on two structures."

+70

Response time6 hrs

Response rate94%

3 neighbors recently requested a quote

Request Quote

Tri-State Water, Power & Air

5.0(

)

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

Approved (Corporate)

In business since 1992

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

We are the experts in the field of Whole Home Generator Sales and Installation, with over 20 years of experience in the game.\nWe provide turn-key installation by licensed professionals - 24 hour emergency service - Remote Monitoring - Long term maintenance and service by factory trained technicians.

41 neighbors recently requested a quote

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"He was pretty good, did work in timely manner and cleaned up."

Response time3 hrs

Response rate99%

5 neighbors recently requested a quote

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Todd

New to Angi

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Hello, I offer a multitude of services including handyman, cabinet installation, a multitude of repair and construction services, and more. Feel free to reach out to me to see if I can help you with whatever services you need completed.

2 neighbors recently requested a quote

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Curtis Home Solutions

New to Angi

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

I am a jack of trades independent contractor/ handyman with 10+ years experience. I am not a licensed plumber, licensed electrician, or licensed roofer. With that said it's easier to just tell you the things that I don't do. I do not do drain work, I do not replace electrical lines or panel boxes, I do not replace plumbing lines which includes water and gas, and I do not replace roofs. Aside from that I can do everything else, and have the tools to do so.

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

"I will definitely call Mike at DT Electric if again if I need help with an electrical problem. His price was reasonable and if you hang around while he is working he explains what he is doing so you get to learn some "tricks of the trade"."

Response time11 hrs

Recommended by95%of homeowners

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Lightning Defense, LLC (Illinois)

4.6(

136

)

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1972

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Great customer service, work done according to proposal, wires hidden, very quick service between proposal, approval and installation."

+13

Response time4 hrs

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Request Quote

Power Services Company, LLC

5.0(

)

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"They went above and beyond for a generator install"

Response time1 day

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Serving Altona, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1977

Emergency services offered

"He was very organized and he knew what he was doing. He was very clean and very honest"

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Request Quote

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Showing 1-10 of 51

Electrical questions, answered by experts

Most ceiling light fixtures only have a black, white, and green wire, but in some cases, you’ll also find a red wire in the box. This is a second hot wire, like the black wire, and is included for ceiling light kits that have a fan.

Electrical fixes are best handled by a licensed electrician, but it’s possible to release a wire connection on your own. Be sure to always turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker before beginning your project to avoid electric shock. Carefully insert the tip of a flat screwdriver into the rectangular hole beneath the wire. Hold the outlet in the palm of your other hand. Pull out the wire as you apply pressure with the screwdriver.

Tipping an electrician is not a requirement nor is it expected, as they build a fair wage into the price of the job. It’s up to your discretion. There are no set rules for tipping electricians, but if they did a great job and you’re so inclined to tip 10% to 15%, it will likely be received with thanks.

Before the widespread use of PVC, affixing a ground wire to plumbing pipes was generally considered to be an acceptable workaround. Nowadays, not so much. There are plenty of nonmetallic water pipes and fittings out there, so any ground previously provided by the metallic piping would be interrupted in these cases, which is dangerous.

Ultimately, the best device depends on what you’re measuring. A voltmeter only measures volts, while a multimeter measures volts, current, resistance, humidity, and possibly much more, depending on the model. If you think you’ll need to measure more than volts, consider investing in a multimeter so you have a tool that can help you with various household projects.

The Altona, IL homeowners’ guide to electrical services

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