Professional Electrical Services in Greenacres, WA | Wired Goat Electric
There's something special about Browne's Addition that every electrician notices the moment they step into one of these grand old homes. Maybe it's the original push-button light switches in a 1905 Victorian on Pacific Avenue, or the knob-and-tube wiring still hiding behind the plaster walls of a Coeur d'Alene Street mansion. This isn't cookie-cutter suburbia—Browne's Addition is Spokane's most distinctive historic neighborhood, and its electrical systems tell a story that spans more than a century.
At Wired Goat Electric, we've been working in Browne's Addition for 13 years, and we understand what makes this neighborhood different. These aren't just old houses—they're architectural treasures with electrical systems that have evolved (and sometimes devolved) through multiple generations of owners, renovations, and "improvements." When you need electrical work in Browne's Addition, you need someone who respects the craftsmanship of these homes while bringing them safely into the 21st century.
Why Browne's Addition Presents Unique Electrical Challenges
Walk down West Pacific Avenue or Coeur d'Alene Street, and you're looking at homes built between 1890 and 1930—an era when electricity itself was still a luxury. These homes were originally lit by gas, then retrofitted for electricity, then updated again and again as electrical demands grew. The result? Layers upon layers of electrical work, some brilliant, some baffling, and some downright dangerous.
The neighborhood's proximity to downtown Spokane and Gonzaga University has created an interesting dynamic. Many of these grand homes have been converted to multi-unit rentals or student housing over the decades, often with electrical "upgrades" that prioritized convenience over safety. We regularly find subpanels installed without proper permits, circuits extended in creative (but non-code-compliant) ways, and temporary solutions that became permanent decades ago.
What makes Browne's Addition particularly challenging is the construction itself. We're talking about plaster-and-lath walls (not drywall), balloon framing that creates hidden vertical pathways, and floor joists that don't run where modern construction would place them. Running new circuits in these homes requires experience, creativity, and a deep respect for preserving the character that makes Browne's Addition special.
Four Electrical Issues We Consistently Find in Browne's Addition Homes
Knob-and-Tube Wiring Hidden Behind Renovations
Here's the scenario we encounter constantly in Browne's Addition: Someone renovated the kitchen in 1985, updated a bathroom in 1998, finished the basement in 2005—but nobody touched the original knob-and-tube wiring running through the walls and attic spaces. Now you're buying this beautiful 1912 craftsman on Summit Boulevard, and the home inspection reveals active knob-and-tube wiring serving portions of the house.
Knob-and-tube wiring isn't automatically dangerous—it was well-designed for its era. But it's completely inadequate for modern electrical loads, and it becomes hazardous when buried under insulation (which traps heat) or when connections have deteriorated over 100+ years. Insurance companies increasingly refuse to cover homes with active knob-and-tube wiring, and for good reason.
Our approach in Browne's Addition focuses on surgical rewiring that preserves your home's character. We identify access points through closets, basements, and attics to minimize plaster damage. We understand how these homes were built—the balloon framing, the hidden chases, the original wire pathways—and we use that knowledge to rewire efficiently while respecting the architecture.
Overloaded 60-Amp and 100-Amp Service Panels
A 1920s home in Browne's Addition was designed for electrical loads we can barely imagine today. Maybe a few light bulbs, an electric iron, a radio. The original service might have been 30 amps—later upgraded to 60 amps when families added refrigerators and washing machines.
Fast forward to today, and that same home is running central heating and cooling, modern kitchen appliances, computers and entertainment systems, electric vehicle chargers, and multiple bathrooms with high-draw fixtures. The electrical infrastructure is gasping under the load.
We see this particularly in the multi-unit conversions common in Browne's Addition. A beautiful old mansion gets divided into three or four apartments, each with its own kitchen and laundry, all running off a 100-amp service that's desperately undersized. Tenants trip breakers constantly, outlets go dead without warning, and the landlord keeps calling electricians for "mysterious" problems that are really symptoms of systemic overload.
Panel upgrades in Browne's Addition require coordination with Avista Utilities, permits from the City of Spokane, and often involve upgrading the entire service entrance. We handle this process routinely—we know what the city inspectors look for, we understand Avista's requirements, and we can navigate the complications that arise when you're working on a century-old home.
Inadequate Grounding Systems in Historic Homes
Modern electrical systems depend on effective grounding for safety—it's what trips your breakers when something goes wrong and prevents you from getting shocked by a faulty appliance. But homes built before the 1960s often lack proper grounding entirely, and retrofit grounding in Browne's Addition homes can be remarkably challenging.
We find two-wire (ungrounded) circuits throughout these homes, often serving outlets where residents are plugging in sensitive electronics or high-draw appliances. We discover grounding attempts that go nowhere—wires attached to cold water pipes that have since been replaced with PEX, or grounding conductors that terminate in the basement dirt without a proper ground rod.
The solution depends on your specific situation and your plans for the home. Sometimes we're installing a complete grounding electrode system with multiple ground rods. Other times we're using GFCI protection to add safety to ungrounded circuits. For whole-home renovations, we're pulling new three-wire circuits to replace those old two-wire runs. Every Browne's Addition home presents different challenges based on its construction, its renovation history, and its current electrical configuration.
Multi-Unit Electrical Hazards and Code Violations
Many of Browne's Addition's grand homes have been divided into apartments or student rentals—sometimes legally, sometimes not. These conversions create specific electrical safety concerns that we encounter regularly in the neighborhood.
The most common problem: shared electrical panels without proper subpanel separation. We find situations where multiple dwelling units are served by a single main panel, with no way to isolate power to individual units. This creates safety issues during emergencies, complicates maintenance, and violates current electrical codes for multi-family dwellings.
We also see DIY electrical work done by landlords or tenants that would make your hair stand on end. Extension cords stapled inside walls as "permanent wiring." Breakers doubled up in panels never designed for tandem breakers. Junction boxes buried behind drywall or plaster where they're impossible to access. Circuits extended without regard for wire gauge or breaker sizing.
If you're buying a multi-unit property in Browne's Addition, or you're a landlord who inherited questionable electrical work, we can evaluate the entire system and provide a roadmap for bringing everything up to code safely and systematically.
Our Electrical Services for Browne's Addition Homes
Historic Home Rewiring with Character Preservation
We specialize in rewiring Browne's Addition homes while preserving their historic character. This means understanding how to fish wires through plaster walls, finding creative access points that minimize damage, and protecting original woodwork, fixtures, and architectural details. We've rewired dozens of homes in this neighborhood—we know what we're doing, and we respect what makes your home special.
Our rewiring process starts with a comprehensive evaluation of your existing electrical system. We map out what's there, identify what's hazardous, and develop a scope of work that prioritizes safety while respecting your budget. Some homes need complete rewires; others can be updated selectively. We'll give you honest recommendations based on what we find.
Service Panel Upgrades and Electrical Service Increases
Upgrading from 60-amp or 100-amp service to modern 200-amp capacity transforms how your Browne's Addition home functions. Suddenly you can run your heat pump, charge an electric vehicle, and use your kitchen appliances without playing "breaker roulette."
We coordinate everything with Avista Utilities and the City of Spokane, handle all permitting, and manage the service upgrade from start to finish. This often includes upgrading your meter base, installing a new main panel, updating your grounding system to current code, and sometimes relocating the service entrance to a better location.
GFCI and Arc-Fault Protection Upgrades
Modern electrical codes require ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor outlets—plus arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection for most living spaces. These life-safety devices prevent electrocutions and electrical fires, but most Browne's Addition homes lack them entirely.
We can retrofit GFCI and AFCI protection throughout your home, either at the panel level or at individual outlets, depending on your electrical system's configuration. This is especially important in homes with ungrounded circuits, where GFCI protection provides a critical safety layer
Electric Vehicle Charger Installation
Yes, you can charge an EV in Browne's Addition—even if your home was built when the Model T was still in production. We install Level 2 EV chargers throughout the neighborhood, typically in detached garages or carriage houses that need dedicated circuits run from the main panel. This might mean trenching across your backyard or fishing wires through basement spaces, but we make it work while preserving your property's character.
Outdoor and Security Lighting Systems
Browne's Addition deserves lighting that enhances its historic architecture. We design and install outdoor lighting systems that provide security and curb appeal—period-appropriate fixtures, motion-sensing technology, and LED efficiency that reduces operating costs. Whether you're lighting a Victorian's wrap-around porch or illuminating a craftsman's stone walkway, we'll create a system that suits the neighborhood's character.
Electrical Troubleshooting and Emergency Repairs
When outlets go dead in your Browne's Addition home, or lights flicker for no apparent reason, the problem could be anywhere in a century of electrical history. We excel at electrical detective work—tracing circuits through maze-like pathways, finding buried junction boxes, and diagnosing problems that less experienced electricians can't solve. Our 13 years of experience in historic Spokane homes means we've seen it all, and we know how to fix it.
Working with Spokane's Historic Preservation Standards
If your Browne's Addition home is on the historic register, or if you're pursuing historic tax credits, electrical work needs to be done with additional sensitivity to preservation standards. We're experienced in working within these requirements, coordinating with preservation consultants, and finding solutions that satisfy both electrical codes and historic preservation guidelines.
This might mean using specific types of conduit in exposed areas, preserving original fixtures while upgrading their electrical connections, or routing new circuits in ways that don't compromise historic fabric. We understand these concerns because we've navigated them successfully in some of Browne's Addition's most significant homes.
Understanding Spokane's Electrical Codes and Permitting
Electrical work in Browne's Addition falls under City of Spokane jurisdiction and requires permits for most projects beyond basic repairs. The city has adopted the 2020 National Electrical Code with local amendments, and inspectors pay particular attention to historic homes where previous work may not meet current standards.
We pull permits for every job that requires them, schedule inspections, and ensure that work passes on the first visit. Our reputation with Spokane's electrical inspectors means your project moves smoothly through the approval process without delays or complications.
Why Browne's Addition Homeowners Trust Wired Goat Electric
We Understand Historic Homes: This isn't our first century-old house—it's not even our hundredth. We know how these homes were built, how they've been modified over the decades, and how to work on them without causing damage or destroying character. That experience is invaluable in a neighborhood like Browne's Addition.
Top 2% Contractor Ranking Nationally: Our BuildZoom ranking places us in the top 2% of contractors out of 128,670 nationwide. That's based on our licensing, insurance, project history, and customer satisfaction—not marketing hype.
13 Years Serving Spokane's Historic Neighborhoods: We've built our reputation one project at a time in neighborhoods like Browne's Addition, where word-of-mouth still matters and your neighbors know quality work when they see it.
Transparent Pricing and Honest Recommendations: We'll never pressure you into unnecessary upgrades or hide costs in fine print. Before we start work, you'll know exactly what we're doing and why, with a detailed written estimate that we stand behind.
Get Expert Electrical Service for Your Browne's Addition Home
Whether you're restoring a Victorian mansion on Pacific Avenue, updating a craftsman bungalow on Nora, or maintaining a rental property near Gonzaga, Wired Goat Electric delivers electrical services that respect Browne's Addition's unique character while prioritizing safety and functionality.
Our 5-star Google rating reflects hundreds of satisfied customers throughout Spokane who value skilled workmanship, honest communication, and electrical work that's done right the first time. We're not the cheapest electrician you'll find—but we're the smartest choice when quality, safety, and character preservation matter.
Call Wired Goat Electric today for a free consultation on your Browne's Addition electrical project. We'll evaluate your home's electrical system, explain your options clearly, and provide a detailed estimate for any work you need. Let's bring your historic home's electrical system into the 21st century—safely, professionally, and with respect for what makes Browne's Addition special.