Expert Electrical Services in Cheney, WA | Wired Goat Electric
Cheney isn't like anywhere else we serve. This is a college town where rental properties dominate entire neighborhoods, where student housing creates unique electrical demands, and where a significant portion of the population turns over every May and returns every September. It's also a community of long-time residents, families, and professionals who love Cheney's small-town character and Eastern Washington University's cultural presence. At Wired Goat Electric, we understand both sides of Cheney—and the electrical challenges that come with each.
We've spent 13 years working throughout Cheney, from the historic homes near the campus to the newer developments along Betz Road, and we've seen every electrical situation this town can throw at us. Whether you're a landlord managing multiple rental properties, a homeowner dealing with decades of student-tenant "modifications," or a family building your future in one of Cheney's growing neighborhoods, we deliver electrical services that prioritize safety, code compliance, and long-term reliability.
What Makes Cheney's Electrical Landscape Unique
Cheney's identity as a college town creates electrical challenges you simply don't find in other communities. Student renters often have minimal electrical knowledge but maximum creativity when it comes to powering their dorm-like lifestyles. We're talking power strips daisy-chained three deep, space heaters running 24/7 in poorly insulated rooms, and multiple gaming setups that would make a small data center jealous—all running on electrical systems designed for much simpler living.
The town's housing stock reflects multiple eras of construction. Near the EWU campus, you'll find homes built in the 1920s through 1950s, many converted from single-family homes to multi-unit rentals. The I Street and J Street corridors contain dozens of these conversions, and the electrical systems have been modified, extended, and "upgraded" so many times that tracing a single circuit can feel like archaeological work.
Then there's Cheney's newer growth. Developments along Betz Road and in the northern sections of town brought modern construction in the 1990s and 2000s, but even these homes are now 20-30 years old and facing their own challenges—particularly as families add solar systems, EV chargers, and other modern electrical demands that weren't anticipated when these homes were built.
Cheney also experiences Eastern Washington's full climate extremes. Winter temperatures regularly drop below zero, and summer days push into the triple digits. This temperature swing affects outdoor electrical systems, places heavy demands on heating and cooling infrastructure, and creates unique challenges for electrical reliability throughout the year.
Four Electrical Problems We See Throughout Cheney
Rental Property Electrical Disasters and DIY Student "Repairs"
Walk into a Cheney rental property after a tenant moves out, and you never know what you'll find. We've discovered outlets with the ground prong deliberately broken off so three-prong plugs would fit two-prong receptacles. We've found breakers held in the "on" position with wooden wedges because they kept tripping. We've uncovered extension cords fished through walls, ceiling tiles removed to tap into junction boxes for "temporary" power, and circuits extended using wire nuts and lamp cord.
The most dangerous situation we encounter regularly: overloaded circuits serving student bedrooms in converted houses. A bedroom that might have originally had one outlet and a ceiling light is now supporting a mini-fridge, microwave, gaming computer, TV, printer, and multiple phone chargers—all running through power strips plugged into a single 15-amp circuit that's already serving two other bedrooms.
Landlords often don't discover these issues until something fails catastrophically, or until they're selling the property and a home inspection reveals serious electrical violations. If you own rental property in Cheney, annual electrical inspections aren't just good practice—they're essential for protecting your investment and your tenants' safety
Undersized Electrical Services in Multi-Unit Conversions
Cheney's rental market has driven countless single-family homes into multi-unit conversions, particularly in the blocks surrounding EWU. A home originally built with 60-amp or 100-amp service gets divided into three, four, or even five separate living units—each with its own kitchen appliances, space heaters, and modern electronics.
The math doesn't work. A 100-amp service might have been adequate for a single family in 1960, but it's catastrophically undersized when you're serving four separate apartments, each with a full kitchen, laundry connections, and the electrical demands of modern student life.
We see the symptoms constantly: main breakers that trip during cold snaps when everyone's running space heaters, voltage sags that dim lights and damage electronics, and panels so overloaded that finding a spare breaker position is impossible. The solution isn't complicated—it's a service upgrade to 200 or even 400 amps with proper subpanel separation for each unit—but it requires investment that many landlords have deferred for years or decades.
Inadequate Heating Solutions Creating Circuit Overloads
Cheney gets cold—genuinely, bone-chillingly cold. When January temperatures drop to -10°F or below, heating becomes a serious electrical concern. Many of Cheney's older rental properties have inadequate central heating, so tenants supplement with space heaters. One 1,500-watt space heater running on a 15-amp circuit that's also serving outlets and lights? That's pushing the limit. Three or four space heaters running simultaneously on circuits that are already near capacity? That's a recipe for tripped breakers at best, and electrical fires at worst.
We regularly find situations where tenants have blown fuses or tripped breakers repeatedly, so someone installed a larger breaker without upgrading the wire gauge. Now you've got 14-gauge wire protected by a 20 or even 30-amp breaker—a serious fire hazard where the wire can overheat long before the breaker trips.
The proper solution involves evaluating the home's entire heating system. Sometimes we're adding dedicated circuits for space heaters in specific rooms. Other times we're working with landlords to upgrade to more efficient heating systems that distribute the electrical load more safely. Heat pumps, in particular, offer excellent efficiency for Cheney's climate while drawing power more predictably than a collection of portable space heaters.
Deteriorating Electrical Systems in 1920s-1960s Campus-Area Homes
The neighborhoods immediately surrounding EWU contain some of Cheney's oldest housing stock—homes built between 1920 and 1960 that have served as student rentals for decades. These properties have taken a beating, and their electrical systems often reflect 50+ years of deferred maintenance, quick fixes, and landlord band-aids.
We find original cloth-wrapped wiring that's become brittle with age, connections that have loosened over decades of thermal cycling, and panels containing a mixture of breakers and fuses from multiple eras. Ground wires are often absent or improperly terminated. Junction boxes have been buried behind walls during renovations. Circuits have been extended and re-extended until nobody knows what feeds what anymore.
These homes need systematic electrical rehabilitation—not just fixing whatever's broken today, but addressing the underlying infrastructure that's failing after decades of hard use. For landlords serious about maintaining their Cheney rental properties long-term, we provide comprehensive electrical assessments that identify priorities and create a roadmap for bringing these properties up to current safety standards.
Our Electrical Services for Cheney Properties
Rental Property Electrical Inspections and Remediation
We offer comprehensive electrical inspections specifically designed for Cheney's rental market. We'll evaluate your entire electrical system, identify code violations and safety hazards, document tenant-created problems, and provide a detailed report with prioritized recommendations. This service is invaluable before purchasing rental property, after difficult tenants move out, or as part of routine property maintenance.
Our remediation work addresses everything from simple repairs to complete electrical system overhauls. We fix the DIY disasters, bring substandard work up to code, upgrade undersized panels, and install safety features that protect both your tenants and your investment.
Multi-Unit Electrical System Design and Installation
Converting a single-family home to multiple units requires proper electrical planning. We design and install electrical systems that meet code requirements for multi-family dwellings, including proper subpanel separation, individual metering where required, and adequate capacity for each unit's needs.
This includes coordinating with Avista Utilities for service upgrades, obtaining necessary permits from the City of Cheney, and ensuring that your electrical work passes inspection without complications. We've done dozens of these conversions in Cheney—we know what the inspectors look for and how to do it right the first time.
Panel Upgrades and Electrical Service Increases
Whether you're upgrading a 60-amp service in a 1940s rental or increasing capacity in a 1990s family home to accommodate modern needs, we handle the complete process. This includes evaluating your current system, coordinating with Avista, pulling permits, installing the new service and panel, and passing final inspection.
For Cheney's rental properties, we often recommend installing subpanels for individual units during a service upgrade. This allows you to isolate power to specific units during turnover or maintenance, provides better circuit protection, and simplifies future electrical work.
Dedicated Circuit Installation for High-Draw Appliances
Space heaters, window air conditioners, microwaves, and other high-draw appliances need dedicated circuits to operate safely. We install properly sized dedicated circuits throughout Cheney properties, using appropriate wire gauges, proper breaker sizing, and code-compliant installation methods.
This is particularly important in rental properties where you can't control what tenants plug in. A dedicated circuit for each bedroom's heating needs, separate circuits for kitchen appliances, and adequate capacity in common areas prevents the circuit overloads that plague many Cheney rental properties.
EV Charger Installation for Cheney Residents
Electric vehicles are becoming more common in Cheney, and we install Level 2 charging systems for both residential and multi-unit properties. For rental properties, we can install EV chargers with separate metering, allowing landlords to bill tenants for their actual electricity usage rather than building EV charging costs into everyone's rent.
Whole-Home Rewiring and Electrical Rehabilitation
When a Cheney rental property or family home needs more than band-aids, we provide complete rewiring services. This means replacing old, damaged, or inadequate wiring throughout the home, installing a properly sized modern panel, adding proper grounding, and bringing everything up to current electrical code.
For occupied rental properties, we can phase the work to minimize disruption to tenants. For properties between tenants or undergoing renovation, we can complete the electrical work as part of a larger rehabilitation project.
Safety Upgrades: GFCI, AFCI, and Smoke Detector Systems
Modern electrical codes require multiple safety features that most of Cheney's older homes lack. We install GFCI protection in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor outlets to prevent electrocutions. We add AFCI protection to bedroom and living area circuits to prevent electrical fires. We install interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that meet current code requirements.
These safety upgrades are particularly important in rental properties, where tenant turnover means you can't rely on occupants maintaining safety devices consistently.
Outdoor Electrical Services and Landscape Lighting
Cheney properties often include detached garages, shops, outbuildings, and extensive outdoor spaces that need proper electrical service. We install outdoor circuits with appropriate burial depths and conduit methods for Eastern Washington's climate, run power to detached structures, and design landscape and security lighting systems that enhance your property's safety and appearance.
Understanding Cheney's Electrical Codes and Rental Property Requirements
The City of Cheney requires electrical permits for most work beyond simple repairs, and inspections are mandatory. For rental properties, Cheney's rental housing code includes specific electrical requirements designed to protect tenant safety. These include adequate outlets in each room, GFCI protection in required locations, proper smoke detector installation, and the elimination of hazardous conditions.
We stay current on all code requirements—both the National Electrical Code provisions and Cheney's local amendments and rental housing standards. When we pull permits for work in Cheney, projects pass inspection consistently because we know what the city requires and we do the work correctly.
Why Cheney Property Owners Choose Wired Goat Electric
We Understand Cheney's Rental Market: We've worked in dozens of Cheney rental properties, and we understand the unique challenges student housing creates. We know what landlords need, what tenants destroy, and how to build electrical systems that withstand the demands of college town rental properties.
Top 2% Contractor Ranking: Our BuildZoom ranking places us in the top 2% of contractors nationally out of 128,670 contractors. That ranking reflects our licensing, insurance, project history, and customer satisfaction—verification that we deliver quality work consistently.
Honest, Transparent Communication: We'll never pressure you into unnecessary work or surprise you with hidden costs. Before we start any project, you'll receive a detailed written estimate that explains exactly what we're doing and why. If your electrical system is adequate for your needs, we'll tell you that—even if it means less revenue for us.
13 Years of Eastern Washington Experience: We've spent more than a decade working throughout Cheney and the surrounding area. We understand local construction practices, common problems in different eras of housing, and how to get electrical work done efficiently in this community.
Get Expert Electrical Service for Your Browne's Addition Home
Whether you're managing student rentals near EWU, maintaining a family home in one of Cheney's established neighborhoods, or building your future in the town's newer developments, Wired Goat Electric delivers electrical services that prioritize safety, code compliance, and long-term reliability.
Our 5-star Google rating reflects hundreds of satisfied customers who value quality workmanship, honest recommendations, and electrical work that's done right the first time. We're not the cheapest electrician in Cheney—but we're the smartest investment when safety and quality matter.
Call Wired Goat Electric today for a free consultation on your Cheney electrical project. Whether you need a rental property inspection, a service panel upgrade, complete rewiring, or emergency repairs, we'll provide an honest assessment and a detailed estimate for the work you need.