Trusted Electrical Services in Dishman Wired Goat Electric
Dishman occupies an interesting position in the Spokane Valley landscape—it's unincorporated, so it falls under Spokane County jurisdiction rather than the City of Spokane Valley. It's also one of the Valley's older established communities, with a housing mix that tells the story of Eastern Washington's suburban growth from the 1940s through today. At Wired Goat Electric, we've spent 13 years working throughout Dishman, and we understand the electrical challenges that come with this community's unique combination of older housing stock, varied property types, and the transition from rural to suburban development patterns.
From the compact neighborhoods near Dishman-Mica Road to the larger properties scattered along the eastern edges toward the foothills, Dishman presents electrical situations that require local knowledge and experience. Whether you're dealing with an original 1950s electrical system in a ranch home off Sprague, upgrading a split-level from the 1970s, or maintaining one of the area's larger properties with detached buildings and workshop space, we deliver electrical services that address Dishman's specific realities
What Makes Dishman's Electrical Landscape Unique
Dishman developed during the post-World War II suburban expansion, when returning veterans and young families were building the American dream in what were then the outskirts of Spokane. Many of these homes were built quickly and economically, with electrical systems designed for the modest needs of 1940s-1960s living. A 60-amp service, a handful of circuits, and minimal outlet coverage were standard—adequate for the era, but hopelessly undersized for modern life.
What complicates matters is that Dishman never incorporated, so it lacks the centralized building department oversight that incorporated cities provide. Over the decades, this has meant more DIY electrical work, fewer inspections, and electrical "improvements" that may or may not meet code. We regularly encounter electrical work in Dishman that was done without permits, inspections, or—frankly—adequate knowledge of electrical codes and safety practices.
The area's proximity to Spokane Valley's commercial corridor along Sprague Avenue has influenced development patterns. Some Dishman properties have been converted to commercial or mixed use, creating electrical demands that the original residential infrastructure was never designed to support. We see small businesses, home-based operations, and rental properties all placing demands on electrical systems that need substantial upgrading.
Dishman also includes a surprising variety of property types. You'll find everything from small lots with modest homes to multi-acre properties with shops, outbuildings, and semi-rural characteristics. This variety means electrical needs range from basic residential service to complex installations serving multiple structures and diverse loads.
Four Electrical Problems We Consistently Encounter in Dishman
Outdated 60-Amp Services in Post-War Homes
Drive through the neighborhoods surrounding Dishman Elementary or along the side streets off Dishman-Mica Road, and you're looking at homes built primarily between 1945 and 1965. These solid, well-built houses have one critical limitation: they were electrified for a different era. A 60-amp electrical service was standard during this construction boom, providing enough capacity for lights, a refrigerator, an electric range, maybe a window air conditioner—and not much else.
Today, these same homes are being asked to power central heat pumps, modern kitchen appliances that draw far more power than their 1950s equivalents, multiple bathrooms with high-draw fixtures, home offices packed with electronics, garage workshops, and often an electric vehicle charger. The electrical service is simply drowning under loads it was never designed to handle.
The symptoms are predictable: main breakers that trip during cold winter mornings when the heat pump and kitchen appliances run simultaneously, voltage sags that dim lights and make electronics behave erratically, and the constant juggling act of "don't run that while this is running." Eventually, something gives—and we get the call.
Upgrading these services to 200 amps transforms how these homes function. Suddenly everything can run simultaneously without worry. The constant electrical anxiety disappears. And the home gains significant value—buyers and appraisers recognize that adequate electrical service is essential infrastructure, not a luxury upgrade.
Aluminum Wiring in 1960s-1970s Dishman Homes
Dishman experienced another construction wave in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s—split-levels, ranches, and larger homes that reflected increased prosperity and growing families. Unfortunately, this construction period coincided with the copper shortage, and builders throughout the Spokane area turned to aluminum branch circuit wiring as a cost-effective alternative.
If your Dishman home was built between 1965 and 1973, there's a significant chance you have aluminum wiring. The material itself isn't inherently dangerous, but aluminum's properties create challenges. It expands and contracts more than copper with temperature changes, connections oxidize over time creating resistance and heat, and improper terminations (like using devices not rated for aluminum) can create serious fire hazards.
We see the warning signs regularly in Dishman homes: outlets that feel warm to the touch, lights that flicker intermittently, occasional burning smells near outlets or switches, and visible discoloration around electrical boxes. These are symptoms of aluminum wiring connections that have degraded over decades of thermal cycling.
The solution depends on the extent of the problem and your budget. COPALUM crimping is the gold standard—creating permanent, safe connections between aluminum wiring and copper pigtails. For smaller installations or specific problem areas, we can use properly installed copper pigtails with appropriate connectors. In some cases, particularly when combined with other electrical upgrades, selective rewiring of problem circuits makes the most sense
Inadequate Grounding and Panel Deficiencies
Many Dishman homes were built before modern grounding requirements became standard, and we regularly find grounding deficiencies that compromise safety. Two-wire (ungrounded) circuits serving outlets where homeowners are plugging in computers, TVs, and other sensitive electronics. Ground wires that terminate nowhere useful—attached to water pipes that have since been replaced with PEX, or simply coiled up in junction boxes without proper termination.
We also encounter panel problems that reflect decades of incremental additions and modifications. Panels where every space is full, with no room for additional circuits. Double-tapped breakers (two wires under one breaker terminal) where someone needed "just one more circuit." Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels that are known fire hazards but remain in service because nobody's addressed them. Subpanels in garages or shops that have been wired incorrectly, creating dangerous neutral-ground bonding issues.
Proper grounding requires a complete grounding electrode system—ground rods driven to appropriate depths, connections to metal water pipes where they exist, and in some cases supplemental grounding using ground plates or Ufer grounds. Inside the home, ground wires need to terminate properly at the panel, creating a low-impedance path that allows breakers to trip quickly when faults occur.
Panel problems often require complete replacement. We can't just keep adding circuits to panels that are already full. Those Federal Pacific panels with their notorious Stab-Lok breakers? They need to be replaced entirely. Subpanels with improper neutral-ground bonding? They need to be rewired correctly. These aren't optional upgrades—they're safety issues that demand attention.
Problematic DIY Electrical Work and Code Violations
Dishman's unincorporated status and the age of its housing stock have created a perfect storm for questionable electrical work. Over decades, homeowners have extended circuits, added outlets, wired garages and shops, and made countless modifications—many without permits, inspections, or adequate electrical knowledge.
We find extension cords run through walls as "permanent" wiring. Junction boxes buried behind drywall where they're impossible to access for future maintenance. Circuits extended using wire nuts and whatever wire gauge was convenient, regardless of whether it matches the breaker size. Subpanels in detached garages where someone tried to save money by sharing neutral wires between circuits—a code violation that creates dangerous conditions.
The most hazardous DIY situations involve oversized breakers protecting undersized wire. Someone kept tripping a 15-amp breaker, so they installed a 20 or 30-amp breaker without upgrading the wire gauge. Now the wire can overheat and start a fire long before the breaker trips. We find this regularly in Dishman, particularly in garage and shop circuits where people are running power tools and want to eliminate nuisance tripping.
When we're called to Dishman properties with chronic electrical problems, we often discover that the real issue isn't the electrical system itself—it's layers of improper modifications that have created an electrical maze where nobody knows what feeds what anymore. Systematically diagnosing and correcting these situations requires patience, experience, and a commitment to doing things right rather than just treating symptom
Our Electrical Services for Dishman Residents
Complete Service Panel Upgrades
We upgrade electrical services throughout Dishman, from 60-amp services in post-war homes to 100-amp services in 1970s-80s construction that need increased capacity for modern living. This includes coordinating with Avista Utilities for service upgrades, obtaining required Spokane County permits, installing new meter bases and panels, upgrading grounding systems to current code, and passing final inspection.
A service upgrade is one of the most impactful improvements you can make to an older Dishman home. The electrical anxiety disappears, you gain capacity for modern amenities like EV chargers and solar systems, and you're investing in infrastructure that adds genuine value to your property
Aluminum Wiring RemediationAluminum Wiring Remediation
We provide comprehensive aluminum wiring solutions for Dishman's 1960s-70s homes. This includes complete evaluation of your aluminum wiring system, identification of problem areas and hazardous connections, and remediation using appropriate methods—COPALUM crimping for permanent connections, properly installed copper pigtails where appropriate, or selective rewiring of problem circuits.
We don't use scare tactics or pressure homeowners into unnecessary work. Aluminum wiring can be made safe, and we'll provide honest recommendations based on what we find in your specific home.
Whole-Home Rewiring for Older Dishman Properties
When a Dishman home has knob-and-tube wiring, deteriorated cloth-wrapped Romex, extensive aluminum wiring issues, or simply an electrical system that's failed after 70+ years of service, whole-home rewiring delivers safety and reliability. We specialize in rewiring occupied homes with minimal disruption, using strategic access points through basements, attics, and closets to minimize drywall damage.
Complete rewiring includes new circuits throughout the home, proper grounding, modern panels with adequate capacity, and all the safety features current codes require—GFCI protection, AFCI protection, proper junction box accessibility, and correct wire sizing for every circuit.
Understanding Spokane County's Electrical Requirements for Dishman
Because Dishman is unincorporated, electrical work falls under Spokane County jurisdiction. Permits are required for most work beyond simple repairs—service upgrades, circuit additions, panel replacements, and significant modifications all require permits and inspections.
We handle all permitting for work in Dishman. We know what Spokane County inspectors look for, we follow the National Electrical Code and county amendments, and our work passes inspection consistently. When you hire Wired Goat Electric, you're getting not just the physical electrical work but also the documentation and approvals that prove everything was done correctly and safely.
Why Dishman Homeowners Choose Wired Goat Electric
Deep Experience with Older Spokane Valley Homes: We've worked on dozens of Dishman homes from every construction era. We know the common problems in post-war ranches, we understand aluminum wiring issues in 1970s split-levels, and we can navigate the complications that arise when you're working on homes that have been modified extensively over decades.
Top 2% National Contractor Ranking: BuildZoom ranks us in the top 2% of contractors nationally out of 128,670 contractors. That ranking is based on licensing, insurance, customer reviews, and project history—independent verification that we deliver quality consistently.
Honest, Transparent Communication: We'll never pressure you into unnecessary work or surprise you with hidden costs. You'll receive detailed written estimates before we start work, and we'll explain exactly what we're doing and why. If your electrical system is adequate for your needs, we'll tell you that honestly.
13 Years Serving Spokane Valley and Dishman: We've built our reputation one project at a time in communities like Dishman, where word-of-mouth still matters and neighbors notice quality work. Our 5-star Google rating reflects hundreds of satisfied customers who value craftsmanship, safety, and electrical work done right.
Get Expert Electrical Service for Your Dishman Home
Whether you're maintaining a 1950s ranch that needs a service upgrade, troubleshooting chronic electrical problems in a 1970s split-level, or upgrading garage electrical for modern shop equipment, Wired Goat Electric delivers electrical services that prioritize safety, code compliance, and long-term reliability.
We're not the cheapest electrician in Spokane Valley—but we're the smartest investment when you need electrical work that's done correctly, passes inspection, and delivers lasting value to your Dishman property.
Call Wired Goat Electric today for a free consultation on your Dishman electrical project. We'll evaluate your home's electrical system, identify any safety concerns, explain your options clearly, and provide a detailed estimate for the work you need. Let's bring your home's electrical system up to modern standards safely and professionally.