There are many reasons for needing residential electrical service, but most of them boil down to two things: Installation or repair. Sometimes, the two can be combined, such as when a failed light fixture is "repaired" by having a new one installed.
                         
Many of the problems that call for an electrician's expertise create symptoms that might seem supernatural at first. Hollywood has often capitalized on things like flickering lights, light bulbs that suddenly explode, or the entire house going dark at once. These things happen in real life too, but unlike in the movies, the cause is far more mundane. Electrical shorts, frayed wires, circuit overload or failure, and similar problems are behind all of them. These problems can be caused by faulty wiring or appliances, rodents chewing wires, or wires and circuits simply wearing out after decades of use.
                         
Residential electrical service is also needed for new installations. It is often part of a larger project, such as installing a dishwasher where none has been before, or for remodeling of any room. It can involve putting in more or new light fixtures as well. In these cases, an electrician comes in at some point during the remodeling process to handle the electrified parts of the project.
                         
In some cases, electricians are called not to add things, but to take them away. Unwanted light fixtures, wiring that leads to appliances that have been removed, and other obsolete things need to be properly decommissioned so that they do not leave dangerous live wires behind. Simply shoving the wires into the wall is a fire hazard. An electrician will know just how to deactivate old live wires so that you can rest peacefully once your unwanted fixtures are appliances are gone.