Troubleshooting Workflows

AFCI nuisance trips

afci trips; arc fault breaker; afci nuisance; afci keeps tripping; combination afci tripping

Bond metallic piping

bond water pipe to panel; ground metallic piping; csst gas line bonding; intersystem bonding; nec 250.104 bonding; pipe bond inspection failure

Breaker keeps tripping

breaker trips; circuit breaker tripping; keeps tripping; breaker won't stay on; breaker trips repeatedly

Dim lights when large appliance starts

lights dim; lights flicker on appliance; voltage drop; lights dim when ac starts; lights dim when fridge cycles; lights brighten

EV charger install

install ev charger; level 2 charger install; tesla wall connector install; nema 14-50 for ev; home ev charging setup; evse install

Generator interlock vs. transfer switch — decision guide

generator hookup; interlock kit vs transfer switch; backfeed generator panel; standby generator install; portable generator power inlet; whole house generator decision

GFCI won't reset

gfci won't reset; gfci tripped; gfci dead; outlet not working; gfci button won't stay in

Install a 240V circuit

install 240v circuit; add dryer outlet; wire range outlet; 240 volt circuit for shop; install nema 6-50; install nema 14-30

Install GFCI / AFCI

install gfci outlet; replace receptacle with gfci; add afci breaker; dual function breaker install; kitchen bathroom outlet protection

Motor won't start / hums and trips

motor hums; motor won't start; fan won't start; compressor hums; locked rotor; starts and trips breaker

Open neutral diagnosis (MWBC)

lights flicker; voltage swings; 120v reads 60v; 240 volts at 120 outlet; appliance damaged; open neutral

Panel replacement

replace electrical panel; service upgrade; 100 amp to 200 amp; fpe panel replacement; zinsco panel replacement; main breaker panel swap

Replace a light fixture

replace light fixture; install ceiling light; swap chandelier; change pendant light; new dining room fixture

Three-way switch not working after paint / re-install

three way switch; 3-way switch; stair light; switch broken after paint; one switch works other doesn't; switches reversed

Wire a 3-way switch

wire 3-way switch; replace three way switch; stairway switch wiring; two switches one light; hallway switch replacement

Fire alarm panel shows trouble signal

facp trouble; fire panel trouble light; fire alarm trouble beeping; ground fault fire panel; trouble signal fire alarm

Fire pump won't start or maintain pressure

fire pump won't start; jockey pump runs constantly; fire pump low pressure; fire pump fault; pump not maintaining pressure

Sprinkler waterflow alarm with no fire

waterflow alarm no fire; false sprinkler alarm; flow switch alarm; sprinkler alarm keeps going off; nuisance waterflow alarm

AC not cooling

warm air; not cooling; ac warm; no cool

AC short cycling

short cycling; ac starts and stops; frequent cycling; cooling stops quickly

Auxiliary or emergency heat stuck on

aux heat always on; emergency heat stuck; high electric bill; em heat indicator on

Burning smell on first heat of season

burning smell; first heat odor; heater smell; dust smell

Carbon monoxide alarm is sounding

co alarm; carbon monoxide; co detector beeping; co alarm going off

Condensate pump overflow/leak

water near air handler; condensate leak; pump overflow; drain pan water

Frozen condensate line

frozen condensate; ice on drain line; furnace drain frozen; high efficiency furnace not draining

Furnace no heat

no heat; cool air heat mode; furnace not heating; heat not working

Furnace short cycling

short cycling; furnace starts and stops; heat stops quickly; frequent cycling

Gas smell at the furnace

gas smell; rotten egg smell; natural gas leak; propane smell; smell gas near furnace

Heat pump not heating in cold weather

heat pump cold air; heat pump not heating; heat pump weak heat; cold weather no heat

High indoor humidity

humid; sticky; high humidity; condensation on windows

Ice on lines/coil observed

ice on lines; frozen coil; frost on pipes; ice on ac

Indoor blower runs constantly

blower never stops; fan always on; air handler runs nonstop; furnace fan won't shut off

Indoor fan runs but no heating or cooling

fan blows no heat; blower runs no cool; air handler runs no conditioning; no heat or cool fan only

Mini-split error code displayed

mini split error; ductless error code; flashing light mini split; ductless not working

Outdoor unit won't start

condenser not running; outdoor unit dead; heat pump won't start; outside unit not turning on

Thermostat blank/unresponsive

thermostat blank; no display; unresponsive thermostat; thermostat off

Uneven temperatures between rooms

hot upstairs cold downstairs; uneven temps; hot spots cold spots; rooms different temperatures

Weak airflow at vents

weak airflow; low air from vents; rooms not cooling; poor circulation

Cable run fails certification

cable fails certification; next fail; insertion loss fail; cat6 fails test; certifier fail

No data link / port won't connect

no link light; ethernet no connection; port won't negotiate; no network on jack; link down

PoE device won't power up

poe camera no power; poe device dead; no power over ethernet; ap won't boot; poe port not powering

Discolored/brown water

brown water; yellow water; cloudy water; rusty water

Fix low water pressure

low water pressure; weak flow whole house; slow shower; low pressure all fixtures; trickle from tap

Fix no hot water

no hot water; cold water only; lukewarm water; water heater not heating; pilot light out; tankless error code

Fix P-trap leak

leaking p-trap; water under sink; drip from drain; cabinet floor wet; slip joint leak

Fix running toilet

running toilet; phantom flush; toilet keeps refilling; flapper leak; fill valve runs

Fix shower drain

slow shower drain; shower drain smell; gurgling shower drain; shower leak below; standing water in shower

Fix toilet flush

weak toilet flush; double flush needed; toilet handle loose; toilet won't flush fully; slow flush

Fix washer drain backup

washer standpipe overflow; laundry drain backup; washing machine drain overflow; standpipe gurgles; water on laundry floor

Fix water pressure at a fixture

low pressure at sink; weak faucet flow; low pressure one fixture; slow tap; weak shower one fixture

Flush water heater sediment

popping noise from tank; rumbling water heater; reduced hot water capacity; cloudy hot water; annual maintenance

Install a new toilet

install toilet; replace toilet; new toilet install; wax ring replacement; toilet flange

Install or replace shutoff valve

add shutoff valve; replace main shutoff; install branch valve; SharkBite ball valve; sweat ball valve

Install outdoor faucet

install hose bib; outdoor faucet install; frost-proof sillcock; exterior spigot; new outside faucet

Install sump pump

new sump pump install; sump pump replacement; basement water management; battery backup pump; discharge line routing

Install tankless water heater

converting to tankless; tankless install planning; replacing tank with tankless; endless hot water upgrade

Low water pressure (single fixture)

weak water flow; low pressure; one faucet slow; shower weak

Low water pressure (whole house)

low pressure whole house; weak flow everywhere; pressure low all fixtures

Lukewarm/intermittent hot water

lukewarm water; hot water intermittent; hot turns cold; short hot water

Multiple fixtures slow drain

multiple slow drains; whole bathroom slow; toilet and tub slow

No hot water

no hot water; cold from hot tap; water heater cold

Repair water heater leak

water around water heater; puddle under tank; drip from TPR pipe; leak from drain valve; leak at top connections; rust at base of heater

Replace angle stop

stuck shutoff valve; leaking angle stop; dripping angle stop; replace fixture shutoff; stripped quarter-turn valve

Replace bathroom faucet

replace bathroom faucet; install lavatory faucet; bathroom faucet swap; pop-up drain replacement; vanity faucet

Replace kitchen faucet

replace kitchen faucet; install kitchen faucet; new kitchen faucet; sprayer replacement; faucet swap

Replace shower head

replace shower head; install new shower head; shower head swap; shower head leaking at arm

Replace water heater

water heater end of life; tank leak from base; planning replacement; upgrade tank

Sewage backup prevention

sewer backup risk; main line planning; backwater valve decision; cleanout access; main line jetting cadence

Sewer odor

sewer smell; sewage odor; sulfur smell; bad drain smell

Slow drain (single fixture)

slow drain; sink draining slowly; bathtub slow; local clog

Toilet runs intermittently

running toilet; toilet refills; phantom flush; toilet noise

Unclog bathtub drain

slow tub drain; bathtub clog; standing water in tub; hair clog tub; tub won't drain

Unclog kitchen drain

kitchen sink clog; slow kitchen drain; standing water in sink; disposal backup; sink won't drain

Water hammer/noisy pipes

banging pipes; water hammer; pipe noise; clunk when shutting off

Winterize outdoor plumbing

seasonal shutdown; freeze protection; hose bib drain; irrigation winterization; outdoor faucet prep

Battery backup not engaging during outage

battery not backing up; no power during outage; battery won't discharge; backup didn't kick in; critical loads dark

Inverter shows fault or no output

inverter fault code; inverter no output; inverter offline; red light on inverter; no solar production at all

PV array underproducing vs. estimate

solar producing less than expected; low solar output; panels underperforming; production below estimate; kwh lower than quoted