Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for electrical contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Tim McCloskey Electric Inc., the key to achieving and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is extending its services beyond what most people expect from an electrical company to handle refrigeration work, dairy equipment repairs and more. “We like to think of ourselves as problem solvers,” says President Tim McCloskey. “Regardless of the type of problem a customer has, we’re there to fix it.”

Tim McCloskey Electric has been providing electrical contracting services for residential, commercial and industrial clients in Sonoma and Marin Counties since 1994. In addition to performing panel upgrades, lighting retrofits, and general electrical system replacements and repairs, the company is qualified to install solar power systems and helps customers benefit from various energy-saving rebates.

Unlike electrical contractors whose lack of experience forces them to limit their services to residential work, Tim McCloskey Electric utilizes its wide-ranging electrical expertise to serve the needs of both homeowners and local businesses like dairy processing plants, wineries and more. “Few companies have the ability to work on those types of commercial electrical systems, so that’s really been an important part of our success,” says Mr. McCloskey. “Our commercial clients remain loyal because they know we’re able to service their equipment on an ongoing basis.”

Another distinguishing feature of Tim McCloskey Electric is its highly skilled and experienced technicians, each of whom has special expertise in a particular aspect of electrical work. “Our guys tend to be specialists–one handles the bulk of the electrical work, one handles welding, one handles refrigeration and so on,” explains Mr. McCloskey. “This approach ensures we always send the most knowledgeable people to the jobsite. I have complete trust in my employees and would absolutely trust them to work on my own home.”

Make sure you understand the basics of your home’s electrical system. A home’s electrical system is one of its most useful aspects, but it also presents a variety of potential dangers that many people take for granted, so knowing how to properly maintain your system’s components is crucial for the safety of you and your family. To ensure your electrical system is functioning to its full potential, consider the following tips and information:
Know your outlets
Understanding the basic make-up of the outlets in your house is important for safety reasons, but it can also help you conserve energy and quickly solve problems when they arise. Most electrical outlets come in pairs (known as duplex receptacles) and are rated at 15 or 20 amps and 120 volts. Always remember the general information about your specific outlets—if you ever need to replace one, it’s very important to use an exact duplicate.
Know your fuses
Fuses are specifically designed to keep your household electrical devices from drawing too much current from your electrical system. A fuse will blow when the current flowing through it is greater than it was designed to withstand, thus acting as a kill switch to protect your electrical system. When this happens, it’s important to replace the blown fuse as soon as possible. Always use an identical replacement fuse to ensure your electrical system functions properly, and never install a replacement fuse that has a higher amp rating than the original.
Conserve electricity
Performing routine maintenance on the electrical appliances in your home can greatly reduce the amount of energy your family uses on a daily basis. Regularly clean any device that’s involved in heating, cooling or ventilating your house, including heater and air conditioner filters. Clean your ventilation ducts to keep them from becoming clogged, and have major HVAC systems inspected by a professional at least once a year.

Q: How much will my electrical project cost?

A: It depends on the type of project, but we’ll provide you with a detailed estimate before any work begins. The nature of electrical work makes it difficult to give a firm price, so the actual cost at the end of the project may be more or less than our original quote, but we’ll always keep you informed of any changes so there are no surprises.

Q: Do you accept all types of jobs?

A: We generally don’t do small jobs like replacing switches unless it’s for one of our regular customers. We focus on projects that require several hours of labor.

Q: How quickly can you start my project?

A: It depends on the nature of the job. If it’s urgent and is affecting your business, we can come right away. If it’s a minor problem that can be deferred, you may have to wait depending on the jobs we have pending.

Q: Do you provide emergency services?

A: Yes, but only for our regular commercial clients—we don’t do residential emergency service.

Q: Do you give estimates over the phone?

A: We can give phone estimates for smaller jobs, but for larger jobs, it’s better for us to come out and see exactly what we’re dealing with.