Commercial Electrical Troubleshooting & Repairs in Santa Monica
Keep your Santa Monica business powered, safe, and compliant with rapid, expert electrical troubleshooting and repairs. From Ocean Avenue hotels to Third Street Promenade retailers, we diagnose issues fast and deliver long-lasting fixes that withstand the coastal environment. Our licensed commercial electricians use advanced diagnostics to minimize downtime and protect your operations. Whether you manage a boutique on Montana Avenue, a creative office near Bergamot Station, a restaurant on Main Street, or a medical suite on Wilshire, Shaffer Construction, Inc. brings local knowledge and precision workmanship to every service call. Expect clear communication, accurate root-cause analysis, and durable, code-compliant repairs that fit your schedule and budget.
Our Work
Benefits
Local Electrical Challenges
Coastal conditions bring specific electrical challenges to Santa Monica. Salt air accelerates corrosion on rooftop disconnects, parking structure lighting, exterior panels, and EVSE enclosures—often leading to nuisance trips, overheating, or seized hardware. Marine layer moisture can trigger GFCI trips on patio circuits and cause condensation inside gear without proper gasketing. In older properties, legacy panels (including certain discontinued brands), cloth-insulated conductors, or aluminum feeders can contribute to hot spots and loose terminations. Commercial loads introduce harmonics from VFD-driven HVAC, LED drivers, and dense IT equipment, which can overheat neutrals and trip breakers on Wilshire medical suites or downtown creative offices. Title 24 lighting control faults are common—miswired occupancy sensors, failed relays, or contactors that stick—especially in garages and retail build-outs. Solar and EV charger integration can reveal grounding, load-balancing, or power-quality issues if not properly coordinated.
Permits & Compliance
In Santa Monica, the City of Santa Monica Building and Safety Division oversees electrical permits and inspections. Minor like-for-like repairs may not require permits, but circuit additions, panel replacements, EVSE installs, and service upgrades typically do. Plan check timelines commonly run 2–4 weeks, with inspections scheduled through the City’s permitting portal. Projects within designated historic properties or districts may require additional review through the Landmarks Commission. For commercial condos and managed properties, expect HOA or property management approvals before work begins. All permitted work must meet the 2022 California Electrical Code (based on NEC 2020), Title 24 energy requirements, and applicable CALGreen provisions. Shaffer Construction coordinates submittals, schedules inspections, and keeps your documentation organized and accessible.
What We Offer
Frequently Asked Questions
How does salt air in Santa Monica affect commercial electrical equipment?+
Salt air accelerates corrosion on metal parts—especially rooftop disconnects, exterior panels, and parking structure fixtures. Corrosion raises resistance, causing heat, nuisance tripping, and seized fasteners. We counter this with NEMA 3R/4X enclosures, stainless hardware, sealed fittings, and anti-corrosion compounds, plus periodic inspections and infrared scans to catch issues early.
Do I need a permit for electrical repairs at my business?+
Like-for-like component swaps often proceed without permits, but panel replacements, new circuits, EV chargers, or service work typically require permits from the City of Santa Monica Building and Safety Division. We evaluate your scope, advise on requirements, and handle submittals and inspections so work is compliant and documented.
Can you work after hours to avoid disrupting my operations?+
Yes. We frequently schedule troubleshooting and repairs before opening, after closing, or during low-traffic windows. For shutdowns, we provide a detailed sequence, coordinate with building engineers, and can set up temporary power where feasible to keep critical systems online.
Why do my GFCIs or breakers keep tripping near patios and exterior areas?+
Marine layer moisture and salt can infiltrate devices and enclosures, leading to nuisance trips or ground faults. We inspect for ingress, upgrade to weather-resistant devices and gasketing, verify bonding/grounding, and may add surge protection. Proper enclosure rating and installation typically resolves recurring trips.
We added EV chargers and solar—now we see intermittent outages. Can you help?+
Yes. We perform load calculations, check feeder sizing and terminations, examine grounding and bonding, and run power-quality tests to identify harmonics or backfeed issues. We balance loads, adjust protection settings where allowed, recommend SPDs, and ensure interconnections meet the 2022 CEC and manufacturer requirements.
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