Short answer
Lighting repair and updates cover fixing lights that don't work or flicker, replacing old fixtures, adding recessed or under-cabinet lighting, and installing dimmers and motion-sensor lights. Call an electrician when a new bulb doesn't fix it, when a fixture needs a new box or circuit, or when you want light where there isn't any now. Select Electric handles residential and commercial lighting in Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties.
Lighting is the part of the electrical system people notice most. It's also where many small problems show up first: a light that flickers, a switch that's warm, a fixture that quit after a bulb change.
What We Do
Repair
Dead fixtures, failed switches and dimmers, lights that flicker or buzz, and fixtures that have overheated. We trace the problem to the fixture, the switch, the box or the circuit.
Fixture Replacement and Updates
Swapping dated fixtures for new ones, including ceiling fans and heavy fixtures that need a fan-rated or properly supported box. We check the wiring in the box while we're there, which matters in older homes where the insulation on wiring above a hot fixture can be brittle.
Recessed and Under-Cabinet Lighting
LED recessed lights and wafer lights in finished ceilings, and under-cabinet lighting in kitchens, with switching and dimming planned around how you use the room.
Motion-Sensor and Occupancy Lighting
Motion-sensor lights outdoors and in garages, and occupancy or vacancy sensors in offices, restrooms, storage areas and hallways, so lights are on when someone needs them and off when nobody does.
Choosing LED Light That Looks Right
Two numbers on the box matter most. Color temperature (in kelvin) sets how warm or cool the light looks: around 2700K to 3000K is warm and suits living spaces, while 3500K to 4000K is crisper for kitchens, garages and work areas. CRI (color rendering index) shows how true colors look; 90 or above is worth it in kitchens, bathrooms and anywhere you choose clothes or makeup. Keep color temperature consistent within a room, and pair dimmable LEDs with a dimmer rated for LED loads to avoid flicker and buzz.
Signs It's More Than the Bulb
- A new bulb doesn't fix it, or bulbs burn out much faster than they should.
- Lights flicker or dim, especially more than one at a time. See lights flickering or dimming.
- A switch or fixture is warm, buzzes, or has scorch marks.
- LED bulbs flicker on a dimmer.
- A whole bank of shop or office fixtures is out. See shop or office lights flickering or out.
How the Job Goes
- Talk it through. What isn't working, or what you want the room to look and feel like.
- Look at what's there. Boxes, wiring, switching and the circuit.
- Plan and quote. Fixtures, locations, switching and dimming.
- Install or repair. With care for finished walls and ceilings.
- Test. Every light, switch, dimmer and sensor is checked before we leave.
What It Costs
Ask what a service call costs when you call. Once we've found the cause, we'll tell you what the fix involves and what it costs before the work starts. For what drives the price of electrical work, see what electrical work costs.
Local Detail: Older Homes and Shorter Winter Days
In older neighborhoods of Bay City and Saginaw, where most homes were built before 1960 (U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2020–2024), we often find ceiling boxes without proper support, fixtures on circuits without a ground, and cloth-insulated wiring made brittle by decades of heat from incandescent bulbs. Those are worth fixing while the fixture is down anyway.
Michigan winters mean long, dark evenings. Good lighting at entries, stairways, garages and driveways is a safety matter as much as a comfort one. For outdoor and yard lighting, see landscape design and lighting.
For lighting repair or updates, call (989) 835-3587.
Common Questions
Can I put an LED bulb in any fixture?
In most fixtures, yes. Check that the bulb is rated for the fixture: enclosed fixtures need LEDs rated for enclosed use, and dimmed fixtures need dimmable LEDs. If LEDs flicker or buzz on a dimmer, the dimmer is often the problem, and replacing it with one rated for LED loads usually fixes it.
Can recessed lights be added to a finished ceiling?
Usually, yes. Remodel (old-work) recessed fixtures and thin LED wafer lights install through a cut-out in the drywall, without opening the whole ceiling. Access from an attic or unfinished space above makes the wiring easier, and insulation contact ratings matter for fixtures in an insulated ceiling.
Why won't my new light fixture work?
Common causes are a switch leg wired to the wrong conductor, a shared neutral, a loose connection in the box, or a tripped breaker or GFCI. Older homes can also have boxes that aren't rated for the fixture's weight. If the fixture replaced a working one and now won't work, check the breaker first, then call us.
Do motion sensor lights save energy?
Yes, in the right places. Occupancy and vacancy sensors in garages, laundry rooms, storage rooms, restrooms and outdoors turn lights off when nobody is there. Outdoors, a motion sensor combined with a photocell keeps lights off during the day and only on when someone approaches.
Why do my lights flicker?
A loose bulb, an incompatible dimmer or a worn switch are the simple causes. Flickering that affects many lights, or happens when large appliances start, can mean a loose connection in the panel or on the service. See our page on lights flickering or dimming, or call (989) 835-3587.