Long's Electrical Service in Baltimore: Licensed Residential and Light Commercial Work
Long's Electrical Service is a licensed electrical contractor operating in the Baltimore area, handling residential panel upgrades, rewiring, new circuits, and light commercial jobs. The business works within Baltimore City and County code requirements and manages the permitting process for customers, which is a meaningful distinction from unlicensed handymen or electricians who operate without permits or inspections.
What Long's Electrical Service Actually Does
Long's handles the range of jobs most Baltimore homeowners encounter: adding circuits for kitchen appliances or EV chargers, upgrading 100-amp or 150-amp panels to 200 amps (common in older homes considering modern electrical demand), replacing outdated fuses with breaker panels, and troubleshooting persistent tripping breakers or dead outlets. The business also takes light commercial work, though it does not specialize in industrial systems. Being licensed means the work passes Baltimore City or County inspection and carries liability coverage, a legal requirement for any job requiring a permit.
Services and Pricing
Long's charges a service call fee to diagnose problems, though the exact amount should be confirmed directly. Labor rates for licensed electricians in the Baltimore region run between $60 and $100 per hour depending on the complexity and contractor overhead; Long's pricing should fall within this range. Panel upgrades, which are the most substantial residential job, typically cost between $1,500 and $3,500 depending on whether the existing service main needs relocation and whether the utility company charges for their portion of the work. Adding a single circuit runs $150 to $300. A full home rewire in a Baltimore rowhouse can exceed $5,000 and takes several days. Many homeowners use Long's for pre-sale inspections, when an electrical problem becomes apparent mid-transaction.
All permitted work requires an inspection from the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development or the County equivalent. Long's manages the filing; the homeowner does not do this themselves.
How Long's Compares to Other Baltimore Electricians
Baltimore has both licensed contractors and unlicensed handymen offering electrical work at lower upfront costs. The difference matters: unlicensed work voids homeowner's insurance coverage for fire or electrical damage and can create liability if someone is injured. A licensed contractor like Long's costs more but provides recourse if something fails and ensures the work meets code.
Among licensed alternatives, larger operations like Heidler Inc. or Rost Electric have bigger crews and can often schedule faster during peak seasons (spring through fall in Baltimore); Long's may suit homeowners who prefer a smaller-scale, locally-focused operation or value a more direct relationship with the electrician. Larger firms sometimes charge higher rates to cover overhead. For emergency calls after hours, confirm Long's availability; many Baltimore contractors staff nights and weekends, but response times vary.
Who Long's Suits and Who It Does Not
Long's works well for Baltimore homeowners dealing with any job that requires a permit: panel upgrades, dedicated circuits for new appliances, full rewires, and troubleshooting persistent electrical problems. It suits sellers preparing homes for inspection and buyers who discover issues before closing. It does not suit customers looking for unlicensed, cash-only, same-day quick fixes or those unwilling to wait for permitting and inspection timelines, which add one to two weeks to most jobs.
What the First Visit Involves
A call to Long's typically results in a service appointment during which the electrician diagnoses the problem, assesses whether a permit is required, and provides a written estimate. For straightforward jobs like adding a circuit, the estimate may be quoted over the phone. More complex work like panel upgrades requires an in-home assessment. Once you approve the estimate, Long's schedules the work, files the permit, completes the job, and calls for inspection. The homeowner receives the permit paperwork and inspection sign-off.
Hours, Location, and Logistics
Long's operates in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Confirm current hours and whether they offer evening or weekend appointments by phone, as these details change seasonally and by demand. The business likely operates standard business hours with emergency availability, but this should be verified directly. Service calls are performed at your home; no visit to a shop is required.
Long's Electrical Service fills a straightforward need in Baltimore's home maintenance landscape: licensed, permitted electrical work done by a local contractor who handles the regulatory complexity customers do not want to navigate themselves.
