Dimmer & Smart Switch
Installation

Yes, any brand. Tell us the model when you book. We check that the box has the neutral wire and the depth the switch needs, install it, pair it with your Wi-Fi or hub, and set it up in the app on your phone.

Yes. A true 3-way needs a cable with an extra wire between the two switch locations. Where the walls are closed and that run is hard, a smart switch with a wireless companion does the same job with no new cable. We price both.

Yes. One switch becomes the dimmer and the other a matching companion, so the light dims from both ends. Two ordinary dimmers on the same light fight each other, which is the usual cause of flicker on a 3-way.

Not directly. Most dimmers and smart switches are not made to connect to aluminum wire, and a poor connection there overheats. In a home from about 1965 to 1975, the aluminum gets a rated copper pigtail first, then the dimmer goes on the copper. We check your wiring before we start.

A dimmer can feel slightly warm in normal use, because it sheds a little heat while the lights are dimmed. A dimmer that is hot to the touch, buzzes loudly or smells is not normal and can mean an overload or a loose wire. Turn that circuit off at the breaker and book a check.

Single swap: 20–30 minutes. Multi-way or smart with hub pairing takes longer. Whole-room upgrades usually under two hours.

Not for a like-for-like swap of up to five dimmers. Where the state (L&I) issues the permit, changing a regular switch to a dimmer is Class B work, the most basic permit type. A new switch location or new wire takes a regular electrical permit, and we handle all of it.

Swapping a switch for a dimmer or smart switch is a short job when the wiring is there. Adding a second switch location, or a neutral wire for a smart switch, takes longer. You get the exact price before any work starts.

Next Phase Electric installs dimmers, smart switches and 3-way controls for homes in Lakewood, Tacoma and nearby cities, matched to the bulbs you use. We are a licensed and insured electrical contractor from Covington. Tell us the rooms and whether you want app or voice control.