Electrical repair · Tempe, Arizona

Electrician for repairs and upgrades in Tempe, AZ

Breaker keeps tripping, outlets dead, planning a panel upgrade or EV charger? 36% of Tempe's homes date from 1960–1979^[1] and 1% from 2020 or later. Request a licensed electrician who works here. Tempe, in Maricopa County — ZIPs 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, counts 190,571 residents (2025 estimate)^[2].

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Decision guide

Tempe at a glance for electrical

Population (2025 est.): 190,571^[2]+3.5% since 2020
County: Maricopa^[2]
Land area: 40.0 sq mi^[3]
Population density: 4,768 / sq mi^[2]^[3]
Homes built 1960–1979: 36%^[1]the highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover
Homes built before 1960: 5%^[1]2020–2024
Homes built 2020 or later: 1%^[1]2020–2024
Homes heated with electricity: 78%^[1]the 2nd-highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover
Lightning-damage reports within 10 mi: 5^[4]2016–2025
Damaging-wind reports within 10 mi: 166^[4]2016–2025

What the local data means for electrical in Tempe

Tempe is one of the most established suburbs tracked here — 190,571 people (2025 estimate), up just 3.5% since 2020^[2]. It covers 40.0 square miles (4,768 residents per square mile, the 1st densest), sits entirely in Maricopa County, in ZIP codes 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284^[3].

New construction arrives with 200-amp panels and room to grow; the older homes nearby are the ones where panels fill up, double-taps appear, and an EV charger triggers a load calculation.

Tempe is split across 4 ZIP codes: 85281 (33% of the city's land), 85282 (28% of the city's land), 85283 (20% of the city's land), 85284 (19% of the city's land)^[5].

The tracked suburbs closest by are Chandler (8.6 mi SE), Gilbert (12.2 mi SE) and Mesa (12.5 mi E)^[3].

36% of Tempe's housing was built in 1960–1979^[1] — the highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover; nearby, Chandler (8%), Gilbert (3%), and Mesa (25%). That window includes roughly 1965–1973, when some homes got aluminum branch wiring^[6].

78% of Tempe homes heat with electricity and 19% with gas^[1] — the 2nd-highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover (Chandler (64%), Gilbert (54%), and Mesa (76%) nearby). All-electric panels carry the heaviest loads, so EV chargers here usually start with a load calculation.

Within 10 miles of central Tempe: 166 damaging-wind reports and 5 lightning-damage reports in 2016–2025, the latest on Oct 13, 2025^[4].

1% of Tempe's housing is from 2020 or later^[1] — new enough that builder warranties still apply to many electrical defects.

Among the 15 suburbs tracked here, Tempe stands out for the highest share of homes built 1960–79 (36%)^[1], the most lightning-damage reports nearby (5)^[4], and the lowest share of detached houses (38%)^[1].

Tempe storm calendar

Within 10 miles of Tempe, 2016–2025: 5 lightning reports and 166 damaging-wind reports^[4]. Peak: 94% in July, August, and September. Busiest year 2018 (28). Busiest month August 2018 (21). Latest: damaging-wind report, Oct 13, 2025, 3.7 mi out.

Tempe, 2016–2025
Month	Lightning	Damaging wind	All
Jan	–	1	1
Feb	–	1	1
Apr	1	–	1
Jun	–	1	1
Jul	1	54	55
Aug	3	77	80
Sep	–	26	26
Oct	–	6	6

Darker squares, more reports. NOAA Storm Events Database^[4].

Get electrical help in Tempe

Your request reaches Electrical repair contractors who serve Tempe (ZIP codes 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284).

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Before you pick up the phone: when to call an electrician now

Whose wiring is it? Tempe homes by building type

59%^[1] of Tempe's homes are attached or in multi-unit buildings (multi-unit buildings alone: 49%, the highest multi-unit share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover). In a condo or apartment the service entrance, meters and common-area wiring usually belong to the association or landlord, while work inside your unit is usually yours to arrange — check before you book.

After detached houses, the biggest group is 50 or more units: 16,194 of 86,182 housing units^[1].

For Tempe's 2,048 mobile homes (2.4%), ask for an electrician who works on manufactured homes.

Tempe's 86,182 housing units by building type, 2020–2024^[1]
Building type	Units	Share	Margin of error
Detached house	32,845	38.1%	±1,265
Attached house (townhouse, rowhouse)	8,606	10.0%	±793
Duplex (2 units)	1,852	2.1%	±411
3–4 units	4,785	5.6%	±681
5–9 units	7,308	8.5%	±752
10–19 units	7,967	9.2%	±937
20–49 units	4,543	5.3%	±661
50 or more units	16,194	18.8%	±1,178
Mobile home	2,048	2.4%	±328
Boat, RV, van, etc.	34	0.0%	±34

Margins of error are the Census Bureau’s 90% intervals; small categories in small cities are rough.

The data underneath this Tempe page

Tempe next to the typical covered suburb (median of 15)^[1]^[4]
Measure	Tempe	Median of 15	Difference
Built 1960–79	36%	9%	27 pts higher
Built before 1960	5.5%	1.6%	4 pts higher
Lightning-damage reports (10 mi)	5	2	3 more
Detached single-family	38%	74%	36 pts lower
Owner-occupied	42%	73%	31 pts lower
Built 1980–99	34%	34%	same as median
Median home value	$455,400	$455,400	same as median

Biggest gaps first. Medians are middle values across the Phoenix-area suburbs we cover, drawn from the same sources.

Tempe beside its nearest neighbours^[4]^[3]
City	Lightning reports	Damaging-wind reports
Tempe	5	166
Chandler 8.6 mi	3	90
Gilbert 12.2 mi	4	111
Mesa 12.5 mi	2	132
Glendale 17.9 mi	4	134
Fountain Hills 18.8 mi	2	35

When Tempe's 86,182 housing units were built^[1]
Built	Units	Share	Margin of error
2020 or later	1,170	1.4%	±325
2010 to 2019	11,053	12.8%	±1,026
2000 to 2009	9,366	10.9%	±894
1990 to 1999	10,212	11.8%	±989
1980 to 1989	18,846	21.9%	±1,206
1970 to 1979	20,891	24.2%	±1,330
1960 to 1969	9,947	11.5%	±876
1950 to 1959	3,643	4.2%	±520
1940 to 1949	737	0.9%	±243
1939 or earlier	317	0.4%	±122

ACS 2020–2024 estimates; margins of error are the Census Bureau's 90% intervals.

Most recent damaging-wind reports within 10 miles^[4]
Date	Wind	Distance
Oct 13, 2025	90 mph (est.)	0.8 mi
Oct 13, 2025	63 mph (est.)	5.8 mi
Oct 13, 2025	63 mph	4.5 mi
Oct 13, 2025	70 mph (est.)	4.3 mi
Oct 13, 2025	71 mph	3.7 mi
Sep 27, 2025	70 mph (est.)	8.5 mi

Lightning-damage reports within 10 miles^[4]
Date	Distance
Aug 31, 2023	8.4 mi
Aug 4, 2022	5.2 mi
Aug 20, 2020	6.9 mi
Apr 29, 2019	8.9 mi
Jul 18, 2016	6.8 mi

ZIP code areas covering Tempe^[5]
ZIP (ZCTA)	Share of Tempe's land	Share of the ZIP inside the city
85281	33%	98%
85282	28%	100%
85283	20%	90%
85284	19%	99%

Common Tempe electrical questions

Could my Tempe house have aluminum wiring?

Possibly, if built or rewired roughly 1965–1973^[6]; 36% of Tempe homes date from 1960–1979^[1].

When did damaging wind last hit near Tempe?

Oct 13, 2025, 0.8 miles from the city center, 90 mph^[4].

Which Tempe ZIP codes are covered?

85281, 85282, 85283, and 85284^[5] — Maricopa County. Neighbouring suburbs with their own pages: Chandler (8.6 mi), Gilbert (12.2 mi), and Mesa (12.5 mi)^[3].

A lot of Tempe homes predate 1980 — what does that mean for wiring and panel work?

41% of Tempe's housing units were built before 1980, 5.5% before 1960^[1] — the highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover. Houses of that age may have smaller panels or original wiring; ask for a panel and grounding check before adding a big load such as an EV charger.

Sources

Data pulled Sep 28, 2026. Full citations and method.

Month	Lightning	Damaging wind	All
Jan	–	1	1
Feb	–	1	1
Apr	1	–	1
Jun	–	1	1
Jul	1	54	55
Aug	3	77	80
Sep	–	26	26
Oct	–	6	6

Month	Lightning	Damaging wind	All
Jan	–	1	1
Feb	–	1	1
Apr	1	–	1
Jun	–	1	1
Jul	1	54	55
Aug	3	77	80
Sep	–	26	26
Oct	–	6	6

Month	Lightning	Damaging wind	All
Jan	–	1	1
Feb	–	1	1
Apr	1	–	1
Jun	–	1	1
Jul	1	54	55
Aug	3	77	80
Sep	–	26	26
Oct	–	6	6