Electricity savings help customers to reduce the energy bills and environmental degradation. With technology becoming more affordable, most households are increasingly relying on electrical appliances. However, inefficient equipment or usage ends up costing the consumer more money unnecessarily.  Low electricity consumption not only saves the energy costs, but also means using less fossil fuel, nuclear and coal to generate the power.

Consumers have all the control on their power needs, and the best way to achieve electricity savings is by understanding all the requirements and then optimizing the way they use the appliances. While some users might not be aware of the many small things they can do to reduce their reduce electricity costs.

In the emerging world of green home technology, home buyers are looking for ways to increase their commitment to the environment with a new home purchase. Accordingly, you can increase the value of your home by retrofitting it with more green technology.

Solar panel installation is just such an improvement. A growing number of home buyers is interested in the self-reliance that comes from having a solar array as part of their residence. It doesn’t need to cover all the power needs of the home. On the contrary, just a small panel can be enough for some buyers and a larger array could turn some buyers off. But there are a few things to consider when upgrading your home with a solar panel installation.

As you install solar, it’s worth considering the possibility of recharging an electric car. Electric cars are becoming a greater part of the market every year and they require a specific infrastructure and recharging station to be a viable solution for many people. You can easily piggy-back the installation of a charging station with a solar installation, effectively doubling down on the increase in home equity.

There are also many passive solar technologies that make a good accompaniment to a solar array. Passive solar includes such things as increasing the amount of sunlight that can penetrate south facing windows in the winter and decrease them in the summer. It’s hard to underestimate the importance of augmenting your solar panel installation with such energy saving features. Not only are they attractive to home buyers, they also decrease the demands you place on your solar panels, saving you even more money. And that is the kind of smart investment that will make home buyers excited about doing business with you.

If you’re looking for a way to invest in the present and future of your home that is going to stand up to the test of time, give us a call so we can help you explore the tremendous potential of solar.

Common Residential Wiring Problems

There are many wiring problems that your home can encounter throughout the years. Any residential wiring problems in Chester County, PA require immediate attention. While there are a variety of problems your home can experience, here are some of the more common code violations that could result in worse problems later on.

Junction Box Uncovered

Wires connect to one another at the splices which are housed in the junction box. Without a cover, wires could accidentally be damaged or someone could be shocked. This is a code violation and is a danger if wires are within reach. A new cover for the box is inexpensive.

Flickering Lights

If you notice your electrical lights flickering when it is windy outside, your home probably has frayed wiring in the weather-head which causes a short when the cables move. The weather-head is the fitting where overhead cables from the power line enter the house. This is a major danger, as it can arc and result in a fire. This is a problem that needs to be addressed by your electric utility provider.

Lack of Electrical Outlets

If your home has too few outlets, you are relying on power strips and extension cords. This results in minimal risks as long as you use extension cords that are 14-gauge or more, meaning they are heavy duty. Undersized cords can overheat and cause a fire, so it is wise to go ahead and have a professional electrician install additional electrical outlets.

Failing to have GFCIs

Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GCFIs) can shut down a circuit fast, within 4 milliseconds. While this is grandfathered in and is not a code violation. Codes for newer homes require GFCIs on all outdoor outlets, basement and garage outlets and within four feet of any sink. If your home does not have any GFCIs, you should add them to ensure safety.

We Respect Your Time – Custom Electrical Services knows that we live in a extremely busy world with hectic schedules. When you call one of our Ames electricians we will have courteous and helpful team members take your call and work with you to schedule your appointment.  Our uniformed Ames electrician will arrive in a warehouse on wheels.  They will have the part needed for your repair and if for some reason they do not there is no additional charge to you.  Our electricians have 24 hour access to leading Ames supply houses as well as access to all Des Moines metro area suppliers. This not only saves you time but money as well.

 We Respect Your Schedule – Our electrician in Ames understand that you are making time in your busy schedule to have your electrical problems fixed. Our friendly electricians are prompt and professional and even give you a narrow time window so you don’t have to wait around on them all day. We Respect Your Business – Custom Electrical Services knows that you have choices; we respect your business and will always do the job right the first time. Our Ames electricians never take shortcuts and always use the highest grade materials available.  We understand how important your business is to you as ours is to us.  We want to build long term lasting relationships with our customers so they know they can always count on one of our electricians in Ames to for all there electrical needs.

 We Respect Your Safety – Custom Electrical Services doesn’t just send anybody to your Ames home or business, we send one of our trusted professionals.  Your safety is our number one concern.  That is why we make sure all our service professionals undergo stick 3rd party certifications.  Our electricians are Drug Tested, Background Checked, and Professionally Trained.

Electrician in Ames 24/ 7 Service Area Map

Our on call Ames electricians have a large service area.  We cover not only the Ames area but also the entire Des Moines, Iowa metro area.  Even if you live outside of Ames please do not hesitate to give us a call 24 hours per day.  We can cover areas outside of Ames.  Our on call Ames electrician get your home or business up and running in no time.  Service calls and repairs are not the only thing our electrician can do for you.  At Custom Electrical Services we wire over 300+ new construction homes each and every year.  Are you the general contractor on your home or working with a professional general contractor?  Make sure you have Custom Electrical Services bid your next project.  Our design team and put lighting layouts on your plan and make sure you have the latest and greatest options for your homes electrical.

The alfresco areas on your property may be open-to-the-sky, semi-enclosed or entirely covered. These spaces add to the expanse and functionality of the indoor spaces and make your yard more functional. Having an outdoor feature like a patio or deck is a great way to make optimum use of the outdoor areas on your property.

But you also need to have the right type of lighting systems installed, if you want to use these areas optimally after dark as well. When you are getting your patio designed and installed, it’s a good idea to get the outdoor lighting planned and installed as well.

A skilled and experienced electrician will be able to provide ideas and designs on the type of lighting installations that can be added to your yard spaces. When you have well-illuminated outdoor areas on your property, you are more encouraged to use them and it adds to the safety of your home as well. Here are some tips to light up your patio and garden spaces:

The right type of lighting can have a significant impact on the way the spaces look. Even the most well-designed and well-installed patios and landscapes can look lack-lustre and drab if they aren’t illuminated well. Outdoor lighting is about getting the mood and ambience right. A skilled electrician would be able to advice you on which types of fittings and fixtures, colours, placement and sizes will complement the look of your home and the landscaping. There are a number of different types of light fixtures that can be installed on your patio, such as:

As you can see, there are a number of different types of lighting that can be added to the patio and garden space to add to their functionality and aesthetics and create the right mood and ambience.