When something goes wrong with the wiring in your home or building, the first question is usually whether the fix is small or whether someone is about to tell you the whole system needs replacing. Getting a straight answer matters. Summit Electric handles electrical work across Ames and Story County, and we approach every call the same way: find out what is actually happening, explain it plainly, and give you the price before anything is scheduled.
Ames is a city with a wide range of housing, from older homes near the university with wiring that has been added to and modified over the years, to newer construction that needs capacity for modern loads. We work across all of it, for homeowners, property managers, and business owners alike. Whatever brought you here, the next step is a phone call.
If someone has told you that you need a full panel replacement, a complete rewiring, or a major service upgrade, it is worth having that assessed before you agree to anything. Not every flickering light means the wiring is failing. Not every tripping breaker means the panel is at the end of its life. Sometimes the problem is a single faulty outlet, a loose connection, or a circuit that has been overloaded by one appliance. Sometimes it really is the panel.
We do not quote large jobs without understanding the actual condition of the system. When we come out, we look at what is there, explain what we find, and tell you what the work involves before any decision is made. No-pressure estimates, priced up front. That is how we work, and it is the reason people call us back.
A Level 2 home charger needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit sized for its amperage draw, run from the panel to wherever the charger will be mounted. Before any of that happens, we check the panel to confirm it has the capacity. Older panels in Ames homes sometimes need an upgrade before the circuit can be added, and we work through that on the call so the scope is clear from the start.
A detached garage or workshop that needs more than a couple of outlets and a light usually benefits from its own subpanel rather than a long run of circuits from the main panel. A subpanel brings the distribution point closer to where the load is, keeps the wiring cleaner, and makes it easier to add circuits later. We size subpanels based on what the space will actually be used for, not a generic estimate.
GFCI outlets are required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exterior locations, and older homes frequently lack them in all the places current code requires. AFCI protection, which detects arc-fault conditions in the wiring itself, is required in bedrooms and living areas in newer construction and is a meaningful safety upgrade in older homes. Both are straightforward installations that make a real difference to how safely a home's electrical system operates.
Outlets and switches wear out, and the fix is usually faster than people expect. We handle standard outlet replacement, GFCI and AFCI upgrades, USB combination outlets, tamper-resistant receptacles, dimmer switches, and 3-way switch replacements. For properties being updated or finished, we add outlets to rooms that do not have enough, run circuits to garages and basements, and install exterior outlets with weatherproof covers where they are needed.
Same-day appointments are often available for repairs and installations, especially when you call during our hours of 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. We are open every day, so a problem that comes up on a weekend or a holiday does not have to wait until Monday. When a situation involves sparking, a burning smell, or a partial power loss, call as early in the day as possible and we will do our best to get someone out the same day.
For rental properties and commercial spaces that need to stay operational, we talk through the timing on the call. If a tenant is in place or a business needs to keep running, we work around what the situation requires. You get a confirmed appointment window before anyone comes out, and you are told who to expect. One call, and an electrician is on the way.
our electrical work page sets out the options.
Most calls start with something that has stopped working or started behaving strangely. Dead outlets, lights that flicker without a clear cause, breakers that trip under normal loads, switches that buzz or feel warm, and circuits that lose power intermittently all have a root cause. We trace it rather than replacing parts at random. The fix is faster and more reliable when the diagnosis is right the first time. We treat your home and its wiring the way we would our own, and that starts with not guessing.
A panel upgrade is the right call when the existing service cannot carry the loads being asked of it, when the breaker box is old enough that replacement parts are no longer available, or when new circuits need to be added and there is no room. Service-entrance and meter upgrades go alongside panel work when the incoming supply itself needs to be brought up to current capacity. We do a load calculation before recommending a size, so the new panel is right for what the home or building actually needs, not just what fits in the space. The service page carries the full breakdown of what these projects involve.
New circuits, lighting, ceiling fans, dedicated appliance circuits, whole-home surge protection, and backup generator hookups all fall into this category. Installation work in Ames ranges from a single ceiling fan in a bedroom to a full electrical rough-in for a home addition or a finished basement. Grounding and bonding are part of every installation we do, not an afterthought. We take pride in the electrical work we leave behind.
Homes in Ames vary widely in age, and the wiring reflects that. Properties built in earlier eras sometimes have knob-and-tube wiring, which lacks a ground wire and was not designed for the loads a modern home places on its circuits. Aluminum branch-circuit wiring, which was used during a period when copper prices spiked, requires specific connectors and regular inspection to remain safe. Both are worth having assessed by someone who knows what to look for and can explain the options clearly.
Not everything old needs to be replaced immediately. Some older wiring is in good condition and can be left in place. What matters is knowing what is there, what it can safely carry, and where the risks are. An inspection gives you that picture. If remediation is needed, we explain what it involves and what it costs before any decision is made. Good electrical work isn't complicated, it's just done right, and that applies to older wiring as much as anything else.
The rate is confirmed on the phone before anything is scheduled. For straightforward work like outlet replacement, a ceiling fan, or a dedicated circuit, the price is usually settled in that first conversation. For larger projects, we go over the scope before we give a number, because the condition of the existing wiring, the age of the panel, and the distance from the panel to the work location all affect what the job actually involves.
What changes a quote is scope, not surprises. If we find something during the work that was not visible when we assessed the job, we explain it and confirm the updated price before continuing. You get a straight answer when you ask what it covers. With a local company, your questions go straight to the people doing the work. Call (515) 395-4989 to get started.
We serve Ames as a primary area and take calls from customers throughout Story County. That includes Gilbert, Kelley, Nevada, Huxley, and Cambridge. If you are in one of those communities and not sure whether we cover your address, call and ask. We will tell you straight.
Yes, in most cases. A full rewire is only necessary when the existing wiring is genuinely unsafe or incapable of supporting the work being added. Many older homes just need targeted repairs, circuit additions, or panel upgrades rather than starting over. We assess what is actually there and recommend only what the situation calls for.
A converted space almost always needs dedicated circuits rather than tapping into whatever is nearest. Lighting, outlets, and any heating or cooling supply for the new space each have their own load, and adding them to an existing circuit that is already carrying a full load creates an overload risk. We assess the panel capacity and run the circuits the converted space actually needs.
Yes. Pre-purchase electrical inspections are a regular part of what we do, and the person scheduling does not need to be the current owner. The property owner or their agent typically needs to allow access, but the inspection itself can be arranged by a buyer, a buyer's agent, or anyone else with a legitimate reason to have the wiring assessed. Call us at (515) 395-4989 to set it up.
We can assess wiring that was done without a permit and tell you what condition it is in and what it would take to bring it up to current standards. Whether that work can be signed off as-is or needs to be redone depends on what is actually there. We explain what we find and what the options are before any remediation work is scheduled.
Yes. If something is not right after we finish, call us at (515) 395-4989 and we will work out what needs to happen next. We stand behind the work and we do not consider a job closed if there is still something that needs to be addressed.
Older homes near the university and in established neighborhoods frequently have wiring that has been added to over the years without a clear plan, which can mean undersized circuits, missing GFCI protection, and panels that are out of room. Newer construction tends to generate calls about EV charger circuits, subpanel additions for garages, and surge protection. The starting point is always the same: we find out what is actually happening before recommending anything.
Temporary power supply for outdoor use is something we can discuss on the call. The specifics depend on what the power needs to run, how long it is needed, and what existing supply is available on the property. Call us at (515) 395-4989 and we will go over what is involved and whether it is a job we can take on.
Permit requirements depend on the type of work and whether it is in the city of Ames or elsewhere in Story County. We confirm what applies to your specific job before work begins, and where a permit is required, we handle the process as part of the project. The goal is work that passes inspection and meets current code. We walk through this on the call so there are no delays once the work is underway.
If we trace a problem and find that the fault is upstream of the meter, we tell you clearly and explain what the next step is. That typically means contacting your utility provider directly, since the service entrance and everything before the meter is their responsibility. We can describe what we found in terms that make it easier to report the issue to them accurately.
Gilbert, Kelley, Nevada, Huxley, Cambridge, and the rest of Story County are all covered. If you are in or around Ames and need electrical work done, the process is simple. Call, get the price, and schedule the visit. Licensed electricians. Code-compliant wiring. Fair rates.
Call Summit Electric at (515) 395-4989. We are open every day from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Check our list of local areas. We also work in: Polk City, Johnston, Saylorville, Bondurant, Grimes.
Below is a quick look at the electrical services we handle for homes, rentals, and businesses in Ames and across Story County. Each row covers what the service includes, who it fits best, and a practical note to help you think through the job before you call. If a service is not listed or your situation does not fit neatly into one category, call us and we will walk you through it.
| Service Type | What's Included | When You Need It | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlet & Switch Installation |
| Homeowners upgrading older outlets or adding new ones in kitchens, baths, garages, or outdoors | Current code requires GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations. Many older Ames homes are missing these entirely. |
| Basement & Sump-Pump Circuits |
| Homeowners finishing a basement or adding sump protection in an Iowa home | A sump pump on a shared circuit can lose power at the worst moment. A dedicated circuit with proper GFCI protection is the right setup for any basement in a region with spring thaw and heavy rain. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation |
| Older homes with outdated wiring or any property adding circuits for new loads | Ames has a mix of housing ages. Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring are both present in older neighborhoods and both present real concerns worth addressing. |
| EV Charger Installation |
| Homeowners adding a Level 2 charger in a garage or driveway | Older panels sometimes need an upgrade before a Level 2 charger circuit can be added. We check panel capacity first so any needed upgrade is identified and scheduled before installation day. |
| Electrical Panel UpgradesMost Popular |
| Homeowners with older panels, repeated tripping, or new loads like EV chargers that exceed current capacity | A 100-amp panel that was adequate in 1975 is often not adequate for a home that now has a home office, an EV charger, and a modern kitchen. We size the new service for what the home actually needs. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections |
| Home buyers, sellers, landlords, and owners of older homes with wiring that has not been reviewed in years | If the inspection turns up items that need attention, we explain what they are and what fixing them involves. You get the information before deciding on anything. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits |
| Anyone adding a high-draw appliance that needs its own breaker | High-draw appliances on shared circuits cause repeated tripping and can damage the appliance over time. A dedicated circuit is the correct fix. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting |
| Any homeowner or renter with an unexplained electrical problem | We trace the problem to its source before recommending any work, so you know exactly what is wrong and what fixing it involves. |
| Lighting Installation |
| Homeowners, landlords, and commercial property managers updating or adding lighting | Exterior lighting for rental properties and commercial buildings often requires a new circuit rather than tapping an existing one. We confirm capacity before running wire. |
| Breaker & Fuse Repair |
| Homes with breakers that trip repeatedly or fuse boxes that need attention | A breaker that trips under normal load often points to an overloaded circuit or a failing breaker, not just a nuisance. We find out which before touching anything. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection |
| Any Ames homeowner concerned about lightning strikes or utility voltage fluctuations | Central Iowa sees significant lightning activity in storm season. A panel-mounted surge protector covers every circuit in the house, not just what is plugged into a power strip. |
| Wiring for Additions & Remodels |
| Homeowners finishing a basement, adding a room, or remodeling a kitchen or bathroom | Electrical rough-in is one of the first trades on-site in a remodel and one of the last to finish. We coordinate around the project schedule so the work does not hold up other trades. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation |
| Homeowners replacing a fixture or adding a fan where no wiring currently exists | If there is no existing wiring, we install a proper brace box rated for the fan weight so the ceiling support is correct from the start. |
| Backup Generator Installation |
| Homeowners in Ames who want power protection during Iowa ice storms and severe weather | A properly wired transfer switch isolates the generator from the utility line, which protects both your equipment and line workers restoring power in the area. |
| Older-Home Rewiring |
| Owners of pre-1970s homes in Ames with wiring that has never been updated | Rewiring an older home is a significant project, but it is often the only way to make the electrical system safe and capable of carrying modern loads. We scope the work carefully before any walls are opened. |
Call (515) 395-4989 and we will walk you through what the job involves, what it costs, and when we can get someone out.
(515) 395-4989