Good electrical work isn't complicated, it's just done right, and that is what Ankeny Electrical Company delivers across residential and commercial properties throughout Ankeny and Polk County. Whether you need a dead outlet traced, a panel replaced, or a full rewire on an older home, we handle the full range of electrical work and we are available daily from 9 AM to 11 PM. As a local electrician for homeowners, landlords, property managers, and business owners, we cover the everyday jobs and the ones that take more planning.
Not the biggest name in town. Just the one that answers. No runaround.
When something stops working, the list of possible causes is longer than most people realize. A dead outlet might trace back to a tripped GFCI elsewhere on the circuit. Flickering lights can point to a loose connection in the fixture, a failing breaker, or a problem at the service entrance. A breaker that trips and refuses to reset is telling you something about the load on that circuit, and half the house losing power at once is often a sign of a service-entrance issue or a failed leg at the main panel.
A diagnostic visit covers the panel, the affected circuits, and the outlets or fixtures involved. We test, trace, and identify the fault before any work is scheduled. Homeowners get a clear explanation of what is wrong and what it takes to correct it. Landlords and rental property owners get the same, along with documentation useful for code-compliance records. Honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell. We'll find the fault and fix it right.
When the job is done, we leave your home clean and powered, and that standard applies whether we are swapping a single outlet or rewiring an entire floor. Outlet work covers standard replacements, GFCI outlet installation in kitchens, bathrooms, and exterior locations, AFCI outlet and breaker upgrades, and USB outlet installations where you want charging built into the wall.
Switch work runs from a basic light switch replacement to dimmer installation, three-way switch wiring, and rough-in for smart switches. For older Ankeny homes still carrying knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, we handle the full scope: old wiring replacement, aluminum wiring repair, and whole-home rewiring where the existing system no longer meets current load demands.
Dedicated appliance circuits are a common request here. A dryer outlet, an electric range circuit, a kitchen circuit upgrade, or a new circuit for a sump pump in a finished basement all require their own properly sized run from the panel. We handle the wiring and the panel connection from start to finish. We'll get the job wired and finished.
Indoor lighting upgrades cover recessed lighting installation, under-cabinet lighting, and LED retrofits that cut energy use without a complicated changeout. Outdoor work includes landscape lighting wiring, security lighting, motion sensor lights, and general exterior lighting for porches, garages, and commercial building perimeters.
Ceiling fan installation and replacement rounds out this category. Whether there is existing wiring to work from or a new circuit needs to be run, we handle the box, the wiring, and the connection. Outdoor circuits serving lighting fixtures benefit from proper protection, particularly in locations exposed to weather. We'll make your wiring safe again.
Iowa's four-season climate puts real demands on a home's electrical system. Heating season, cooling season, and a storm calendar that includes severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and ice events all shape what electrical work matters most here. The three services below address the conditions Ankeny homeowners and property owners face on a regular basis.
An electrical panel upgrade replaces a fuse box or an undersized breaker panel with a modern service, typically a 200-amp panel, sized to handle the demands of a fully equipped household. Older homes in Ankeny that were built with 60- or 100-amp service panels were not designed for the combination of central air, electric appliances, EV chargers, and home office equipment that a modern household runs. Iowa's heating and cooling seasons put sustained demand on the system, and a panel that cannot carry the load becomes a bottleneck and a safety concern.
A panel upgrade includes load calculations, service-entrance work where needed, and a meter upgrade coordinated with the utility when required. Subpanel installation for additions, garages, or outbuildings falls under the same category. The scope of the electrical work is priced before it starts, so you know what the project covers before anything is scheduled.
Backup generator installation, on the electrical side, means wiring the transfer switch, running the circuit from the panel to the generator connection point, and sizing the electrical load the generator will carry. Iowa severe weather, including high-wind events and ice storms, causes outages that can stretch from hours to days. A properly installed transfer switch keeps the home's circuits live and prevents backfeed onto the utility line, which is a code requirement and a safety issue.
This is the electrical hookup work: transfer switch installation, generator circuit wiring, and load assessment. If you already have a generator-ready setup and are not sure what it covers, reach out and we'll get it diagnosed.
A whole-home surge protector installs at the main panel and protects every circuit in the house from voltage spikes. Iowa's thunderstorm season brings lightning strikes and utility fluctuations that can damage appliances, electronics, and the electrical components inside HVAC equipment. A single event can take out multiple devices at once.
Panel-level surge protection works alongside point-of-use protectors rather than replacing them. Together, they give the home layered protection against both large external surges and smaller internal spikes. The installation connects directly to the main panel and covers the whole system from that single point.
Getting your electrical problem handled starts with a quick call, and that applies whether you are managing a commercial space, a rental property, or a small business in the Ankeny area. We handle office, retail, and light commercial electrical work including circuit installation, panel work, outlet upgrades, and lighting. We show up ready to wire and ready to work within the scheduling constraints that property managers and business owners deal with.
For landlords and rental property owners, we cover outlet replacements, panel inspections, and code-compliance work before a lease turns over. Electrical safety inspections and pre-purchase electrical inspections give buyers and owners a documented picture of what the system holds and what it needs. Work is scoped clearly, pricing is confirmed on the call, and the job passes inspection.
A Level 2 EV charger installation involves running a dedicated 240-volt circuit from the panel to the garage or parking area, installing the outlet or hardwired connection, and verifying that the panel has the capacity to carry the added load. For homes with older or already-loaded panels, a panel upgrade may be part of the same project.
Commercial properties benefit from EV charger installation as well. Employee parking areas, multi-unit properties, and retail locations are all seeing increased demand for charging access. We assess the panel capacity, run the circuit, and complete the installation whether the application is residential or commercial.
When you call for a quote, you describe the problem and we scope the job on the call. The price is confirmed before anything is scheduled. The visit covers diagnosis, scope confirmation, and the work itself. Every job gets treated like it matters, because it does.
If additional work turns up during the diagnostic, we explain it and price it separately before proceeding. The scope of what was agreed is what gets done. You are not left guessing about what the visit covers or what the bill reflects. Call in the morning. Talk it through. Know the options by the end of the call.
We serve Ankeny and the broader Polk County area, including Des Moines, Johnston, Urbandale, Altoona, Bondurant, Grimes, and Pleasant Hill. If your property is in or around the Des Moines metro and you need electrical work handled, we cover the area. We are open daily from 9 AM to 11 PM.
A burning smell near an outlet usually indicates a loose or overloaded connection that is generating heat inside the box. Near a panel, it can point to a failing breaker, a wiring fault, or arcing at a connection. Both situations warrant a call rather than a wait, as the underlying fault can worsen quickly.
Common signs include outlets that feel warm to the touch, breakers that trip frequently under normal loads, lights that flicker when an appliance starts, and outlets or switches that show discoloration or scorch marks. Homes with knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring may not show obvious symptoms but carry risks that a safety inspection can identify.
Knob-and-tube wiring lacks a ground conductor and was not designed for the loads a modern home places on a circuit. It is also incompatible with insulation installed in walls or attics, which is a fire risk. Repairs on a knob-and-tube system are limited in scope, and a full rewire is often the right answer for homes that still carry it as the primary wiring.
Aluminum wiring expands and contracts with heat cycling in ways that loosen connections over time, which can cause arcing and overheating at outlets and switches. The repair approach involves installing approved connectors and devices rated for aluminum wiring at every connection point, or replacing the branch wiring where the condition warrants it. A diagnostic visit identifies which circuits are affected and what the repair involves.
An undersized or deteriorating panel limits how much load the home can carry and can cause breakers to trip under normal demand. Older fuse boxes do not provide the overcurrent protection that modern breaker panels offer, and fuses that have been upsized to stop nuisance trips are a safety concern. A panel assessment identifies whether the current service can support the home's load or whether an upgrade is needed.
A panel upgrade starts with a load calculation to confirm the right service size for the home's current and anticipated demand. The existing panel is replaced, connections are updated, and the service entrance is assessed to confirm it can support the new capacity. In some cases, the utility meter base also needs to be updated, which involves coordinating with the utility.
Flickering that happens when a large appliance starts, such as an air conditioner or a dryer, often points to a voltage drop on an overloaded circuit or a panel that is running near capacity. Flickering that happens without an obvious trigger, or that involves multiple circuits at once, can indicate a loose connection at the panel or a problem at the service entrance. Either situation is worth a diagnostic visit to identify the cause.
A transfer switch isolates your home's circuits from the utility line before the generator takes over. Without it, power from the generator can backfeed onto the utility line, which creates a hazard for anyone working on the line outside your property. It is both a code requirement and a safety requirement for any permanent generator hookup.
Whole-home surge protection installs as a single device at the main panel. It intercepts voltage spikes before they reach the circuits and appliances connected to the panel, including HVAC equipment, large appliances, and electronics. The installation covers the device, the connection to the panel, and testing to confirm the unit is active and properly wired.
Exterior wiring requires weatherproof conduit, outdoor-rated boxes, and fixtures rated for exposure to the elements. Circuits serving outdoor outlets, landscape lighting, and security fixtures need ground-fault protection at the outlet or the breaker. We assess the existing exterior wiring condition as part of any outdoor installation to confirm the circuit and the connections meet current requirements.
When there is no existing fixture or wiring at the ceiling fan location, the installation involves running a new circuit or extending an existing one, installing a fan-rated junction box, and wiring a dedicated switch leg for the fan and light kit. Fan-rated boxes are required because a standard light fixture box is not designed to carry the dynamic load of a spinning fan. We assess the ceiling and the panel before the installation to confirm what the job involves.
Call (515) 395-4989 to reach Ankeny Electrical Company and get a quote for your electrical work.
We are available daily from 9 AM to 11 PM. Describe the problem, get the price, and know what comes next before anything is scheduled.
Not the biggest name in town. Just the one that answers. No runaround.
Below is a plain-language look at the electrical work we handle across Ankeny and the surrounding Polk County area. Each row covers what the service involves, who it fits best, and one practical detail worth knowing before you call. If your situation does not fit neatly into a row, call and describe it. We will tell you what the job involves and what it costs before anything is scheduled.
| Electrical Service | What the Job Involves | Ideal For | What to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling Fan Installation | Fan-rated box installationNew circuit or switch leg wiringFan and light kit connectionReplacement of existing fans | Rooms with no existing ceiling fixture or an existing light box that needs upgrading | A standard light fixture box is not rated for the dynamic load of a spinning fan. Fan-rated boxes are required and are part of every installation we do. |
| Outlet and Switch Installation | GFCI outlet installationAFCI breaker and outlet upgradesDimmer and three-way switch wiringUSB outlet installation | Homeowners upgrading kitchens, bathrooms, exterior locations, or older rooms with outdated outlets | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exterior locations. We confirm coverage as part of any outlet work in those areas. |
| Electrical Repairs and Troubleshooting | Dead outlet diagnosisFlickering light tracingTripped breaker investigationService-entrance fault checks | Any homeowner or property manager dealing with an unexplained electrical problem | A diagnostic visit covers the panel, the affected circuits, and the outlets or fixtures involved before any repair work begins. |
| Breaker and Fuse Repair | Breaker replacementFuse box assessmentOverloaded circuit diagnosisPanel connection checks | Homes where breakers trip repeatedly under normal loads or fuses blow without an obvious cause | A breaker that trips and resets fine but keeps tripping often points to a load issue rather than a faulty breaker. We identify which it is before replacing anything. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | Dryer and range circuitsSump pump circuit wiringKitchen circuit upgradesPanel connection for new circuits | Homeowners adding a major appliance, finishing a basement, or replacing an appliance that keeps tripping the shared circuit | A dedicated circuit runs directly from the panel to a single outlet or connection point. It prevents load conflicts and is required by code for many large appliances. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | Panel-level surge device installationProtection for all connected circuitsCoordination with point-of-use protectorsPost-installation testing | Homes with sensitive electronics, HVAC equipment, or appliances vulnerable to voltage spikes during Iowa thunderstorm season | A single lightning event or utility fluctuation can damage multiple devices at once. Panel-level protection intercepts spikes before they reach the circuits. |
| Lighting Installation | Recessed lightingOutdoor and security lightingMotion sensor lightsLED retrofit wiring | Homeowners upgrading interior lighting or adding exterior lighting for security or curb appeal | Exterior circuits need weatherproof boxes and ground-fault protection. We assess the existing circuit before adding fixtures. |
| Backup Generator Installation | Transfer switch wiringGenerator circuit installationLoad assessmentUtility backfeed prevention | Ankeny homeowners who have experienced multi-day outages from ice storms or severe weather | Iowa ice storms and high-wind events can knock out power for days. A properly wired transfer switch is both a code requirement and a safety requirement for any permanent hookup. |
| Wiring and Circuit Installation | New circuit runsRough-in wiring for additionsAluminum and knob-and-tube wiring repairWhole-home rewiring | Homes being remodeled, expanded, or carrying wiring that no longer meets current load demands | Homes in this area were wired in different decades, and it shows in the panels. Older wiring systems often need a full assessment before any new circuit work is scoped. |
| Older-Home Rewiring | Knob-and-tube wiring replacementAluminum branch wiring repairFull rewire scopingGrounding and bonding updates | Owners of older Ankeny homes still carrying original wiring that cannot support modern electrical loads | Knob-and-tube wiring is incompatible with insulation installed in walls or attics. A rewire assessment identifies what the system holds and what a full replacement involves. |
| EV Charger Installation | 240-volt dedicated circuitGarage or parking area wiringPanel capacity assessmentHardwired or outlet connection | Homeowners or commercial property owners adding Level 2 charging access | Homes with already-loaded panels may need a panel upgrade as part of the same project. We assess capacity before quoting the installation. |
| Electrical Panel and Service UpgradesMost Popular | 200-amp panel replacementLoad calculationsService-entrance upgradesSubpanel installation | Older homes running central air, EV chargers, or electric appliances on a 60- or 100-amp panel | Iowa's heating and cooling seasons put sustained demand on the panel. A panel that cannot carry the load becomes a bottleneck. The scope and price are confirmed before work begins. |
What causes a breaker to trip repeatedly, and when does it need to be replaced?
Repeated tripping usually points to one of three things: the circuit is carrying more load than it was sized for, a device on the circuit has a fault drawing excess current, or the breaker itself is worn and tripping at lower loads than it should. We test the circuit and the connected load before replacing anything. A breaker that tests fine but keeps tripping under normal use is telling you the circuit needs to be resized or the load redistributed, not just that the breaker is bad.
How do I know if my home needs a full rewire rather than targeted repairs?
A full rewire is usually the right answer when the existing wiring is knob-and-tube, when aluminum branch wiring is present throughout the home and connections have deteriorated, or when the system as a whole cannot support the loads the home now places on it. Targeted repairs make sense when the wiring is otherwise sound and the problem is isolated. We assess what the system holds during a diagnostic visit and give you a clear picture of what a repair covers versus what a rewire would address.
What does EV charger installation require in terms of panel capacity?
A Level 2 charger runs on a dedicated 240-volt circuit and draws a sustained load that many older panels were not sized to carry. Before we quote the installation, we assess the panel to confirm it has the capacity and the available breaker space. If the panel is already near its limit, a panel upgrade becomes part of the project. We scope both together so you have a complete picture before anything is scheduled.
Faults Traced Before Anything Is Replaced
We test and identify the fault before scheduling any repair work. You get a clear explanation of what is wrong and what it takes to correct it, not a parts swap that may not address the actual cause.
When is it safe to attempt a DIY electrical fix, and when should I call?
Replacing a light bulb or resetting a tripped GFCI outlet is straightforward. Beyond that, the risk increases quickly. Work inside a panel, running new circuits, replacing outlets and switches in older homes with unknown wiring, and anything involving the service entrance all carry real risks if the underlying system is not fully understood. A diagnostic call costs less than a repair that follows a wiring mistake, and it gives you a clear answer about what the job actually involves before you commit to anything.
How does grounding and bonding work in older homes, and why does it matter?
Older homes were often wired without a ground conductor in the branch circuits. Without a ground path, a fault in an appliance or fixture has nowhere safe to go, which increases the risk of shock and can prevent breakers from tripping when they should. Bonding ties the grounding system together so it functions as a single path. We assess grounding and bonding as part of any safety inspection or rewire project and explain what the current system provides and what it does not.
What does an electrical safety inspection cover?
A safety inspection covers the main panel, the branch circuits, the outlets and switches, and the visible wiring throughout the home. We check for overcurrent protection that matches the wiring, GFCI coverage in required locations, signs of arcing or overheating at connections, and any wiring that does not meet current standards. The result is a documented picture of what the system holds and what it needs, which is useful for homeowners, buyers, and landlords preparing a unit for occupancy.
Scope Agreed Before the Panel Is Opened
The scope of the electrical work is priced before it starts. If additional work turns up during the visit, we explain it and price it separately before proceeding.
Why does a warm or buzzing outlet need attention right away?
A warm outlet usually means a connection inside the box is loose or the outlet itself is failing and generating resistance heat. A buzzing sound points to arcing at a connection or a device that is drawing more current than the wiring can handle cleanly. Both conditions can worsen quickly. Waiting to see if the problem resolves on its own is not a safe approach. We trace the fault at the outlet and at the circuit to identify whether the fix is the outlet itself or something further back in the wiring.
What is involved in adding circuits for a workshop or garage?
A workshop or detached garage typically needs its own subpanel or a set of dedicated circuits run from the main panel, depending on the load. Power tools, compressors, and welders draw significant current, and sharing circuits with other loads in the home causes voltage drop and trips breakers. We calculate the load, assess whether the main panel has capacity, and run the circuits sized for what the space will actually be used for. If the garage is detached, the wiring method and conduit requirements depend on how the run is made.
Older and Newer Wiring Both Handled
From knob-and-tube and aluminum branch wiring in older Ankeny homes to modern panel upgrades and EV charger circuits, we handle the full range of residential and commercial electrical work.
How long does a panel upgrade typically take?
Most panel upgrades are completed in a single day. The timeline depends on whether the service entrance needs work, whether the meter base requires updating, and how much of the existing wiring needs to be reconnected to the new panel. When utility coordination is required for a meter base upgrade, we handle that scheduling as part of the project. We confirm the expected scope and timeline on the call before anything is booked.
Do I need to be home while the electrical work is being done?
For most work inside the home, someone needs to be present to provide access and to confirm what was found and done before we leave. For exterior work or work limited to a detached structure, we can discuss access arrangements on the call. Either way, we explain what the visit covers before it starts and go over the findings before we leave.
Is the electrical work permitted and inspected?
Permit requirements depend on the type and scope of the work. Panel upgrades, new circuits, and rewiring projects typically require a permit and a follow-up inspection. We handle the permit process where it applies and schedule the work so the inspection fits the project timeline. If you are not sure whether a specific job requires a permit in Ankeny, ask on the call and we will tell you what the job involves and whether a permit is part of it.
Call (515) 395-4989 to describe your electrical situation and get a quote. We are available daily from 9 AM to 11 PM.
(515) 395-4989