Protecting your homes electronics with whole house surge protection is dramatically more important today then just ten years ago.  Your home becomes more and more filled with electronics and appliances that need protection from power surges.  A lighting storm can wreak havoc on the utility grid and your homes electronics.  A good lighting storm will generate 12-18 calls in one day just for our local business Custom Electrical Services.  Sometimes it even seems you can almost track the storms path as it moves across the Des Moines Metro based on the incoming calls.  Customers who experienced power surges have received thousands of dollars and in some cases tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage from one major power surge.  A surge is most commonly known for taking out electronics such as computers, TV’s and stereo equipment.  But did you know many of your homes appliances now have sophisticated electronics built into them?  We see garage door openers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and even the homes hot water heater, air conditioner and furnace all taken out by power surges.

You should know that nothing will fully protect your home from a direct lighting strike.  However in most cases the damage is caused by the power surge rather than a direct lighting strike.  We are all familiar with the power strips that offer surge protection you can purchase from the big box stores.  Even if you have a whole house surge protection system we still recommend point of use surge protection.  When purchasing surge protection you want to look at the joule rating.  The joule rating is the amount of energy absorption / dissipation a surge protector can handle before the surge protector fails.  The higher the number the better the surge protection device is at protecting the electronics plugged into it.  But what about the items not plugged into the power surge strip?  Well unfortunately anything not plugged into the power surge strip is not getting any protection.  So that $1200 dishwasher, $600 garage door opener, or $4,000 air conditioner is not getting any protection from your point of use power strip.  But don’t worry you now have options.

We have installed hundreds of whole house power protection devices in peoples homes across the Des Moines Metro.  One customer in West Des Moines received frequent issues from power surges.  After we installed a SPD (surge protection device) in each of his electrical panels he has not lost any electronics since.  A whole house surge protection device like a power surge strip is only capable of absorbing or dissipating so much power.  This particular customer received a significant power surge which he said would of normally damaged his very expensive home theater equipment and whole house automation system in the past.  A SPD when properly installed in your electrical panel can protect your entire home from power surges.  Not just electronics plugged directly into a surge protector.

There are several types of whole house surge protectors on the market.  Many are good while others are not.  Even the best whole house surge protectors are not as effect if they are not properly installed.  Manufacture specs are specific when it comes to the required installation so the device can properly perform the way it was engineered.  A good quality whole house surge protection device will come with several thousand dollars worth of manufacture insurance covering your homes electronics if the device were to fail when properly installed.

We have a variety of whole house surge protections devices capable of providing safe and reliable protection for your home.  We offer Siemens devices as well as Eaton products we can install in your home or business today.  Stop procrastinating and call us before the next big storm moves across the Des Moines metro.  From Adel to Altoona, from Norwalk to Ankeny and all the surrounding communities we are here and ready to serve your 24/7.

Categories: Uncategorized« Des Moines 24 Hour Electrician  |  Storm Damage Electrical Repair 24 Hour Service »

As our #1 international customer base, Canada is enjoying brighter times ahead with the most outstanding light fixtures and lamps from Capitol Lighting’s 1800lighting.com.

Capitol Lighting provides Canadian customers with friendly, reliable service and custom quality illumination.

Here is what we offer…

• Capitol Lighting maintains partnerships with the most trusted lighting manufacturers throughout the US, and remains a family owned and operated business backed by 90 years of experience in the lighting industry.

• When you purchase from Capitol Lighting, you buy with confidence.  All of our products are backed by our 110% best price guarantee.

• From traditional to futuristic compositions, 1800lighting.com offers a world-class selection of chandeliers, wall decor, decorative accessories, track lighting and portable lamps for your residential or commercial space.

• Experience the latest in LED and energy-efficient illumination, as well as eco-friendly lamps and lighting products.

• Choose from a tremendous assortment of items including, exquisite foyer fixtures, decorative table and floor lamps, desk lamps and task lamps, superb outdoor and landscape lighting, ceiling fans and light kits, and automated lighting controls.

Capitol Lighting provides the best service and care, along with custom quality illumination for your residential or commercial environment.

We keep in touch with you…

• Within one full business day of placing your order, you will receive an initial order status email providing you with the initial “estimated” shipping dates for each item on your order.  These shipping dates are estimated based on the availability of the item(s) in our warehouses in New Jersey and Florida, as well as the warehouses of our Manufacturers.

• If an item you have purchased is made to order or is on back order with the Manufacturer, your order status email will reflect this along with an estimated shipping date.

• Until your order has fully shipped and is complete, you will receive Order Status Update emails if/when the estimated shipping date changes or we receive new information about the product that impacts your order.

• Using the shipping calculator tool in the shopping cart is fast and easy—you can even get FedEx rates to your door (inclusive of duty and taxes)!

• 110% best price guarantee

• Friendly, reliable service

• Dedication to top quality design and composition

Go to Capitol Lighting’s info page for details and get started on furnishing your home and/or office environment with the best illumination from 1800lighting.com.

Shipping to Canada:

• 1800lighting is pleased to ship directly to our Canadian customers.

• Standard Ground Shipping-FedEx/UPS items: All items will ship from warehouses around the US directly to your door via FedEx or UPS and their Canadian partners.  All our shipments will comply with Canada Customs regulations and pricing will include all duties and your local GST+PST or HST.

• To simplify the process, in the shopping cart our shipping calculator will calculate all related charges based on your postal code, connecting directly with FedEx to provide the most accurate delivery charges.  Please note:  We pass on our preferred shipping rates and do not mark up our shipping fees in any way.

• Shipping Lead Times:  If your purchase or project is time sensitive, it is strongly suggested that you contact a representative at 1.800.544.4846 or email ShippingToCanada@1800lighting.com to inquire about what expedited shipping services may be available.

Everyone probably knows light layering is the #1 rule in residential lighting design, but we can often neglect it in professional settings. Light layers can transform that standard gloomy, fluorescent malaise into something calm and energizing.

2. Take the layers outside too! The center’s entryway functions like a beacon in the night with those stylish ceiling lights, along with Image via CONTEMPORIST.com

If your business has a storefront or entryway, don’t neglect eye-catching light layers there either. You want to draw customers in, not scare them away.

3. Use standard fixtures in unexpected ways. A regular fixture in an unexpected place will be avant-garde, without the price tag of an avant-garde light fixture. Image via CONTEMPORIST.com

I’d also like to note those crazy recessed ceiling lights – totally echoing a standard recessed fixture only stylized and amplified. It makes you rethink the whole concept of a regular old recessed light!

December is right around the corner and it looks like the temperature will continue to keep dropping. During this time of the year we all try to make our homes as comfortable as possible. Throwing on extra layers can help, but turning up the furnace is not always the best answer. If you want an efficient way to heat your home while also adding to the aesthetics of your room, an electrical fireplace is your best option.

Not only are electric fireplaces more eco-friendly than conventional gas and wood burning fireplaces, they are more economical. With their large heat output they cost just a fraction than what it costs to turn up the thermostat in your home. Additionally, electrical fireplaces require far less maintenance. You don’t need to worry about hauling around heavy wood or cleaning your chimney. With an electrical fireplace you just need to dust and clean the glass from time to time.

Because there is no real flame in an electrical fireplace, there is no need to worry about having the right connections to install the fireplace. You can install one virtually anywhere in your home. With the help of an expert electrician, we can run the electrical lines that are needed and make sure that everything is hooked up correctly.

The great thing about electrical fireplaces is that they come in a wide range of styles and designs. There are several types of electrical fireplaces:

By Clarissa Allison | August 28th, 2015

If you are a homeowner considering outdoor lighting, then you have probably heard about solar landscape lighting. In addition to being environmentally friendly, light emitting diode which prevents the battery’s current from flowing back through the solar cell during the night. The battery charges during the daytime, and will meet its maximum charge before dusk. A photovoltaic cell then changes the sun’s light into electricity. Although environmental factors affect the performance of solar lights they will work outdoors throughout most of the year.

Many solar lights are self-sustaining, or “stand-alone” systems. These convert sunlight into electricity during the day, store the electricity in batteries, and draw from the batteries to power light fixtures after dusk.

Self-contained solar lights often have panels built right into the light fixtures. Solar lighting systems with panels separate from fixture assemblies, however, allow for only the panels to be placed in the sun, not the lights themselves.