My dad might just be the most difficult person I know to find gifts for. Unlike other dads, who might enjoy fishing, golfing, or watching football, mine rides and restores vintage motorcycles for fun. What’s so difficult about that? Well, there are only so many spark plugs and screwdrivers he needs, and only so many specialty parts I can track down before I’m in over my head.

That’s why I went out on a limb this Christmas, and decided to give him one of our

As you can see, the light’s long neck lets it curve and reach to illuminate the motorcycle’s body for detailed work.

Are you thinking about redesigning your home? When you look at the 2012 top home trends, you will realize that you’re not alone. This year everyone seems to be jumping on the home renovation and remodel bandwagon. While some 2012 top home trends involve pure aesthetic components, this year’s trends are all about accessibility, functionality, and efficiency. From home renovation to home color trends, this year has something for everyone.

Take a look at this year’s home trends to choose which ones fit in with your plans for home renovation.

Are you in need of a licensed electrician?  Custom Electrical Services has licensed electricians in Ankeny Iowa 24/7.  Our electricians have the skill and knowledge to handle any electrical task in your Ankeny home or business.

Have an electrical emergency?  We have electricians on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.  Our trained professionals can help with all your electrical emergencies.  Some of the most common electrical emergencies we see are.  Tripped breaker, loose electrical connection, bad or tripped GFCI, power surges or lighting strikes.  We can handle virtually any electrical emergency in Ankeny.  Our service electricians carry a large variety of parts.  If they do not have a part needed on their van we have access to several supply houses in the area with after hours access.

Custom Electrical Services has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.  We work hard to make sure every job is done right the first time and make sure you are completely satisfied.

We offer upfront pricing so you know exactly what your electrical project in Ankeny will cost before the work begins.  We provide you with a flat rate cost so the price to you doesn’t change if the job takes longer than expected.  Our electricians can quote the job to you upon visual inspection at your Ankeny home or business.  In most cases the job quoted can be done at the same time as quote or a different time of your choosing.

Custom Electrical Services wires on average over 200 new homes each and every year.  And has already reached over 250 new construction projects in the beginning of the 4th quarter for 2015!  Our electricians have tons of experience and can handle any electrical task for your Ankeny project!  We know the latest trends in lighting and have access to the newest electrical products.  Or we can update your Ankeny home with products such as LED lighting, or install a whole house surge arrestor.

Or even install a standby generator!  Have a parking lot light that needs some attention?  Or that high light that even a ladder will not reach?  We have bucket trucks with certified electricians to get your Ankeny project completed right the first time.

Many of us can forget about our households energy consumption in the mist of busy daily life.  However, for those who look a bit deeper into specific energy costs, families will be able to determine where their homes’ energy is going and can make adjustments to reduce their energy bills.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, as much as 45% of your homes’ energy goes towards space heating. This means your heating, cooling, and air conditioning system is going to have a huge impact on your usage. Make sure you have checked your house for any leaks and that the appropriate insulation is installed or you will be losing heat that you have paid for.

Much of your other costs are coming from appliances and lighting. Lighting costs can be controlled by using energy efficient bulbs like LEDs. Make sure you are also turning off the lights in rooms you are not using. When running your appliances, try to use them only when you have full loads. It goes without saying that running the dishwasher or washing machine at half capacity will cost you more. If you can bundle more or wait for a larger load you can keep the number of times you are running your appliances down.

One way to determine your usage is to use an energy monitor. These types of devices cost around $30 to $40. They will let you know how much energy you are using to turn on and run these appliances or electronics. BC Hydro has also supplied a calculator you can use to estimate the cost per year. Sometimes upgrading your appliances can save you hundreds per year in efficiency.