The digital age has made us especially reliant on technology - and electricity - for our entertainment, and most kids are even more plugged in than their parents. So when the power goes out, finding fun and engaging activities can be tough. Need some electricity-free activities the whole family can enjoy? Give these a try.

*Exercise caution when using candles as a light source

Custom Electrical Services works hard to provide the best service possible to all of their customers.  We take pride in our work and the service we provide, always trying to build as much value into every project we help on.  We work with home owners and professional contractors alike.  Below is a recent review from one of our professional contractor customers.

“Custom Electrical is the Best electrical contractor in the Des Moines Area. We have used their services for the past 12 years and they are 100% customer focused, always show up on time, and perform their work in a friendly and professional matter. Doesn’t matter if it is the owner or anyone else in the organization, their service is top notch. We trust them with all our electrical needs” Kirk Mickelsen  KRM Development

Thank you Kirk Mickelsen and KRM Development for your continued support!

Categories: Electrician Review« Thank You Sharon D.!  |  Electrician In Ames & Surrounding Communities – Top Electrical Contractors »

With the beautiful spring weather upon us, it is only natural you would want to head outside and take advantage of the gorgeous weather before it becomes a little too warm to be truly comfortable. Evenings and early mornings are so peaceful. Unwinding after a long day or taking a few minutes in the morning before a busy day kicks off are made a little nicer and safer with the installation of outdoor lighting by an electrician in Los Angeles. You can count on the knowledgeable staff at The Electric Connection to install the lighting in your yard and landscaping.

While twilight or dusk can be rather calming, it isn’t always a good idea to be outdoors when it is so dark you cannot see your surroundings clearly. It isn’t always some predator you have to worry about, but your own clumsiness. Tripping over a stone or some other object in your yard could leave you with a twisted ankle or in some extreme cases, a broken bone. Proper lighting can prevent these kinds of accidents without interrupting the serenity of the scene.

There are two different kinds of outdoor lighting homeowners have to choose from. Solar lighting is fairly quick and simple to install, but does tend to be a little pricier. The other option is electric lighting installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners who have a yard that gets plenty of shade or the area is regularly shadowed by their home during the daylight hours may want to consider the electric lights. Because they don’t need the sun’s powerful rays to recharge, they can be placed virtually anywhere. The wires will be buried to ensure they do not pose tripping hazards and will be protected from rain and snow. If you would like to make your early mornings and quiet evenings a little better, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your outdoor lighting installation.

In all likelihood, the electrical panel is something you’re familiar with, especially if you have an older home with older wiring. When something stops working in your home, like the refrigerator, it’s often the first thing you check.

But if you find yourself running to the electrical panel often, it’s probably not a good sign. This is just one of the many indicators that you probably need an upgrade. Here are some others:

If you are remodeling your home, you are likely changing out appliances in the kitchen or adding a few new gadgets. And if your home was designed decades ago, the electrical system was simply not made to handle all of these new systems.

As our electrical needs grow, the electrical service has to change, too. The panel is what is responsible for distributing power throughout your home, and attempting to burden an older panel with a large load of appliances could mean major electrical trouble or even a fire hazard.

Do you find yourself resetting one or more circuit breakers all too frequently? Do your lights flicker as soon as you turn on the AC or hot tub? This type of electrical trouble could signal a big problem. Call an electrician to inspect your wiring and your circuit breaker box, and make an upgrade ASAP if this is seen as the best course of action.

Finally, it may be time for an upgrade simply because you have an older panel. If you still have a fuse box, and you need to replace a fuse every time you have electrical trouble, it’s not worth it. A new circuit breaker can replace your fuse box and will be a lot easier to use, and safer too.

Besides, some older panels, even those controlled with circuit breakers, are dangerous. Federal Pacific Electric panels, for example, were widely installed in the middle of the 20th century, but it turns out that most do not trip properly a large percentage of the time, presenting a fire hazard.