No matter what's going wrong with your wiring, we have the experience to find it, fix it, and explain what happened. We work with homeowners across Ankeny on everyday repairs, panel upgrades, outlet and lighting installations, ceiling fans, and full rewiring projects. If you are adding a room, finishing a basement, or updating an older home, we handle the electrical side of that work from start to finish.
We also serve commercial clients throughout Polk County, including property managers, small business owners, retail operators, and office tenants. Commercial electrical work involves its own demands, from load calculations and subpanel installation to commercial lighting and dedicated circuits for equipment. We understand those requirements and work efficiently to keep your business moving.
New construction wiring, home additions, garage circuits, and basement wiring all fall within our scope. If your property needs power run to it, we can do that work.
Call and we'll handle the lights, outlets, and panel.
Good electrical work isn't complicated, it's just done right, and that means using the correct materials, following current code, and being honest with the customer about what the job actually requires. We give honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell. If a repair will solve your problem, we say so. If a replacement is the smarter long-term move, we explain why and let you decide.
Here is what we handle on a regular basis.
Flickering lights, dead outlets, breakers that keep tripping, and circuits that simply stop working are all problems we see regularly. These issues can have straightforward causes or more complex ones, and we take the time to diagnose before we recommend a fix. We also handle fuse box replacement and upgrades to modern breaker panels, AFCI and GFCI protection installation, arc-fault and ground-fault breaker upgrades, and smoke detector wiring. An electrical panel inspection can catch problems before they become hazards, and we can schedule one at your convenience.
Older homes often carry panels that were never designed to handle today's electrical loads. We perform 200-amp panel upgrades, service-entrance and meter upgrades, and fuse-box-to-breaker-panel conversions. If your home is running low on circuit capacity or your panel is showing its age, a service upgrade is often the most practical investment you can make. We walk you through what the job involves and what to expect before any work begins.
We install GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations where code requires them. We also install AFCI outlets, dimmer switches, weatherproof and outdoor outlet boxes, and USB-equipped receptacles. For homes with older wiring, we offer whole-home rewiring, aluminum-wiring remediation, and knob-and-tube replacement. All wiring work is done to current code standards, with proper grounding and bonding throughout.
Indoor and outdoor lighting covers a wide range of work: recessed LED lighting, under-cabinet lights, landscape lighting, security lighting, motion sensor lights, and exterior fixtures of all kinds. We also install ceiling fans, including jobs where no existing wiring or switch box is in place. If you want better light in a room or a fan where there was never one before, we can make that happen cleanly and correctly.
EV charger installation is one of the fastest-growing requests we handle. We run dedicated circuits and wire Level 2 chargers for home garages, making sure the panel has the capacity to support the load before we start. We also connect backup generators and install transfer switches so your home can switch over safely during an outage. Whole-home surge protection is another service we recommend for homes with sensitive electronics and appliances.
Dedicated circuits for dryers, refrigerators, workshop equipment, and other high-draw appliances are a standard part of our work. If you are adding a hot tub or need outdoor circuits for a new project, we handle that wiring as well.
Staying ahead of electrical problems keeps your home safe. But when something goes wrong unexpectedly, you need a team that can respond quickly. We offer same-day scheduling when availability allows, and we are available for electrical emergencies around the clock, seven days a week. A tripped breaker that will not reset, a dead circuit, or a burning smell from an outlet are not problems to wait on, and we treat them accordingly.
We work with your schedule for non-emergency calls as well. Evening and weekend appointments are available for customers who cannot be home during standard business hours. Our goal is to get you on the calendar quickly and show up when we say we will.
Seven days a week. Competitive rates. Power back fast.
Call today and we'll get the power back where it belongs.
Every job we complete is done to current electrical code standards. That matters for your safety, for your insurance, and for the resale value of your home. When work is done correctly and to code, it does not create problems down the road. When it is done carelessly, it can.
We take that responsibility seriously. Licensed electricians perform all of the work we schedule. Before we leave a job, we verify that everything is functioning properly and that the installation meets the standards it needs to meet. If something is not right, we make it right. That is not a slogan, it is just how we operate.
Scheduling a service call is simple, and understanding what you will pay should be just as straightforward. We explain our pricing before work begins, including any additional costs that might come up once we are on site. There are no surprise charges at the end of the job. If the scope changes, we talk to you first.
We treat your home and its wiring the way we would our own. That means we are not looking for ways to add to your bill. We are looking for the right fix at a fair price, explained clearly so you can make an informed decision. Call to request an estimate or schedule an inspection, and we will give you a clear picture of what the work involves.
Reach out and an electrician will follow up.
Curtis Larson started this company in 2002 with a service van, a commitment to showing up on time, and a belief that a local electrician should be someone neighbors can count on. What began as a one-man operation grew steadily alongside Ankeny itself, one job at a time. Over two decades, that has meant wiring new homes in developing neighborhoods, upgrading panels in older parts of town, and building working relationships with property managers and business owners across Polk County.
Ankeny has grown considerably since 2002, and we have grown with it. The team is larger now, but the approach has not changed. Experienced electricians who respect your home show up to every job, and the same standard applies whether we are doing a small repair or a full rewiring project.
We serve customers throughout Polk County, including Altoona, Bondurant, Johnston, Grimes, Urbandale, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, and Sheldahl. If you are in the area and need an electrician, we can get someone to you.
Not the biggest crew in town. Just the most reliable. Always on time.
We have been operating in Ankeny since 2002, which puts us at over two decades of electrical work in this community. We have grown alongside Ankeny as the city has expanded, and we know the homes, the neighborhoods, and the kinds of electrical issues that come up here. That local history means something when you are trusting someone with your wiring.
Yes, we are locally owned and operated electricians based right here in Ankeny. When you call, you reach someone who knows this area personally and is accountable to this community. We are a small local team, and every customer matters to us.
The electricians we send are experienced professionals who respect your home and take the work seriously. We hold every crew member to the same standard: show up on time, diagnose accurately, do the work right, and leave the space clean. You are not getting a rotating cast of unfamiliar faces with no stake in the outcome.
We pick up the phone and get back to callers quickly. Same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows, and we work seven days a week from 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM so urgent situations do not have to wait. Call (515) 789-3261 and we will give you a realistic window for getting someone out to you.
We work throughout Polk County and regularly take calls from Johnston, Urbandale, Clive, Grimes, Altoona, Bondurant, Des Moines, and nearby towns. If you are outside that list, call us and we will let you know whether we cover your location. Our service area has grown over the years alongside the business.
We give honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell, because we think a customer who trusts the recommendation is worth more than one who feels pushed into something unnecessary. We treat your home and its wiring the way we would our own, and we back every job with the same standard regardless of size. Twenty-four years of work in this community is the track record we stand on.
Accurate diagnosis depends on equipment that works correctly, so we maintain our tools and test gear as a regular part of how we operate. If a meter or diagnostic tool is giving questionable readings, we do not use it on a customer's job. That discipline is part of what it means to do the work right.
Yes, this is a hands-on operation. The people who run this business are connected to the work being done, not managing from a distance. That involvement keeps the quality consistent and means there is always someone with real accountability for how a job goes.
The team is larger now than when we started, and the range of services has grown to match what Ankeny homeowners and businesses need today. But the approach has not changed: show up on time, do the work right, and be straight with the customer. That has been the standard since the first job in 2002 and it is still the standard now.
Residential repairs, commercial panel work, EV charger installation, emergency response, and everything in between. Curtis Larson Electric handles it all for homeowners and businesses across Ankeny and Polk County.
Call (515) 789-3261 to request an estimate, schedule an inspection, or get a licensed electrician on the way. We pick up the phone, we show up on time, and we do the work right.
We keep your home powered and safe.
We handle the full range of residential and commercial electrical work in Ankeny and throughout Polk County. Whether the job is a quick repair or a major service upgrade, we show up on time, diagnose the problem honestly, and do the work to current code. The table below covers what each service includes, who it fits best, and what is useful to know before you call.
| Service | What's Included | Best For | Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaker & Fuse Repair | breaker replacement, tripping breaker diagnosis, overloaded circuit identification, panel inspection | homes where a breaker keeps tripping or will not reset | A breaker that trips repeatedly usually signals a wiring fault or an overloaded circuit, not just a weak breaker. |
| Wiring for Additions & Remodels | kitchen and bathroom remodel wiring, basement finishing circuits, home addition electrical, circuit relocation and expansion | homeowners with an active remodel or addition project | Planning the electrical scope at the start of a remodel avoids costly changes once walls are closed. |
| Electrical Repairs & Troubleshooting | dead outlets and failed switches, flickering or dimming lights, circuit faults and wiring issues, GFCI and AFCI diagnosis | any homeowner or business with an unexplained electrical problem | We run a full circuit diagnostic on the visit so you get a clear answer, not a guess. |
| Backup Generator Installation | transfer switch installation, standby generator wiring, portable generator connection points, code-compliant isolation | Ankeny homeowners and businesses preparing for Iowa storm season | A proper transfer switch keeps the utility line and generator circuit isolated, which is a code requirement and a safety necessity. |
| Electrical Panel UpgradesMost Popular | 200-amp service upgrade, subpanel installation, breaker replacement and expansion, load calculation | homes running on 100-amp panels or adding EV chargers, AC, or major appliances | A load calculation before the upgrade confirms exactly what the service entrance and panel need to carry safely. |
| Wiring & Circuit Installation | new circuit runs, dedicated appliance circuits, whole-house rewiring, knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring remediation | older homes and any project that adds significant electrical load | Homes built before the 1970s often carry wiring that was never designed for modern electrical demands. |
| Whole-Home Surge Protection | panel-level surge device installation, protection for electronics and appliances, storm and lightning surge defense, HVAC control board protection | any home or business in a region with active thunderstorm seasons | Panel-level surge protection catches voltage spikes before they reach your circuits, something power strips cannot do. |
| Lighting Installation | recessed and LED lighting, under-cabinet and landscape lighting, exterior and security lighting, fixture replacement | remodels, new construction, and homeowners upgrading to LED | Outdoor fixtures in Iowa need to be rated for the temperature swings the climate brings. |
| Electrical Safety Inspections | panel and wiring condition review, grounding and bonding check, GFCI and AFCI coverage audit, pre-purchase inspection | home buyers, landlords, and owners of older properties | An inspection before closing gives you a clear picture of what the electrical system needs before it becomes your problem. |
| Ceiling Fan Installation | new fan installation, replacement fan wiring, existing wiring evaluation, switch and remote wiring | homeowners adding fans to rooms that did not have them before | Older boxes rated for light fixtures only may need to be swapped for fan-rated boxes before installation. |
| Outlet & Switch Installation | standard and GFCI outlet installation, USB and weatherproof outlets, dimmer and smart switch wiring, 240-volt outlet installation | homeowners adding outlets or upgrading kitchen, bath, and outdoor locations | GFCI protection is required by code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas. |
| EV Charger Installation | Level 2 charger installation, dedicated 240-volt circuit, conduit and wiring run, panel capacity check | homeowners adding an electric vehicle and wanting reliable home charging | We check panel capacity before any work begins so the charger does not create a load problem elsewhere in the home. |
| Older-Home Rewiring | knob-and-tube replacement, aluminum branch-circuit remediation, grounding and bonding upgrades, full or partial rewire | owners of pre-1970s homes with wiring that has not been updated | Older wiring was not sized for today's electrical loads and can create both safety and insurance concerns. |
| Dedicated Appliance Circuits | laundry and kitchen circuits, workshop and garage circuits, electric dryer and range outlets, sump pump circuits | homeowners whose appliances share circuits they should not be sharing | A dedicated circuit prevents nuisance trips and protects both the appliance and the wiring. |
How do I know if my home needs a panel or service upgrade?
Common signs include breakers that trip frequently, a panel that has no open slots for new circuits, lights that dim when large appliances kick on, and a service size of 100 amps or less. Homes adding EV chargers, central air conditioning, or electric appliances often find that the existing panel simply cannot carry the added load. We start with a load calculation to confirm what the service actually needs before we recommend an upgrade.
What causes a breaker to keep tripping?
A breaker that trips repeatedly is usually telling you one of two things: the circuit is being asked to carry more load than it was designed for, or there is a fault somewhere in the wiring. Resetting it without finding the cause does not fix the underlying problem and can create a safety risk over time. We diagnose the circuit on the visit and give you a straight answer on what is causing the trip and what the right fix looks like.
Is the electrical work permitted and inspected to code?
Yes. We pull the permits the job requires, and work performed by licensed electricians follows current electrical code, including proper grounding, bonding, and GFCI and AFCI protection placement. Code-compliant work matters for your safety, your homeowner's insurance, and the resale value of your property. We do not skip that step regardless of the size of the job.
Same-Day and Weekend Availability
We work seven days a week and offer same-day appointments when the schedule allows. If your electrical problem cannot wait until Monday, we will not make you wait until Monday.
Is the wiring in an older Ankeny home safe to leave alone?
It depends on what is there and what condition it is in. Knob-and-tube wiring and aluminum branch-circuit wiring were both used in homes built before the 1970s, and neither was designed to carry modern electrical loads. They are not automatically dangerous, but they deserve a closer look, especially if the home has been updated with new appliances or additional circuits over the years. An electrical safety inspection gives you a clear picture of what is there and what, if anything, needs attention.
What does EV charger installation involve?
Level 2 home charging requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit, the correct wire gauge for the distance of the run, and a panel that has the capacity to carry the additional load. We check all three before any work begins. The installation covers the circuit, the conduit run, the outlet or hardwired connection, and any panel work needed to make room. If the existing panel is already at capacity, we will tell you that up front and explain the options.
Do I need to be home when the electrician arrives?
We can work through the details when you call to schedule. In most cases, access to the panel and the work area is what the job requires. We will confirm the appointment window and reach out if anything changes on our end.
Upfront Quotes With No Surprise Fees
We give you a clear estimate before any work begins and talk to you first if the scope changes. Honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell, is how we do business.
How does pricing work, and will the estimate change once work starts?
We give you a clear estimate before any work begins. If the scope changes once we are on site, we talk to you first. There are no surprise charges at the end of the job. Electrical pricing depends on what the work actually involves, so we do not quote a number before we understand the job, but we give you a straight answer as soon as we do.
What does whole-home surge protection actually protect against?
A panel-level surge protective device catches voltage spikes before they travel through your circuits. That includes surges from nearby lightning strikes, utility switching events, and large motors cycling on and off inside the home. Iowa's active storm season makes this a practical addition for most homes. Standard power strips offer some protection at the device level, but they were never designed to catch the kind of surge that comes in through the service entrance.
Experienced With Older and Newer Homes
We work on homes built in every decade, from older Ankeny properties with knob-and-tube wiring to new construction needing EV charger circuits. The work is done to current code either way.
Why would an outlet or switch stop working?
The most common reasons are a tripped GFCI outlet upstream on the same circuit, a loose connection at the device or in the box, a failed device, or a wiring fault in the circuit. GFCI outlets protect other outlets downstream, so a dead outlet in one room is sometimes caused by a tripped GFCI in a bathroom or kitchen. We trace the circuit on the visit and find the actual cause rather than swapping parts and hoping.
What does it mean if lights flicker or dim when appliances turn on?
Brief dimming when a large appliance starts up is common and usually points to a voltage drop on the circuit or a panel that is working close to its capacity. Persistent flickering without an obvious cause can indicate a loose connection, a failing fixture, or a wiring issue that deserves a closer look. If it is happening in multiple rooms or getting worse over time, that is a good reason to call us and have the circuit checked.
Are you available for same-day or weekend service in Ankeny?
Yes. We work seven days a week, and same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows. Electrical problems do not wait for the work week to start, and we do not make you wait either. Call us and we will tell you what the earliest available time looks like.
Every job is different, and the best way to get an accurate answer is to call us directly. Reach out to (515) 789-3261 and we will talk through what the work involves and get you on the schedule.
(515) 789-3261