When something stops working in a Johnston home, the first thing most people want to know is whether the problem is simple or serious. That question gets answered on the call, before anyone is dispatched and before anything is priced. We talk through what you are seeing, what the circuit or panel looks like from your end, and what the visit will involve. From there, the work gets scheduled at a time that fits your day.
We handle electrical repair and installation throughout Johnston for homeowners, property managers, and small businesses. Whether the job is a dead outlet in a kitchen, a panel that needs to come out and be replaced, or a dedicated circuit for a new appliance, we scope it on the call and confirm the price before we start. We are available every day from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Most electrical calls start with a symptom. Something is not working, something is making a sound it should not, or something tripped and will not reset. The job types below describe the situations we see regularly, and what each one actually involves once we are on site.
A dryer, electric range, EV charger, or sump pump each draws a load that a shared circuit was not built to carry. When an appliance needs its own circuit, we run the wire from the panel to the device location, install the correct outlet or connection point, and confirm the panel has the capacity to support it. If the panel is already close to its limit, that conversation happens before the circuit goes in.
An outlet that stopped working is often a tripped GFCI somewhere else on the circuit, but it can also be a failed device, a loose connection, or a wiring fault that needs to be traced. We replace standard outlets, install GFCI and AFCI devices where they are needed, add USB combination outlets, and put weatherproof covers on exterior locations. Switch replacements and dimmer installations follow the same process: find what is there, confirm the wiring condition, and install the right device for the load.
A breaker that trips repeatedly on the same circuit is telling you something. Sometimes it is an overloaded circuit. Sometimes it is a breaker that has worn past the point where it trips reliably. And sometimes it points to a wiring condition in the circuit itself that needs to be addressed before the breaker is replaced. We run the diagnostics first so the repair addresses the actual problem. Full panel replacements are scoped the same way: load calculation, service entrance review, and a clear price before anything is touched.
Not every rewiring project covers the whole house. Sometimes the work is targeted: a section of wiring that has deteriorated, a circuit that was added without being properly documented, or a room that needs to be brought up to current standards as part of a remodel. We assess what is there, explain what it means, and scope the work to what the property actually requires. We'll make your wiring safe again.
Ground-fault and arc-fault protection are required in specific locations for good reason. A GFCI outlet in a bathroom or kitchen cuts power the moment it detects a ground fault, which is the kind of fault that happens near water. An AFCI breaker detects the arc signature of a wiring fault before it becomes a fire. Older homes often lack both, and adding them is straightforward work that meaningfully changes the safety profile of the circuits involved.
Not every electrical problem starts with a failure. Sometimes it starts with a previous repair that was done without pulling a permit, wired with the wrong gauge, or connected in a way that technically works but does not meet current standards. When we find that kind of work, we assess it the same way we assess any fault: what is the risk, what has to be corrected, and what can stay in place without creating a problem.
The answer depends on the condition of the wiring, whether the circuit is being changed, and what the situation actually requires. A connection that is out of code but stable and not being disturbed is a different conversation from a connection that is part of a circuit we are modifying. We explain the difference plainly and do not recommend replacement work that the property does not need. Honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell.
Getting your electrical problem handled starts with a quick call. We confirm the scope on the phone, give you a price, and schedule the visit. For jobs where the full scope cannot be confirmed without seeing the panel or the wiring, we tell you that before anyone comes out, so there is nothing to figure out after the fact.
When a problem will not keep, we take those calls too. A burning smell near an outlet, a panel making noise, or a sudden loss of power in part of the house are situations where waiting is not the right answer. We are available every day until 11:00 PM, and urgent calls are answered the same way as any other: describe what you are seeing, and we go from there.
For tenants and businesses that need to stay operational, we work around the schedule. If a circuit needs to be shut down for part of the job, that gets planned in advance so the disruption is as short as possible. We confirm what is available when you book, and we do not make changes to that plan without a conversation first. We'll find the fault and fix it right.
Pricing for electrical work depends on what the job actually involves. For a straightforward outlet replacement or a breaker swap, the price is confirmed on the call. For larger work, the scope of the electrical work is priced before it starts, and that means knowing what the panel can carry, what has to be opened up to reach the fault, and whether the existing wiring can support the change being made.
The things that move a quote are the things that change the scope. A panel that turns out to be closer to capacity than expected, wiring that has to be rerouted because of how the house was built, or a fault that sits behind a finished wall rather than in an accessible junction box all affect what the work involves. We explain those factors on the call and confirm the price before anything is scheduled.
To get a quote, call (515) 789-3261.
We talk through the job, confirm what it involves, and give you the rate before anything is booked.
Homes in this area were wired in different decades, and it shows in the panels. A house that has not had significant electrical work done since it was built may still be running on wiring that was correct for its time but was not designed for the loads a household runs today. That shows up in a few specific ways.
Knob-and-tube wiring, where it is still present, lacks a ground conductor and was not built for the circuit density modern homes require. Aluminum branch-circuit wiring, used in a particular period of residential construction, requires specific handling at every connection point to prevent overheating at the terminal. Both are manageable, but both require a clear-eyed assessment of what is there before any work touches those circuits.
A panel that was sized for the original load of the house may not have the capacity for what the home runs now. An inspection of the panel and service entrance is part of how we scope any job where capacity is a question, and it is part of how we scope a panel upgrade from the start. The regional climate adds to that load: heating demand in winter and cooling demand in summer both draw on the panel, and severe storms make surge protection and backup generator hookups a practical consideration for this area. We'll get the job wired and finished. More of the detail sits on our electrical services page.
We serve Johnston and the surrounding communities throughout Polk County, including Grimes, Urbandale, Saylorville, Windsor Heights, and Polk City.
If your property is nearby and you are not sure whether it falls within our service area, call (515) 789-3261 and we will confirm it on the call.
Coverage across these communities follows the same process as any other job: the work is scoped on the phone, the price is confirmed before anything is scheduled, and the visit is arranged at a time that works for the property.
For some projects, it is possible to phase the work so that part of the property stays powered while another section is being worked on. Panel work that requires a main shutoff cannot be split that way, but circuit work often can. We confirm what is possible when we scope the job.
We make every effort to send someone familiar with the job if a callback is needed. If the original work needs to be reviewed, having the same person return is the most efficient outcome.
Call (515) 789-3261 and reference the original job when you call.
If the scope changes once we are on site, we explain what we found and what it means before any additional work is done. You are told what the revised work involves and what it costs before we proceed. Nothing is added to the job without that conversation first.
A small office build-out usually involves adding circuits for workstations and equipment, installing outlets at desk and equipment locations, and confirming the panel has capacity for the added load. If data or communications wiring is involved, that is a separate trade. We handle the power side.
Outdoor wiring runs through conduit where it is exposed, and buried cable is installed at the correct depth for the application. Weatherproof covers are used at outdoor outlets and fixtures. The protection method depends on the specific installation, and we explain what is appropriate for each location when we scope the work.
The calls we see most often involve breakers that trip repeatedly, outlets that have stopped working, and panels that are running close to capacity as homes take on more appliances and circuits. Older properties in the area also generate calls about wiring condition, particularly where the original wiring has not been updated to handle modern loads. Each of those starts the same way: a call to describe what you are seeing, and a scope confirmed before anyone comes out.
Replacing any ungrounded outlets, adding GFCI protection in kitchens and bathrooms, and making sure the panel is labeled and accessible are the most common items that come up in buyer inspections. Addressing them before listing avoids the back-and-forth of a repair request after an offer is made.
Yes. We work with landlords and property managers on repair calls, outlet and circuit upgrades, panel assessments, and safety inspections for rental properties. The process is the same as for any other job: the scope is confirmed on the call, the price is set before work begins, and the visit is scheduled around whatever access the property requires.
Often, yes. A targeted repair or a circuit addition can be done in an older home without touching the rest of the wiring, as long as the existing system is in a condition that supports it. We assess what is there first and tell you what the options are. A full rewire is recommended when the condition of the wiring makes targeted work impractical or unsafe.
A workshop typically needs dedicated circuits for larger tools, 240-volt outlets for equipment like table saws or compressors, and enough circuit capacity that running multiple tools at once does not trip breakers. We assess the load requirements when we scope the work and size the circuits accordingly.
A fault that is caught early is almost always a simpler repair than one that has been running for a while.
If something in your Johnston home or business is not working the way it should, call (515) 789-3261 and we will talk through what is happening.
We are available every day from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Call in the morning. Talk it through. Know the options by the end of the call.
Have a look at our complete town list. Also serving: Grimes, Urbandale, Polk City, Clive, Ames.
We handle electrical repair and installation for homes, businesses, and rental properties throughout Johnston and Polk County. The table below covers the full range of work we do, who each service fits best, and a practical note on what to expect. If a service is not listed or you are not sure what your property needs, a quick call gets you a straight answer on scope and price before anything is scheduled.
| Electrical Service | What the Job Involves | Ideal For | What to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlet and Switch Installation | GFCI and AFCI outlet installation, USB combination outlets, 240-volt outlets for appliances, Weatherproof outdoor outlets | Homeowners upgrading devices, adding outlets, or replacing failed switches | GFCI protection is required by current code in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor locations. Older homes often lack it in those areas. |
| Breaker and Fuse Repair | Breaker diagnosis and replacement, Arc-fault and ground-fault breaker installation, Fuse box evaluation, Circuit-level fault tracing | Homes with a breaker that trips repeatedly or will not reset | A breaker that trips repeatedly is rarely just a nuisance. It points to a condition on the circuit that needs to be identified, not just reset. |
| Electrical Panel and Service Upgrades | 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrade, Load calculation and panel sizing, Main panel replacement, Subpanel installation for additions or detached structures | Homes running older 100-amp panels or adding significant new loads like EV chargers or large appliances | Many Johnston homes still on 100-amp service were built before the electrical demand of a modern household was a consideration. A load calculation confirms what the property actually needs. |
Call (515) 789-3261 to talk through what your property needs. We are available every day from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and can give you a clear picture of the scope and price before anything is scheduled.
(515) 789-3261