Electrical work in Huntsville
Huntsville's electrical needs are shaped by severe storms, summer cooling load and the occasional winter storm that knocks out power. The questions to ask an electrician follow from those.
Storm outages
On April 27, 2011, 39 tornadoes touched down in the National Weather Service Huntsville office's area, including four EF4s and three EF5s, and tornadoes hit Madison County six times. Winter storms can knock out power too; on February 25, 2015, the National Weather Service reported 5 to 12 inches of snow across most of north Alabama.
If you're considering a generator, the safe way to connect it is through a transfer switch or an interlock that keeps it from feeding power back into the utility lines, which can injure line workers. Ask the electrician which circuits you want to keep running, how the generator will be sized, and where it will sit. Portable generators must run outdoors, away from windows and doors, because of carbon monoxide.
Surge protection
Lightning and utility switching after storms send surges through household wiring. A whole-house surge protector at the panel, plus point-of-use protection for sensitive electronics, is a common approach. Ask what the electrician recommends for your panel.
Summer load
NOAA's engineering weather data for the Huntsville airport station gives a 1% summer design temperature of 92°F. Air conditioning is the biggest electrical load in most Huntsville homes. If you're replacing a system, adding a heat pump or adding a room, ask whether your panel and service have capacity, and whether the circuit and breaker match the new equipment's nameplate. Alabama is in the Department of Energy's Southeast region, where new split-system central air conditioners must meet at least 14.3 SEER2 (13.8 for larger units); a new system may draw differently from the old one.
Older homes
Homes from the 1950s and 1960s may have undersized service, two-prong outlets without grounding, or aluminum branch wiring in some cases. If you're buying an older house, ask an electrician to look at the panel, the grounding and any signs of overheating. Flickering lights, warm outlet covers and breakers that trip repeatedly are worth a call.
Before you hire
Ask whether the job needs a permit and inspection, and who arranges them. Ask for a written estimate that lists the work circuit by circuit. Ask what brand of panel or breakers they'll install and whether the work is guaranteed. For anything involving the service entrance or meter, ask how they'll coordinate with Huntsville Utilities.