Surge protection, generator hookups, panel upgrades, and post-storm inspections for Wilmington and the Cape Fear coast. Cliff has been through every major hurricane since Fran in '96: Florence, Matthew, Isaias. Four decades of knowing what fails and how to prevent it.
Describe what you need. Cliff calls you back.
After Florence in 2018, over 90% of New Hanover County lost power. Full restoration took more than 10 days. Power surges, flooding, fallen trees on service lines . every hurricane brings electrical damage. Most of it is preventable with the right prep. The stuff that isn't preventable needs a safe, fast response afterward.
These are the jobs that need to happen every spring before hurricane season. All of them are better done in May than scrambled for in August.
Installs at your panel. Diverts voltage spikes from lightning, downed lines, and utility switching before they reach your appliances and HVAC. Protects every circuit in the house. Now required by NEC 2020 code for new construction and service upgrades in NC.
Call for quoteA manual or automatic transfer switch connects your generator to your panel safely. Powers specific circuits without extension cords and prevents illegal backfeeding to the grid.
Call for quoteOlder 100-amp panels may not have space for a transfer switch or surge protector breaker, and aging breakers are less reliable under storm stress. A 200-amp upgrade with modern breakers gives you room to add storm protection properly.
Call for quoteThe weatherhead is where the utility line connects to your house. If the mast is loose, corroded, or the seal is compromised, wind and rain get into the meter and panel. Salt air accelerates this: what lasts 30 years inland can fail in 10–15 on the beach.
Call for quoteGround-fault and arc-fault breakers save lives during storms when water gets where it shouldn't. Every GFCI and AFCI gets tested, and any that don't trip properly get replaced.
Call for quoteExterior outlets, landscape lighting, and pool equipment all need weatherproof covers, sealed connections, and proper drainage. Anything that won't survive a storm gets inspected and upgraded.
Varies by scopeYour surge protector is only as good as your ground. We verify ground rods, bonding connections, and grounding electrode conductors. Corrosion and loose connections , especially in coastal homes . reduce surge protection effectiveness to near zero.
Included with surge installAfter a hurricane, your electrical system may look fine but have hidden damage. Water, heat, and physical impact can compromise wiring, panels, and connections in ways you can't see. Here's what to know.
Stay at least 35 feet away. Assume every downed line is live. Don't drive over them, don't try to move them. Call Duke Energy at 800-769-3766 to report.
Do not turn your panel back on. If your electrical panel got wet during the storm, it needs to be inspected and likely replaced before power is restored. Corrosion starts immediately.
Kill the main breaker. A burning or acrid smell means insulation is overheating somewhere. Turn off the main breaker and call an electrician before using any circuits.
Never run a generator indoors. Not in the garage, not in the carport. Generator CO poisoning kills dozens of people after hurricanes every year. Generators go outside, 20 feet from windows.
Call an electrician. Flickering lights after a storm usually means loose connections at the service entrance . often from wind damage to the mast or weatherhead. Don't ignore it. Loose connections arc, and arcing starts fires.
Duke Energy owns the power line to your weatherhead. You own everything from the weatherhead down. If your service drop is down, call Duke (800-769-3766). If your panel, meter base, or interior wiring is damaged, call an electrician. After major storms, Duke may require an electrician's release tag before they'll reconnect.
We handle storm prep and electrical hardening throughout the Wilmington area. Coastal homes in Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach take the worst of it — salt air, wind exposure, and aging infrastructure all compound when a storm rolls in. Figure Eight Island gets the same treatment.
We also service Hampstead, Leland, Monkey Junction, Myrtle Grove, and Ogden / Porters Neck. If you're in the Cape Fear region and want your electrical system checked before hurricane season, call Cliff.