Choosing the right electrician for your Florida home is more important than most homeowners realize. Between our heavy storms, older neighborhoods, and modern electrical demands, you want someone who knows Florida homes inside and out. A licensed electrician with experience in Florida homes will keep your home safe, protect your investment, and make sure every repair or upgrade meets the state’s strict standards.
Key Takeaways for Florida Homeowners
- Hiring a licensed Florida electrician is a must, not just a preference. It protects your home, your safety, and your insurance coverage.
- Your Florida home needs an electrician who understands its unique electrical challenges, including humidity, lightning, hurricanes, and aging wiring systems.
- Older homes need an experienced electrician when adding modern upgrades like EV chargers and updated HVAC systems.
- Experience with Florida-specific wiring systems matters. Electricians who understand older wiring can upgrade safely without unnecessary demolition.
- Understanding Florida’s electrical code protects you. Requirements like GFCI, AFCI, proper grounding, surge protection, and weather-rated equipment are especially important in our climate.
- Transparent pricing is essential. Homeowners should expect clear estimates, no hidden fees, honest communication, and options that fit their budget.
- Reliable electricians stand behind their work. A good warranty and long-term support show confidence in the installation and give homeowners peace of mind.
Tips For Florida Homeowners Looking For An Electrician
If you need an electrical repair or upgrade at your Florida home, hiring a licensed electrician isn’t just a smart choice; it’s a must. Here in Florida, only licensed electricians can perform work that complies with the Florida Building Code, the Florida Building Commission requirements, and the National Electrical Code as adopted by the state. Passing inspections isn’t about paperwork; it’s about safety, insurance coverage, and long-term reliability.
And here’s a big one many homeowners don’t realize. If you hire an unlicensed electrician and God forbid the work leads to a fire or electrical damage, your homeowner’s insurance can deny the claim.
Can you imagine? Losing your home in a fire and not being able to claim from the insurance company? That’s why choosing someone who is appropriately licensed, insured, and familiar with Florida’s unique electrical challenges is so important.
At Palmer Electric, our licensed, trained, and certified electricians specialize in both small repairs and major upgrades, and we always follow Florida’s strict code standards. This keeps your home safe, compliant, and ready for inspections the first time.
Here’s what to look for before you choose an electrician for your Florida home.
1. Valid DBPR License and Proof of Insurance
Every electrician working in Florida must hold an active license through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). That license confirms the electrician passed state exams, follows the Florida Building Code, and has the proper insurance coverage required to work legally in the state.
If you would like step-by-step instructions on how to verify a license at the DBPR website, visit our article “How to Choose an Electrician”. We always tell homeowners: “If a contractor can’t show you their license and insurance right away, move on.”
For us, it is a priority to maintain all state certifications, carry full insurance, and meet every safety and compliance requirement. This keeps you protected every time we step into your home.
2. Experience With Florida Homes: Old Wiring and Modern Upgrades
Not every electrician understands the unique mix of old and new you find in Florida homes. Across Central Florida, we see everything from 1950s bungalows with cloth-wrapped wiring to 1970s homes with aluminum branch circuits to modern builds loaded with smart tech.
Upgrading these older systems for today’s electrical demands takes skill, patience, and a good understanding of Florida code.
Our electricians work on homes like these every day. And honestly, the upgrades homeowners want today pull a lot more power than what older homes were ever designed for. We understand that modern upgrades are harder to install in older homes because they have:
- Limited electrical capacity
- Outdated wiring materials
- Small or unsafe panels
In short, old home circuits are not designed for today’s appliances or their power needs. When older panels don’t support new high-amp requirements, the panel overheats, breakers trip, or the upgrade is not possible unless the electrical panel is upgraded.
Here are some of the most common challenges we run into when bringing older Florida homes up to modern standards.
a. Adding high-demand kitchen appliances
Older homes, especially anything built before the 1980s, often have limited circuits and undersized wiring.
B. Upgrading HVAC systems
Florida’s heat puts a big strain on older homes. Newer HVAC units often need their own dedicated 240-volt circuit, and older panels weren’t designed to handle the load.
c. Installing EV chargers
Electric vehicle chargers need a dedicated 240-volt line. Homes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s simply weren’t built with that in mind.
d. Adding outdoor living features
Floridians love outdoor kitchens, hot tubs, pool pumps, and outdoor security lighting. Older homes often lack the grounding and outdoor-rated equipment required by the Florida electrical code.
e. Smart home upgrades and LED lighting conversions
Smart home systems need modern wiring and stable power. Homes with old wiring (aluminum branch circuits, old splices, or cloth-wrapped wiring) can cause flickering lights, failed devices, or overheating.
Electrical Experience With Florida Homes Matters
Modern upgrades are great, but older wiring systems need to be handled carefully. You want an electrician who understands the structure of older Florida homes, the materials used, and the limits of those older electrical systems.
At Palmer Electric, we’ve upgraded hundreds of older homes in Orlando and Central Florida. We know how to make these systems work beautifully without tearing your home apart or overspending.
3. Knowledge of Florida-Specific Code Requirements
Florida has some of the most specific electrical safety requirements in the country, and for good reason. Between our heavy rain, constant humidity, hurricane seasons, and high lightning activity, electrical systems in Florida take a beating year-round. That’s why choosing an electrician who understands the Florida Building Code and the National Electrical Code as adopted by the state is so important.
A licensed Florida electrician needs to make sure every repair, upgrade, and installation meets the latest standards so your home passes inspection, stays protected, and runs safely.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the Florida-specific requirements we pay close attention to.
a. GFCI outlets required in outdoor and wet areas
Because Florida is so humid and rainy, code requires GFCI protection in bathrooms, kitchens, pools, garages, and outdoor areas.
b. Outdoor fixtures must be rated for damp or wet locations
Florida’s humidity, daily storms, and salt air in coastal areas can corrode fixtures fast.
c. AFCI protection in many indoor circuits
To protect older wiring from arc faults, Florida requires AFCI breakers in many parts of the home.
d. Grounding and bonding must meet strict requirements
Lightning is a major threat in Central Florida, so grounding systems have to be installed correctly to handle surge energy.
If you are a homeowner, being aware of these Florida-specific code requirements can help you see why hiring a licensed and experienced electrician matters so much. When electrical work is done correctly, your home is safer, better protected during storms, and far less likely to experience preventable issues like shocks, fires, or equipment failures.
4. Experience With Panel Replacements for Older Florida Homes
If your home still has a fuse box or a panel installed more than 20 years ago, then it’s time to think about upgrading. Florida’s heat, humidity, and storm activity take a toll on electrical equipment, especially older panels.
Electrical panels we often update in Florida include:
- Federal Pacific
- Zinsco
- Challenger panels
- Old fuse boxes
These older panels no longer meet Florida’s electrical safety standards and are known fire risks.
Our licensed electricians specialize in electrical panel replacements that bring your system up to code, improve safety, and support today’s higher electrical demand, including HVAC systems, EV chargers, and home offices.
5. Knowledge of Surge Protection for Storm and Lightning Season
Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S., and every summer storm season brings power surges. Power spikes from nearby lightning strikes or grid interruptions can fry appliances and electronics instantly. That’s why we recommend installing whole-home surge protection directly at your electrical panel. It’s one of the best ways to prevent thousands of dollars in damage during hurricane season.
A Florida electrician should be knowledgeable in installing surge protection systems that meet the latest code requirements and withstand Florida’s most extreme conditions.
Some people are skeptical about lightning damage, but it happens more than you think. We often receive calls after a storm from homeowners who were struck by lightning and didn’t have surge protection. They usually have to replace many appliances (including TVs, washers and dryers, and refrigerators) and didn’t want to leave the home unprotected again. We helped them install whole-home surge protection, and now, they are fully covered when the next lightning storm rolls in.
6. Experience With Generator Interlock Kits and Backup Power for Hurricanes
Hurricane season means power outages. If you want to safely power your home with a generator, you need a properly installed interlock kit or an automatic transfer switch. Florida code does not allow unsafe backfeeding, which can be deadly for both you and utility workers.
Our electricians install code-compliant generator interlocks and Generac systems, ensuring everything is set up safely and correctly. You don’t want to be figuring this out when a storm is already on top of you. We always remind customers: “Plan before the storm. Not during it.”
7. Clear Communication and Transparent Pricing
Find an electrician who takes the time to explain what’s going on in words you don’t need a dictionary to understand. You should always feel confident, not confused.
But, how can you know if an electrician is being transparent? Here is what you can expect from an electrician who offers transparent pricing:
- Clear, written estimates before any work starts
- Straightforward explanations of what you’re paying for
- No hidden fees, trip charges, or last-minute add-ons
- Itemized pricing for parts and labor
- Honest recommendations, not upselling
- Options that fit your budget or alternative approaches so you can pick what works for you.
- Updates, explanation, and approval if the scope changes
- A walkthrough of the completed work
- Clear warranty information
- Friendly, open communication from start to finish
- Answer all the questions you have
8. Warranty and Post-Service Support
Always ask about warranty coverage. A reputable electrician stands behind their work.
For example, our labor and materials are fully warrantied. And if anything needs attention after the job is done, we take care of it. That’s one reason we’ve been a trusted name in Central Florida since 1951. We build long-term relationships, not one-time jobs.
Conclusion
When it comes to electrical repairs and upgrades, hiring the right licensed electrician protects your family, your home, and your peace of mind. Florida has unique electrical challenges, from hurricanes and lightning to older homes with aging wiring. Your home deserves an expert electrician who knows how to handle all of it safely and correctly.
At Palmer Electric, our certified electricians make sure every job is completed to Florida’s strict standards. We’ve been working with these codes, inspections, and safety requirements across Central Florida since 1951, and we know exactly what it takes to keep your home running safely in our challenging climate. If you ever need help understanding what your home needs or want us to take a look at an electrical issue, we’re always here to help.
If you’re planning electrical repairs or upgrades, we’re here to help keep your home safe, efficient, and storm-ready year-round.
To request a free estimate, give us a call at 407-646-8700 or fill out a contact form.
