Hire a surge protection electrician who actually knows SPDs.
Whole-house surge protection looks simple but the design details — type, brand, layering, integration with solar/EV — separate good results from inadequate ones. Here's what to look for.
By Steven Lockhart · Reviewed by Alex Towery, C-10 #989290
Updated 2026-06-16
Look for: C-10 licensed electrician with documented SPD installation experience (50+ installs), familiarity with Type 1 and Type 2 options across major brands (Eaton, Square D, Siemens, Leviton), pulls permits for SPD work, recommends layered protection appropriate to your home, and provides written warranty on installation. Avoid: anyone installing budget unbranded SPDs, anyone skipping permits, anyone recommending single-type protection without assessing your home's exposure.
01What makes SPD work different from general electrical.
Whole-house SPD installation is mechanically simple — mount a device, connect to bus bars or breaker, verify grounding. Any C-10 electrician can do the mechanical install. The difference between adequate and excellent is the design layer: choosing the right SPD type and brand for your panel and exposure, identifying when Type 1+2 cascade is justified, recognizing when point-of-use augmentation is needed, integrating SPD with existing solar/EV/battery infrastructure, and verifying grounding integrity before relying on the SPD.
An electrician who installs 5 SPDs a year handles them differently than one who installs 50+. Volume builds intuition about brand quality, indicator behavior over time, common panel-specific complications, and which scenarios warrant layered protection. For homeowners investing $500-$1,800 in surge protection plus protecting $20,000-$100,000+ of equipment, the design layer matters meaningfully.
02Questions to ask when evaluating an electrician.
How many whole-house SPDs have you installed?
50+ is meaningful experience; 10-20 is competent; under 10 means they're learning on your install. Ask for examples of brands they've installed and any patterns they've seen in their service area.
What SPD brand do you default to and why?
Good answer: a specific name brand (Eaton, Square D, Siemens, Leviton) with reasoning about quality, support, indicator behavior. Bad answer: 'whatever the supply house has' or unbranded budget units. SPD quality varies substantially; the choice should be deliberate.
When would you recommend Type 1+2 cascade vs Type 2 alone?
Good answer: specific criteria (overhead service, solar, exposed location, high-value equipment, code requirements). Bad answer: 'always Type 2 is fine' or 'always Type 1+2 for full protection.' Both are oversimplifications that signal limited design experience.
03What we do differently at Towery.
Steven Lockhart (author) and Alex Towery (C-10 #989290 lead electrician) have installed over 200 whole-house SPDs across Marin since 2020. We default to Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA and Square D HEPD80 based on panel make, with documented reasoning for upgrading to Type 1+2 cascade in specific scenarios. We pull permits for every SPD install, provide written warranty on installation, and document the install (brand, model, install date, indicator status at handover) in the panel for future reference.
Our SPD work integrates with our broader electrical practice — panel upgrades, solar+battery coordination, EV charger installation, smart home electrical infrastructure. That cross-system experience matters because SPD design depends on the rest of the home's electrical exposure. We don't install SPDs as a standalone product; we integrate them as part of a coherent electrical protection strategy.
Common questions.
Should I get multiple quotes for SPD installation?
Yes — for any electrical work over $500, multiple quotes give you visibility into pricing, design approach, and contractor quality. SPD installation has wide variance: budget contractors install unbranded units without indicators for $300; quality contractors install name-brand units with proper permitting for $700-$1,200. The quote variation often reveals what's included beyond the SPD hardware itself.
How do I verify an electrician's license?
California CSLB license lookup at cslb.ca.gov — search by company name or license number, confirm C-10 (electrical) classification, verify current status and check for any active complaints or board actions. Towery Electric is C-10 #989290 — verifiable at the CSLB site. Any reputable electrician will provide their license number proactively.
What warranty should I expect on SPD installation?
Two distinct warranties matter: (1) installation warranty from the electrician (typically 1-2 years on labor and connections), (2) manufacturer warranty on the SPD itself (typically 5-25 years, often with a connected equipment warranty up to $25,000-$75,000). Quality electricians document both during the install and provide records to the homeowner.
Does my electrician need specific brand certification?
No — major SPD brands (Eaton, Square D, Siemens, Leviton) don't require installer certifications; quality electricians can install any of them. What matters is hands-on installation experience with the specific brands, not formal certification. Brand-specific certifications exist but aren't gatekeeping — installation expertise comes from doing the work.
How do you handle pricing — flat fee or hourly?
Both, depending on scope. Routine service calls and predictable scope (panel replacement, EV charger install, transfer switch install, fixture replacement) are flat-fee quoted up front. Diagnostic visits and emergency scope are hourly because we don't know what we'll find. Either way, you get a written quote before work starts on anything significant, and we don't proceed beyond the quote without your sign-off.
How quickly can you schedule?
Depends on scope and season. Emergency dispatch: same-day across Marin County (1-3 hours business hours, 1-4 hours after-hours). Same-day standard service: 3-6 hours from call when capacity allows; otherwise next business day. Scheduled service work: 1-3 weeks typical. Larger projects requiring permits and PG&E coordination: 4-12 weeks depending on scope. We're upfront about timeline at the quote stage.
What warranty do you offer on work?
Our standard residential warranty: 2 years on labor, manufacturer warranty on parts (varies by product — typically 1-10 years). Major installs (panels, generators, EV chargers) often have longer manufacturer warranties (5-10 years). If there's an issue with our work in the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no cost. We also stand behind work past warranty — repeat customers and referrals matter more than a transactional fix.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California State License Board C-10 Electrical Contractor #989290, in good standing. Carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as required by California law. Bondable on projects requiring it. Happy to provide proof of insurance to clients or property managers on request. License lookup: cslb.ca.gov.
Talk to a licensed electrician in Marin.
Family-run, C-10 #989290, 20+ years in the trade. Honest scoping, fair pricing, work that lasts.