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What to Do When You Lose Power in Huntsville, AL

Thu, 21 May 2026 21:02:00 GMT

Power outages in Huntsville happen more than most people expect. Severe thunderstorms, tornado activity, ice storms, and occasional equipment failures from the Tennessee Valley Authority or local utilities can leave your neighborhood dark for anywhere from a few hours to several days.

When the lights go out, the first few minutes matter. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you respond safely and protect your home.

In the First Few Minutes

Stay calm and assess the situation. Is the outage limited to your home, or are your neighbors dark too? Check your circuit breakers first. If a breaker has tripped, reset it. If your panel is fine but your neighbors are also out, the outage is on the utility side.

Report the outage. Contact your utility provider to report the outage and get an estimated restoration time. Reporting helps them map affected areas and prioritize repairs.

Huntsville Utilities: 256-535-1200
TVA outage reporting: 888-882-4791

You can also check outage maps online through the Huntsville Utilities website or TVA's outage viewer.

Unplug sensitive electronics. Power restoration often comes with a surge. Unplug computers, televisions, and gaming consoles before power comes back on. Leave one lamp plugged in so you know when it returns.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A full freezer stays cold for about 48 hours if you don't open it. A half-full freezer holds temperature for roughly 24 hours. Your refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. Resist the urge to check on things — every time you open the door, you lose cold air.

Lighting and Safety

Use flashlights, not candles. Candles are a fire hazard, especially during the confusion of an outage. LED flashlights and battery-powered lanterns are safer and last longer.

Know your carbon monoxide risks. Never run a gas generator, grill, camp stove, or any combustion equipment indoors or in your garage. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and it kills quickly. Keep combustion equipment at least 20 feet from windows and doors.

Check on elderly neighbors and family members. Heat-related illness becomes a serious risk in Huntsville summers if someone loses air conditioning. If temperatures are high, check in and help make arrangements if needed.

Watch for downed power lines. If you see a downed line, keep at least 100 feet away and call 911. Do not assume a line is safe because it isn't sparking.

Managing Heat in a Huntsville Summer

A Huntsville summer without AC gets dangerous fast, especially for elderly residents, young children, and anyone with health conditions. If temperatures inside your home approach 85-90 degrees, move to a lower level of the home since it's typically cooler, close blinds and curtains to block solar heat gain, and use battery-powered fans to circulate air.

Seek a cooling center, library, or other air-conditioned public space if temperatures become dangerous. Huntsville's Parks and Recreation Department sometimes opens cooling centers during extended outages — check the City of Huntsville's website or social media for updates.

Managing Heat in a Winter Outage

Ice storms have knocked out power in North Alabama for days at a time. Without heat, your home can drop to dangerous temperatures within hours. Dress in layers and gather the family in one room — body heat helps. Block drafts with towels or blankets along door gaps.

Know where your water shutoff is. If your home drops below freezing, you may need to shut off water and drain pipes to prevent them from bursting. And never use a gas oven or range to heat your home.

Food Safety During an Extended Outage

If your outage stretches past 4 hours, follow these food safety guidelines from the USDA. For refrigerator items, discard anything perishable — meat, dairy, eggs, leftovers — after 4 hours above 40°F. For freezer items: still frozen with ice crystals means it's safe to cook or refreeze; thawed but cold (below 40°F) means cook immediately; room temperature or warmer for more than 2 hours means discard.

When in doubt, throw it out. Food poisoning during an already difficult situation makes everything worse.

The Better Answer: A Home Standby Generator

If you've been through a multi-day outage in Huntsville, you already understand the value of power you don't have to manage. A Generac home standby generator runs on natural gas or propane and starts automatically within seconds of detecting an outage. There's no extension cord, no trip to a gas station in a storm, no manual startup. Your lights come on, your AC keeps running, and your refrigerator stays cold — whether you're home or not.

Durham Service Company is a Generac authorized dealer serving the Huntsville area. We install whole-home standby generators, handle permits and inspections, and provide ongoing service so your generator is ready when it matters most.

After Power Is Restored

When power comes back on, wait a few minutes before plugging electronics back in and let voltage stabilize. Check your HVAC system and reset your thermostat if settings were lost. Inspect your refrigerator and freezer contents using the food safety guidelines above. Check your sump pump if you have one — storms that cause outages often bring heavy rain, and you want to confirm the pump is working.

Note how long the outage lasted. If outages are becoming more frequent or longer in your area, it may be time to talk to Durham about a permanent generator solution.

Durham Service Company Is Here to Help

Durham Service Company has served North Alabama homeowners through years of Alabama weather. Whether you need a Generac standby generator installed before the next storm season or you have questions about protecting your home, our team is ready.

We're open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Don't wait until the next outage to wish you'd done something about it. Contact us today to talk about the right generator for your home.

When you think dependable, think Durham.

How to Find the Right Home Standby Generator for Your Huntsville Home

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:56:29 GMT

North Alabama is no stranger to severe weather. Thunderstorms roll through in spring and summer, tornadoes are a real threat, and ice storms in winter can knock out power for days. If you've sat through a multi-day outage in Huntsville, you already know what a home standby generator is worth.

But picking the right generator is where a lot of homeowners get stuck. Size, fuel type, transfer switches, installation — it's a lot to sort through. This guide cuts through the noise so you can make a confident decision.

Standby vs. Portable: What's the Difference?

Before sizing a generator, it helps to understand the two main types available to homeowners.

Portable generators are the units you buy at a hardware store, pull out after a storm, and run on gasoline in your driveway. They're affordable upfront, but they require manual setup, need constant refueling, and can't power your whole house safely. They also produce carbon monoxide, which means they must stay outside — away from windows and doors.

Home standby generators are permanently installed outside your home, connected to your natural gas or propane supply, and wired directly to your electrical panel through an automatic transfer switch. When the power goes out, the transfer switch detects the outage and the generator starts automatically — typically within 10-30 seconds. You don't have to do anything.

For Huntsville homeowners who want real protection, a standby generator is the right choice.

Step 1: Decide What You Want to Power

This is the most important question, and your answer drives everything else — including the size of generator you need.

Whole-home coverage means the generator powers everything in your house: HVAC, kitchen appliances, lights, outlets, well pumps, and any medical equipment. This requires a larger unit, but you live normally during an outage.

Essential circuits only means the generator powers your most critical systems — refrigerator, a few lights, your HVAC, and any medical devices. This requires a smaller unit and costs less, but you'll need to be mindful of what you run simultaneously.

Make a list of the appliances and systems that matter most to you. That list is your starting point for sizing.

Step 2: Calculate the Generator Size You Need

Generator capacity is measured in kilowatts (kW). Here's a rough guide to common home loads you'll want to account for:

Central air conditioner (3-ton): 3,500-5,000 watts to start, 2,000-3,500 running
Electric stove: 2,000-5,000 watts
Refrigerator: 700-1,200 watts
Well pump: 750-1,500 watts
Lighting and outlets: 500-2,000 watts depending on home size

For a modest home running essential circuits, a 10-13 kW Generac unit is often sufficient. For a larger home or full whole-home coverage, you're looking at 20-22 kW or higher.

One important note: starting wattage — the surge when a motor kicks on — is higher than running wattage. Your generator needs to handle starting loads without tripping. An experienced installer like the team at Durham Service Company will do a proper load calculation to make sure your generator is sized correctly for your specific home.

Step 3: Choose Your Fuel Type

Generac home standby generators run on either natural gas or propane (LP).

Natural gas is convenient if your home already has a gas line. Supply is continuous, so you never worry about running out of fuel during a long outage. In Huntsville, where the Tennessee Valley area has solid natural gas infrastructure, this is often the preferred option.

Propane works well if you don't have natural gas service. You'll need a propane tank on your property — typically 250-500 gallons for a whole-home generator. Keep it topped off before storm season. A fully loaded 500-gallon tank gives you several days of runtime depending on load.

Durham Service Company handles propane and natural gas piping as part of our services, so we can connect your generator to whichever fuel source makes sense for your property.

Step 4: Understand the Installation Requirements

A home standby generator installation is not a DIY project. It involves electrical work to connect to your home's main panel and install an automatic transfer switch, gas or propane piping from your supply to the generator, a concrete pad the generator sits on, and permits required by most local jurisdictions in the Huntsville area.

Working with a Generac authorized dealer like Durham Service Company means you get technicians trained and certified on Generac equipment . We handle the permits, the pad, the piping, and the electrical connections. Installing with an authorized dealer also protects your Generac warranty — DIY installation or work by an uncertified contractor voids manufacturer coverage.

Why Generac?

Generac is the number one selling brand of home standby generators in the United States. Their residential line covers outputs from 10 kW all the way up to 150 kW for large homes and light commercial applications.

Generac systems include Mobile Link remote monitoring so you can check your generator's status from your smartphone whether you're home or away. True Power Technology delivers clean power that's safe for sensitive electronics. Weekly self-tests run automatically so the generator stays ready. And Generac's wide dealer and service network means parts and support are accessible when you need them.

Durham Service Company is a Generac authorized dealer in North Alabama. We install, service, and repair Generac generators — and we stock the parts to back up what we sell.

What Does a Home Standby Generator Cost?

Installation costs vary based on generator size, fuel type, distance from the electrical panel, and site conditions. As a general range, a 10-13 kW system installed typically runs $4,500-$7,000, while a 20-22 kW system runs $7,000-$12,000. Larger systems increase from there.

These are estimates. Your actual cost depends on your specific home, existing infrastructure, and the scope of the installation. Many homeowners find that the cost of a standby generator compares favorably to the cost of a single major outage — lost food, hotel stays, and in extreme cases, burst pipes or other damage from a home that lost heat in winter.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're thinking about a home standby generator, the next step is a site assessment. Durham Service Company will evaluate your home's electrical load, discuss your fuel options, and give you a firm quote with no guesswork.

We've served North Alabama homeowners and businesses for years. When it comes to generator installation, we do the job right — from the permit to the final inspection. Contact us today to request a quote.

When you think dependable, think Durham.

When to Service Your Air Conditioning Unit

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:49:54 GMT

If you live in Huntsville, Alabama, you already know what June feels like. Temperatures push into the mid-90s, humidity makes it feel hotter, and your air conditioner runs for hours at a stretch. That's not the time to find out your system is due for service.

The good news: a little maintenance at the right time keeps your AC running at peak efficiency all summer. Here's what Huntsville homeowners need to know.

Service Your AC Before Cooling Season Starts

The best time to schedule AC service in North Alabama is late February through April — before the heat sets in and before every HVAC company in town is slammed with emergency calls.

Why does timing matter? When you book early, you get appointment flexibility on your schedule. A technician can catch small problems — like a failing capacitor — before they turn into emergency breakdowns on a 95-degree Saturday. And a cleaned, tuned system uses less energy from day one, which means lower electric bills during the months you run it most.

If you missed the spring window, don't wait until next year. A mid-summer tune-up is still worth doing. Your system will thank you before peak heat arrives.

How Often Should You Schedule Service?

Once a year, at minimum. Most HVAC manufacturers, including Daikin, recommend annual preventive maintenance to keep your warranty valid and your system operating correctly.

If you have a heat pump that runs year-round for both heating and cooling, twice-yearly service makes sense — once in spring before cooling season and once in fall before heating season.

Durham Service Company is a Daikin Comfort Pro authorized dealer, which means our technicians are factory-trained on Daikin equipment. If you have a Daikin system, servicing with an authorized dealer keeps your manufacturer warranty intact.

Signs Your AC Needs Service Right Now

Don't wait for your annual appointment if you notice any of these warning signs.

Warm air from the vents. Your system is running but not cooling. This points to a refrigerant issue, a failing compressor, or a thermostat problem — none of which fix themselves.

Weak airflow. If the air coming out of your vents feels like a whisper instead of a strong flow, you may have a clogged filter, a failing blower motor, or ductwork issues.

Strange noises. Grinding, banging, or squealing sounds mean mechanical parts are wearing out. Catching them early is always cheaper than waiting.

Short cycling. If your AC turns on and off every few minutes instead of running full cycles, something is wrong. It wastes energy and stresses the equipment.

Water pooling near the unit. A small amount of condensation is normal. A puddle of water indoors or near your air handler is not — you likely have a clogged condensate drain.

A spike in your electric bill. If your usage habits haven't changed but your bill jumped, your AC is working harder than it should to do the same job.

What Happens During an AC Tune-Up?

A professional AC service visit from Durham includes a full inspection and cleaning of your system. Our technicians check refrigerant levels and look for leaks, clean the condenser coils on the outdoor unit, inspect the evaporator coil indoors, and test all electrical connections and capacitors. They also lubricate moving parts, check thermostat calibration, inspect and clean the condensate drain, check your air filter, and measure airflow and system pressures.

The goal is to catch anything that could cause a breakdown and confirm your system is running as efficiently as possible going into the hottest months of the year.

Don't Forget Your Air Filter

This one is on you, not your HVAC technician. Changing your air filter is the single simplest thing you can do to keep your AC healthy.

In Huntsville's hot summers, when your system runs constantly, check your filter every 30 days. A standard 1-inch filter typically needs replacing every 30-60 days during peak season. A thicker media filter may last 90 days, but check it anyway.

A dirty filter restricts airflow, makes your system work harder, and can eventually cause the evaporator coil to freeze — turning a $10 filter into a much more expensive service call.

The Cost of Skipping Service

Skipping annual maintenance doesn't save money. It moves costs around — from a predictable tune-up fee to an unpredictable emergency repair, often at the worst possible time.

According to the Department of Energy, a well-maintained air conditioner uses significantly less energy than a neglected one. In Huntsville, where cooling accounts for a large share of your summer electric bill, that efficiency gap adds up across the season.

Beyond energy costs, unaddressed issues shorten your system's lifespan. A quality Daikin system, properly maintained, can last 15-20 years. Neglect can cut that to 10.

Ready to Schedule?

Durham Service Company has served North Alabama homeowners and businesses for years. As a Daikin Comfort Pro authorized dealer, we service all makes and models of HVAC equipment — and we do it right the first time.

Don't wait until your system quits on the hottest day of the year. Contact Durham Service Company to schedule your AC service today.

When you think dependable, think Durham.