Questions to Ask Your Electrician About an Interlock
Last verified: September 2026
An interlock is only as good as who installs it. Here are the questions to ask a licensed electrician — and what good answers sound like — so you hire someone you can trust. Need a name? (330) 200-8042.
Questions for Your Electrician, at a Glance
An interlock is only as safe as the person who installs it. Ask every electrician: Is a listed interlock available for my exact panel? Are you licensed and insured? Will you pull the permit? Then ask where the inlet goes, how the cord runs, how they'll size things to your generator, whether they'll label the panel and show you the steps, and what warranty they offer. Get a written, itemized quote from two or three, and never let anyone rush you. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 What's the first thing I should ask an electrician?
Whether a listed interlock is available for your exact panel, and whether they're a licensed, insured electrician who installs interlocks. Those answers set the foundation for everything else.
2 What's the biggest red flag when hiring?
Offering to skip the permit, being cagey about a license, or pressuring you to decide fast. Any of these means keep looking, no matter how friendly the pitch.
3 How will a good electrician size things to my generator?
They'll ask about your generator — or help you choose one first — and size the generator breaker, inlet, and cord to it, rather than guessing. Listen for 'sized to your generator.'
4 Should I ask them to show me how to use it?
Absolutely — ask them to label the panel and walk you through the steps, hands-on, before they leave. It's the most valuable few minutes of the project, so make it part of the deal.
5 Should I get more than one quote?
Yes — get two or three written, itemized quotes for the same scope. It shows the fair range and lets you compare approach and comfort, not just price.
6 Is it rude to ask so many questions?
Not at all. It's your home, your money, and your family's safety. A good electrician welcomes your questions, and you never have to decide on the spot — or call Bill to talk it through.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Finding and vetting a good electrician is one of the most valuable things I do — with nothing to sell and no referral fees. I'll help you prepare your questions, understand the answers, compare quotes, and can point you to a licensed electrician I trust. $99 flat for a visit.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).