Electric Motor Sales in Chattanooga: Industrial and Fractional Horsepower Motors for Manufacturing and Facilities
Electric Motor Sales, located on Manufacturer's Avenue near the North Shore industrial corridor, supplies new and rebuilt electric motors ranging from fractional horsepower (under 1 HP) to heavy industrial units exceeding 200 HP, serving manufacturing plants, HVAC contractors, and facilities managers across East Tennessee and North Georgia.
What Electric Motor Sales Actually Is
This is a dedicated motor distributor, not a general auto parts store. The business stocks inventory of AC and DC motors, three-phase industrial motors, single-phase residential units, and specialty motors for pumps and compressors. They also carry motor starters, drives, controls, and replacement parts. Unlike national chain auto parts retailers (which carry only automotive electrical components), Electric Motor Sales focuses exclusively on stationary electric motors used in industrial, commercial, and residential mechanical systems. Their customer base includes manufacturers on Signal Mountain, contractors doing HVAC replacements in Brainerd, and facility managers at Erlanger Health System and UTC.
Motor Types, Pricing, and Stock Depth
New motors carry standard pricing tied to horsepower and frame size. A new 5 HP three-phase industrial motor typically ranges from $300 to $500 depending on frame, enclosure type, and duty rating. Rebuilt motors cost 30 to 50 percent less than new; a rebuilt 3 HP single-phase runs roughly $150 to $250. Fractional HP motors (0.25 to 0.75 HP) for small fans and pumps start around $75 new. Motor starters, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and soft starters add another $200 to $1,500 depending on size and sophistication. Verify current pricing directly; motor costs fluctuate with raw material and copper markets.
Stock depth matters here. The business maintains 80 to 120 motors in inventory at any given time, meaning a contractor needing a replacement 2 HP motor for a rooftop unit can often walk out same-day rather than wait 5 to 10 business days for a special order from a national distributor.
How It Compares to Other Chattanooga Options
Grainger, a national distributor with a fulfillment center in the southeast, stocks motors and can deliver to Chattanooga next-business-day. Their pricing is list-price standardized and higher; they excel for customers who already know the exact motor specification (model number, frame, voltage) and want quick delivery without visiting a physical location. Grainger serves primarily large accounts with established contracts.
Local HVAC supply houses and plumbing wholesalers (such as those on Northgate Boulevard) carry a limited selection of motors, usually single-phase residential units only, because motors are not their primary focus. They reorder from Electric Motor Sales or similar distributors when stock runs short.
Choose Electric Motor Sales if you need walk-in availability, face-to-face technical consultation (staff can help identify motor type from a nameplate or failed unit), access to rebuilt motors to save budget, or support for industrial applications. Choose Grainger if you are a large contractor placing orders over the phone or online and have a specific model in hand.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
This place is built for HVAC technicians diagnosing a burned-out furnace fan motor on a Tuesday afternoon, facilities managers replacing aging pump motors at a manufacturing plant, and residential electricians stocking replacement motors for small appliances. The staff understands motor nameplate data, enclosure types (TEFC, open drip-proof, etc.), and voltage/phase requirements, and can often recommend a direct replacement or compatible upgrade.
It does not suit someone needing automotive electrical parts (alternators, starters, batteries), someone buying in extreme bulk (1,000+ units annually) who would negotiate better terms with a national account manager, or someone outside the service area. The location and inventory focus on regional industrial and commercial demand, not retail walk-in traffic or DIY consumers.
What a First Visit Involves
Bring the nameplate information from the failed motor (or bring the motor itself). Staff will confirm horsepower, frame size, voltage, phase, RPM, and mounting configuration. If you need a rebuilt unit to save cost, they will verify the motor is rebuildable (most are; some specialty designs are not economical to rebuild). If the motor is too specialized or oversized for stock, they accept special orders with typical lead times of 3 to 5 business days. Payment is cash, check, or local business account; they do not carry consumer financing.
Hours, Location, and Logistics
Electric Motor Sales operates Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (verify hours directly; holiday schedules and extended summer hours may apply). The Manufacturer's Avenue location has street parking and a small loading area suitable for contractors dropping off failed motors for testing or core credit. The space is warehouse-style, not a retail showroom, so expect an industrial building entrance and minimal frills.
A distributor that keeps inventory on hand and employs staff familiar with industrial motor applications fills a gap between national supply chains and big-box retailers, making it a reliable resource for Chattanooga's manufacturing and contractor base.
