Whole House Generator Installation: What You Need to Know. 

A few things must be done for a whole-home or standby generator installation. Most importantly, a transfer switch needs to be installed, along with some work on the gas line, since the generator runs on the city’s natural gas or propane for properties not connected to gas. Finally, the city must approve permits. Occasionally, you might need an electrical panel replacement. 

Why would you get a whole home generator installed? 

– If you have medical equipment that needs electricity to keep running.
– Keeps the refrigerator and other appliances running during an outage. 
– Peace of mind that your home will stay up and running during outages. 
– If you have frequent power outages in your area 
– Protection against weather outages
– Keep water running if you have a sump pump or filtration system.

What is a whole home generator? 

A whole-home generator (also known as an emergency backup generator) is precisely what it sounds like! It is a generator that provides electricity to your home during a power outage. The generator most commonly runs off natural gas or propane. When your home loses power from the city’s power grid, your generator will kick on and keep your home up and running. They are made as a long-term permanent solution instead of a portable generator that most are more accustomed to seeing. 

How do they work? 

When your home loses electricity, a transfer switch tells the generator to turn on. Once the backup generator turns on, it feeds power to the electrical panel and provides power to the house. Finally, once the grid comes back online, the transfer switch tells the generator to turn off and switches power back over to the city grid. It seems simple, but proper installation requires knowledge from licensed electricians and, sometimes, plumbers if gas lines need to be run. 

What size home generator do I need? 

Depending on how big your home is, the generator’s size and the transfer switch’s capacity are different. Generators range in size and run from 10,000 – 25,000 watts, with the most common brands being Kohler and Generac, depending on the number of appliances running and the size of the home. A smaller unit can run most appliances, such as the refrigerator, freezer, heating, and cooling. If you have other appliances like a water heater and oven using gas, or your home is in the 2,000-3,000sqft range, you will need a larger generator since you have more electrical needs. Let us know if you have more questions or want to get specific. When it comes to whole-house generator installation, there are a ton of different options. We can help pick what’s best for you!

What fuel type of generator is best for a home backup generator? 

Propane: Propane is an excellent option for someone who isn’t close to a city and has no natural gas hookup. If you don’t already have a propane storage tank, one will need to be added before installation, which is way easier than getting natural gas run to your property. 

Natural Gas: If you already have a natural gas line, which, if you live in a city, you most likely do, this is going to be your best option. Natural gas is cheap and plentiful. All we will need to do is run a gas line straight to the generator, and everything will be good to go. 

Diesel/Gasoline: These kinds of generators are more common and, more often than not, portable. Both are limited by the amount of fuel you can have on hand, and their shelf life is short, so you must make sure you use the fuel within a reasonable time before it goes bad. While these are a fine option, they are not the best if you want something you do not have to think about or rely on a generator to keep equipment running. 

Where does it go? 

Picking a good location is also important when considering adding a generator. The whole home generator will be located outside, so you want to choose somewhere not visible from the street. Also, these run off combustion and are designed to run as quietly as possible, but can be loud. Pick an area around the home you are in less often or with more noise protection. That way, you don’t hear the generator running while watching TV or trying to sleep. 

Maintenance and Life Expectancy 

For whole-home generators, getting the unit serviced regularly is best practice. The generator is like any other combustion engine; it needs to have its filters routinely replaced and oil changed to keep it up and running. We work with a company that can help with any maintenance or repairs needed on the unit itself. If the generator is well taken care of, a life expectancy of 15-20 years is expected. 

If you are considering getting a whole-home or standby generator schedule service, or give us a call at (505) 761-9644. Our team of electricians would be happy to answer any questions you have and help you get the ball rolling.