When the Grid Goes Down, You Don’t Have To
Storms, heat waves, and aging infrastructure all put pressure on the power grid, and outages are becoming more common across our metro. A whole-home generator keeps the lights on, the fridge cold, and the furnace or air conditioner running when everyone else is in the dark. If you’re weighing a standby generator installation, here’s what Summit Home Services wants you to know before you buy.
Portable vs. Standby Generators
Portable generators are cheaper up front but require you to haul them out, fuel them, and run extension cords, and they can’t safely power hardwired systems like your HVAC. A standby generator is permanently installed beside your home, wired directly into your electrical panel through a transfer switch, and starts automatically within seconds of an outage. For whole-home backup, standby is the clear choice.
Sizing the Generator Right
This is where a professional matters. Size the generator too small and it won’t carry your essential circuits. Too large and you’ve overpaid. During a consultation, our electricians calculate the load of everything you want to keep running, from the air conditioner and well pump to the refrigerator and select outlets. That number drives the generator size and informs whether your panel needs a service upgrade to handle the transfer switch.
The Automatic Transfer Switch
The heart of a standby system is the automatic transfer switch. It detects an outage, disconnects your home from the grid, and starts the generator, then reverses the process when utility power returns. Proper transfer switch installation is a code requirement and a safety essential, since it prevents dangerous backfeed onto utility lines.
Fuel Choices
Most standby units run on natural gas or propane. If you already have a natural gas line, that’s usually the simplest and most cost-effective fuel. Propane is a strong option for homes without gas service. We’ll help you weigh the trade-offs based on what’s already at your property.
Installation and Maintenance
A generator installation involves the electrical hookup, the fuel connection, a concrete or composite pad, and permitting. Once it’s in, a standby generator needs periodic maintenance, oil changes, filter checks, and a battery test, to be ready when you need it. We offer a maintenance plan so you’re never caught with a generator that won’t start during the one storm that matters.
Is It Worth It?
If you work from home, rely on medical equipment, have a well, or simply hate losing a freezer full of food, a whole-home generator pays for itself in peace of mind. Reach out and we’ll size a system to your home and give you an honest generator installation quote.