Home Backup Generator Installation

A standby generator is a must in order to ensure the safety and comfort of your family when the power goes out. There are many things to consider before choosing the best home standby generator for your home.

Picking a Generator Fuel Source

The first step is to pick a fuel source. Standby generators can run on liquid propane or natural gas. Running a generator on diesel is another possibility but very expensive. For Liquid Propane, you will need a tank large enough to properly run your generator. For Natural Gas, the gas line and gas meter have to be the correct size.

How Much Generator Do You Need?

It is important to determine if you want to back up just essential appliances or the whole house in case of an outage. Powering an air conditioner or HVAC system requires a great amount of kilowatts. That will increase the overall cost, although you don’t want the house too hot in the summer and if the pipes freeze in the winter, expenses will far exceed the cost of a generator with the necessary kilowatt output. So these factors will affect the size of the generator you will need and they should be considered carefully.

Generator Transfer Switch Installation

Your generator will also need an automatic transfer switch, so you need to know the amperage of the electrical service panel in your house. The switch senses loss of utility power during an outage and will start your generator’s engine while disconnecting from utility power. Most homes have a 200 amp main breaker, but older or smaller homes may have 100 or 150 amp capability. These are important matters to think about before choosing your standby generator from AVA Electrical.