Three Things to Consider Before Installing a Whole-House Generator

This article was updated on: December 20th, 2021

Summary

Electrical storms, ice storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding — all of these weather events and more can inflict damage on the electrical utility grid, plunging your home into darkness for hours, days, or even weeks. Many homeowners purchase small portable generators to provide backup power in the event of power outages, but these only provide a limited supply of electricity and require regular oversight to keep fueled and running.

When you lose power, you lose the modern conveniences we often take for granted, including essential necessities like the capability to cook, have hot water, and heat your home. Having standby power for the entire home is a smart way to protect your home and family.

In this article, we’ll list the commonly unforeseen downsides of opting for portable, partial house generators; explain why so many homeowners prefer the ease and reliability that their whole-home generator brings; examine important points you should consider before installing a whole-house generator; the dangers of trying to do this project on your own; and how Team Enoch can help.

Contents

Why a portable generator may not be right for you

While it's tempting to run on down to the local home improvement store to purchase a portable generator when a big storm is on the way, there are some good reasons why you may want to think ahead and provide your home with a dedicated standby generator.

Lack of capacity

A portable generator might be fine for a camping expedition or tailgating at the football game, but it probably won't have anything near the amount of power output you'll need to power your home in an emergency. The difference can be life or death: failing to have enough power for your central air conditioning and heating system in situations of prolonged extreme weather events, or if you or someone in your home relies on large medical equipment to survive, a partial generator will not be able to provide the proper power output. 

Safety

It's an unfortunate fact that many deaths have occurred in the past few decades from the unsafe use of portable units. Most of these have occurred because of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by locating the generator inside, or too close to, a home. 

Other safety concerns with portable generators are the risks associated with running extension cords throughout your home from generator to appliance. It is not only inconvenient, it creates the potential for electrical shock from cords abused by opening and closing doors on them, tripping hazards, or the cords may not allow you to fully shut doors or windows in your home- which is crucial for maintaining internal temperature during a weather emergency. Another unforeseen consequence is that portable generators connected directly to the breaker box create the potential to electrocute lineman trying to restore power to your local grid. A properly installed electrical panel transfer switch or generator interlock kit, along with a whole home generator, can eliminate these dangers.

Run time

When a power outage occurs, it can be hard to know exactly how long the power will be out. In most cases, the interruption will be short. However, in the case of a large-scale natural disaster, you may need your own home standby unit power source for days or even weeks.

A standby whole-house generator can rely on power sources such as natural gas or propane stored in a large tank. That means they'll be able to run for much longer, providing you with a reliable source of power for much longer and with much less headache than using a portable generator. 

Portable generators have a much smaller fuel capacity and need to be refueled often. The fuel they use may be in short supply during an emergency, while natural gas and propane are much less sought-after commodities. Having the ability to utilize these fuel types will leave you more prepared for whatever comes your way. All things considered, the run time and versatility of a standby generator make them a logical choice for consistent power during emergency situations.

The ideal emergency generator

An ideal home backup generator will provide enough electricity during power outages to operate your heating and air-conditioning systems, providing you with a comfortable environment and protecting your home from dangerous mold buildup or frozen pipe damage. We install generators that kick on the moment power is lost with no need for you to position the generator or run electrical cords.

The movement towards whole-home backup generators

An increasing number of homeowners are emergency-proofing their homes by installing a whole-house generator. A whole-house generator is permanently wired into your home and turns on automatically when the power goes out, you don’t have to worry about the dangers of extension cords or carbon monoxide poisoning. Standby generators are connected to either natural gas lines or large fuel tanks, so they’ll have enough fuel to get you through an extensive power outage without relying on more common fuels like gasoline that may not be available or accessible during an emergency.

Sound like a good idea? If you’re considering a standby generator, take a moment to consider these important points before you make the commitment. You’ll have a better idea of what’s involved in installing a standby generator, the installation cost, and the various types of generators so you can pick the one that makes sense for your home.

Generator capacity

One of the most important variables in whole-house generators is the amount of power they can supply to your home. Generators are rated by the number of watts they produce. 1000 watts is 1 kilowatt (kW), so a 10 kW generator can produce 10,000 watts of power. As a reference, a microwave takes about 1200 watts to run, whereas a lightbulb requires around 60 watts. 

The more devices you want to power, the bigger the generator you’ll need. A typical portable device might produce 2 kW to 4 kW, whereas a 20 kW rating is quite common for a whole-house generator designed to power your entire house.

If you’re only concerned about keeping a few lights on and powering things like your refrigerator and freezer, you can get by with a relatively small generator in the 5-10 kW range. Furnaces and air conditioning units require much more power, in medium-sized homes, this is usually in the 20-22 kW range.

A quick search on the internet will rustle up a number of calculators to help you determine how large a device you need for your generator installation, but the safest and most reliable way would be to contact a contractor who installs standby generators, like Team Enoch. We have the experience and expertise to help you select a generator that is right for your specific needs. 

Choosing the Right Fuel

Your generator won’t do you any good if it doesn’t have fuel. In the event of a natural disaster, fuel supplies may be limited or unavailable, so you’ll need a sufficient quantity of fuel to last for an extended period of time.

Of the four fuels that are primarily used for generators — gasoline, diesel, LP gas, and natural gas — we can rule out the first one immediately. While gasoline is the most common fuel for portable generators, it’s a poor choice for whole-house generators. Gasoline is highly volatile and deteriorates over time, making long-term storage difficult, so the jerry cans you stashed in the shed will be worthless after a year or two. Let’s examine the other options:

Diesel

Diesel has some attractive qualities as a fuel: it’s less volatile than gasoline and it’s high in energy content, so diesel engines are generally quite efficient. For a standby generator, you’ll need to install an external tank to hold your fuel if you want more than a day’s supply. The advantages of diesel make it a popular choice for schools, hospitals, or businesses, but it is less common for home applications. Nonetheless, it’s worth considering if you don’t have access to natural gas or convenient LP gas delivery.

LP Gas (Propane)

Clean-burning LP gas is safe and easy to store. Home storage tanks for liquid propane range in size from 100 to 1000 gallons, and most areas have local dealers who can set you up with a tank and deliveries in a jiffy. While propane doesn’t have quite the energy content of diesel, it’s an excellent fuel for a standby generator, since you can easily have a large, stable supply of fuel on hand.

Natural Gas

What’s not to like about natural gas? It burns cleanly, and natural gas supplies are rarely affected by natural disasters. Natural gas generators offer the reliability to keep the power flowing through almost any circumstances. Natural gas tops our ratings, followed closely by LP gas, with diesel running a distant third.

Dare to DIY?

If you’re a dedicated do-it-yourselfer you may entertain notions of saving on your home generator installation cost by installing a whole-house generator yourself. After all, there’s always YouTube to help… But before you take the plunge, consider all the factors that are involved in installing a standby generator. You'll probably decide that the extra installation cost of hiring a professional is worth it.

Electrical connections 

Standby generators utilize an automatic transfer switch that detects a power outage and starts the generator. Depending on your configuration, the switch may then transfer control of your power to a separate breaker panel that will send electricity to only the circuits you’ve chosen to have powered.

Plumbing connections

If you’re using natural gas or LP gas to power your generator, you’ll need to connect the natural gas line or propane tank to the generator. You’ll also need to be sure you have the correct valves to handle the type of gas you’re using for your home generator installation. Saving some money on the installation cost here might be dangerous.

Building permits/HOA restrictions 

Depending on your locality, you may be required to acquire a building permit and city inspection for home generator installation. Also, consider any restrictions that your homeowner’s association (HOA) may have in place.

Site selection

Your generator will have specific manufacturer’s guidelines for proximity to your home, and you’ll need to consider how close the unit’s exhaust is to windows or other entries to your home when performing the generator installation.

That’s a lot to handle if you’re doing the generator installation job yourself. The results of doing the job incorrectly could be catastrophic, with the potential of accidental electrocution, gas leaks, and carbon monoxide poisoning topping the list.

For the best results, hire the pros

Your best bet for generator installation? Hire a professional to do the job. They’ll have the background and knowledge to ensure a safe and smooth installation. In addition, professionals that specialize in whole-house generator sales and installation can assist you in choosing the generator that best suits your needs.

Don't let the prospect of generator installation costs dissuade you. Knowing that your whole-house generator has been installed properly and will run safely and efficiently is worth the extra installation costs.

Talk to Team Enoch

Want to know more about backup power to your home? Contact us, our service professionals would be happy to talk about the options for home generators that are available to you and help you get the generator you need.

 Contact us for all your plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and electrical needs. Remember, estimates are always free!

Want to learn more about generators? Here are some related articles:

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22 comments on “Three Things to Consider Before Installing a Whole-House Generator”

  1. You make an excellent point when you mention how the size of the generator you will need will depend on how many devices need power. My wife and I have decided that we will be working from home for a few weeks, and we need to ensure that our computers will not turn off if the power goes out. We'll consider getting a generator that will help us maintain efficiency when working.

  2. How do I compare the KW capacity of a generator to the required capacity of our existing home? Is it done by rooms, square footage, checklist with room by room power requirements...

  3. Hello,
    I am looking for something to help with a house that is 4,000 sq ft. I need something that would be able to run 2 A/C units if need be.

  4. Hello, we are interested in a natural gas whole house generator. However, we live in San Angelo, Texas. Do you do work outside Fort Worth?

  5. Thank you for talking about natural gas as a safe and clean fuel for standby generators. While I want to make sure that we can still work safely at home through outages, I feel like that would be a little harmful to the environment. However, now that I know of natural gas generators, I'll make sure to ask for one when I get a residential electrician to get us a generator.

  6. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.

  7. I’d like to install it in my back yard. I have a gas line that is currently used by my grill. Can I have an installer tap into that line instead of the main line in the front part of the house.

    1. Hey Laura, As long as your gas lines are properly installed there should be no problems tapping into an existing line. If you have more questions regarding Whole-House generators please give us a call at (817) 888-8880 to speak to one of our electricians.

  8. I would like to learn more about a generator that will supply you with electricity and air conditioning if you lose power due to storms and other conditions causing power outages. I would like to know the price range of one that would handle a four bedroom 2 bath ranch style home. With an active hurricane season approaching I am interested in the cost of installing one.

    1. Hey Sara, We would be happy to give you a quote to install a whole-house generator. Please give us a call at (817) 888-8880 to speak to one of our electricians.

    1. Hey Pat, Thanks for reaching out. The time it takes to install a whole house generator can vary depending on the complexity of the job. Please give us a call at (817) 888-8880 to speak to one of our licensed electricians who can provide some advice based on your specific case.

  9. I am curious to know if I need an electrician and a plumber to install a new Generac Whole home generator? If I need both, which one will need to come out first to begin the install? Thank you

    1. Hey Dana, Yes, you will need an electrician and plumber if you plan on installing a natural gas powered generator. The two trades can do the work at the same time. If you have any other questions please give us a call to speak to one of our electricians.

  10. Wow, it's quite alarming to read how many restrictions and possible risks there are to installing a generator. I could see this being a big reason against trying to do it yourself, especially if the generator equipment is powerful and complicated. I'll take your advice and find a generator service expert and have them install one for me instead.

  11. Our house is 2,500 sq ft. We have an electric range w/oven, A/C, a large refrigerator, an upright freezer, 2 TVs, 2 computers, a dishwasher, a washer and electric dryer, and microwave oven. We have natural gas for heat and hot water. Most of our lighting has been changed to LEDs.

    We would like three quotes on the purchase of installation of a NG unit including pad, unit, transfer switch, plumbing and electrical connections, and city permit (which I think is required where we live).

    Thank you.

    1. Hey William, We would be happy to provide you with a quote for a new generator install. Please get in touch with us at (817) 888-8880 to speak to one of our licensed electricians.

  12. My standby 24W generac generator didn't power up the HVAC system when the power went off. It took care of the household electrical things.

    1. James, Underground utilities do much better during storms, but as we experienced recently in Texas the power grid can suffer other types of outages that affect large areas despite having underground wires. If you would like to discuss more about your specific needs please give us a call at (817) 888-8880 to speak to one of our electricians. Warm regards.

  13. I am installing a 20 kw generac generator. It will be hooked up to a natural gas meter. It's about 80' run for gas which I'll use 1" galvanized so do I need to install a low pressure regulator on house side and one next to generator?

  14. Will a whole house generator using natural gas reduce the gas supply to a natural gas furnace so much that the furnace will not work

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