What to Expect During a Home Generator Installation

In Olympia and Tumwater, WA, backup power is extremely important for homeowners. In the Pacific Northwest, power outages frequently occur due to severe weather, car accidents impacting utility poles, fallen tree limbs, high winds, and more.

Installing a whole-home generator ensures you and your family are protected against power outages. Home generators provide reliable backup power to keep your home running normally even when the grid goes out.

Interested in home generator installation and unsure what to expect? We’re going to cover the benefits of a home generator and outline the installation process.

Why Get a Home Generator?

Home generators have become increasingly popular among homeowners over the past few decades. The benefits of home generators are expansive and make the initial installation costs worth the investment.

Here are some of the top reasons to get a home generator:

• Keeps the lights on when power goes out
• Prevents costly food spoilage
• Ensures comfortable temperatures
• Prevents frozen pipes or sump pump damage
• Keeps critical medical devices running
• Prevents business downtime
• Increases home value by 3-5%
• Keeps your security system running

Now that you know the reasons to invest in a generator, let’s discuss the whole-home generator installation process.

The Initial Consultation and Site Assessment

Once you’ve decided you want a home generator installed, the first steps are the initial consultation and site assessment.

Evaluate Power Needs

A certified generator technician will come to your home and assess your power needs to help determine the proper size generator. They will ask if you are looking to power your entire home or just a few essential loads. Depending on how much of your home you’d like to power, they will then run load calculations.

Calculating Generator Size

To ensure you get the right size generator, the technician will conduct comprehensive load calculations of the total running watts and starting watts of the devices and systems you want to power. They will add a buffer to the calculation to make sure the generator you choose has ample power to meet your home’s demands.

Choosing Location

Next, the generator technician will go outside your home to choose the best location for the generator. Whole-home generators should be positioned at least five feet away from any windows, doors, and openings to prevent carbon monoxide from entering your living spaces.

Selecting Right Generator

Once the initial consultation is complete, you will need to select the generator model you want installed. The generator technician will provide recommendations on suitable options for your needs.

Fuel Options

Home generators typically run on natural gas, liquid propane, or gasoline. The fuel type you choose will depend on whether the generator is a permanently installed system or a portable unit.

Natural gas is a great option that offers unlimited runtime when connected to your home’s utility line. Liquid propane is suitable for both standby and portable generators and can be stored on site in large tanks. Gasoline is best for portable units that are only used for short-term outages.

Standby vs. Portable

You’ll also need to decide whether you want a standby whole-home generator or a portable unit.

Standby generators are permanently installed and can be connected to your home’s natural gas line for an uninterrupted supply of fuel. They are often used to power entire homes from HVAC systems to lighting and refrigerators.

Portable generators are designed to power a couple of essential household appliances such as fans, refrigerators, and basic lighting. They offer a much lower power output and are best for short-term power outage needs. The benefits are that they can be transported around your property, are more affordable, and offer versatile fuel options.

Permits & Requirements

If installing a standby generator, you will need to meet permitting and HOA requirements.

Permits

In most areas of the United States, local permits are required when installing a standby generator. A reputable generator technician will handle the permitting process to ensure code compliance.

HOA Requirements

Depending on where you live, your neighborhood HOA may require approval for home generator installation. Speak to your local HOA board to learn about the approval process for generators.

Utility Requirements

Your generator installation also must meet electrical, mechanical, and safety standards to avoid back feeding into the utility grid and code compliance. A generator technician will work with local utilities to adhere to regulations.

Day of Installation

On the day of installation, the generator technician will follow a few specific steps.

Prepare Site

First, the site where the generator will be installed must be prepared. This includes adhering to local building codes, leveling the ground, and more.

Install Pad

Next, a concrete pad will be installed for the standby generator to sit on. A concrete pad ensures that the ground is completely leveled for safe operation.

Positioning Generator

Then, the generator will be positioned at least five feet away from any openings to the home on the concrete pad.

Installing Electrical

The generator technician will make high voltage electrical connections to your home’s electrical panel. Then they will install an automatic transfer switch to facilitate the seamless transition of the power supply.

Installing Fuel Line

After that, the technician will connect the fuel line, whether for natural gas or liquid propane, to supply the generator with fuel.

Testing

The generator technician will run load tests to ensure the generator operates properly under load.

Final Checks

Next, they will run final checks, testing to make sure that the power automatically kicks on, stabilizes properly, and shuts down correctly.

Homeowner Walkthrough

After the generator has been installed, the technician will walk you through the basic operation, so you understand how to use your new generator. They will also show you how to read the warning lights and share routine maintenance recommendations.

Contact Us for Whole-Home Generator Installation

Looking for a trustworthy home generator installer? G&G Heating and Air Conditioning offers home generator installation services throughout Olympia and Tumwater, WA. Call us today at (360) 499-6604 or book an appointment online!