What makes up the cost of a whole house generator installation?
The cost has two parts: the generator itself and the installation labor and materials. The unit's size and brand set the equipment cost, while the transfer switch, pad, wiring, fuel line, permits and inspections make up the installation side of the job.
The generator is only part of the picture. Many homeowners are surprised that trenching, conduit, gas line work and the transfer switch can add up to a large share of the total.
A site visit shows the real picture. The electrician checks panel capacity, measures runs from meter to pad to panel, and notes clearance requirements near windows and walls.
Gas work and generator fuel connections have their own rules and inspections. A licensed gas contractor may be part of the project alongside the electrician.
Natural gas or propane, which fuel is better for a home generator?
Natural gas suits homes that already have a gas meter with enough capacity, since it avoids refilling a tank. Propane suits homes without gas service, but needs a tank with proper placement. The better choice depends on what your property already has.
A natural gas line may need to be upsized, and that work is done by a licensed gas contractor. Many homes in the West Valley are all electric and have no gas service to tap.
Propane needs room for a tank and a plan for deliveries. During a long outage, tank size sets how long the unit can run before it needs refilling.
Noise and placement matter to neighbors and to you. Setbacks from property lines and openings are set by code, and some communities add their own rules.
Why does a generator need a transfer switch?
A generator needs a transfer switch so power flows safely from the generator to your home without feeding back into the utility lines. It isolates your house from the grid during an outage, which protects utility workers and your equipment, and code requires it for permanent installations.
The switch can be automatic or manual. Automatic units start on their own when the grid drops, which matters in a monsoon outage when you are not home or when it is dangerously hot.
Backfeeding by plugging a generator into a wall outlet is dangerous and illegal. Never try it, and never run any generator in a garage or enclosed space because of carbon monoxide.
Ask for an itemized estimate so you can compare equal scopes. Two quotes that look different often include different items, such as one with the pad and permits and one without.
Does a generator installation need a permit and inspection?
Yes, a permanent whole house generator installation needs permits and inspections for the electrical work and, for fuel, the gas or tank connection. A licensed contractor handles the permit process, which protects you if you sell the home or file an insurance claim.
Rules vary by city, and an unpermitted installation can fail inspection later and need to be redone. Ask your electrician who pulls the permits and who schedules each inspection.
If the generator requires added load on your service, the panel may need work too. That is part of the assessment, and it should be spelled out line by line in the estimate. Vortech's licensed electricians can walk the site, review the panel and explain each line of a generator estimate.
More questions: Home Generators: 12 Most Asked Questions Answered