When determining what size generator you will need, it is important to imagine your home without power. Some power outages are short and only last a few hours, while some could last for days or weeks. It is important to think about your day to day life and what is your family going to need to have access to during a power outage. There are smaller generator products available to cover just the essential circuits in your home. There are also larger systems that can cover virtually all of your home. Most generators have a transfer switch that contains a pre-determined number of circuits based on your generator’s power rating. Each circuit directly matches a circuit on your circuit breaker panel. This will provide direct electricity to your pre-determined circuits. Larger units that provide power to the whole house will ensure that no circuit is left un-powered, so all appliances and electricity in your house should be available every minute of the power outage.

Yes, all generators need to be maintained. The periodic maintenance, such as oil and filter changes, allows for maximum performance and assures the reliability of your generator. It is recommended that you have your generator unit serviced approximately every six months or for every 100 hours of generator operation. This maintenance will help prolong the life of your generator and make sure that any issues with the generator are resolved before a power outage exposes the problem.

It is not recommended to install a generator by yourself.  While some generator systems may come prepackaged and pre-wired with thorough installation instructions, it is still recommended that a generator specialist or licensed contractor installs your unit. There are state, local, and national electrical codes that generators, especially non pre-wired or larger systems, need to follow. Working with a generator specialist or contractor is the best way to ensure that you are following those codes. Also, because generators are electrical systems, it is much safer to have an experienced professional handle the installation.

Generators can be purchased from most home improvement retailers, or through any local generator specialist. It is recommended to purchase your generator through a generator specialist, as they can provide expertise in the generator selection in addition to installation.

The cost of generator installation depends on the generator size, electrical requirements, fuel type, transfer switch, installation complexity, and site conditions. A&J Generators can assess your property and recommend the right solution.

The right generator size depends on which appliances, HVAC systems, and essential circuits you want to power during an outage. A professional load assessment can determine the appropriate generator size for your home.

Installation time varies based on the generator, property layout, electrical work, fuel connection, permits, and site preparation. Your installer can provide a more accurate timeline after evaluating your property.

A backup home generator is an electrical system that automatically supplies power directly to your home’s electrical system in the event of a power outage. A backup home generator operates whether you are in your home or away. The generator operates on natural gas or propane and sits outside of your home, similar to an air conditioning unit. Once power returns to your home, the generator will automatically turn off until the next power outage.