Please find out how to choose the right generator for your home and how to maintain and repair it when it’s not in use.
Understand the wattage requirements of your appliances to determine the size generator you need. Also, learn how to size a propane or diesel generator properly.
Determine Your Needs
Power outages can cost you spoiled food, damaged appliances, flooded basements, and a home’s structural integrity. That’s why more and more homeowners recognize the need for backup power solutions.
Before meeting with a generator contractor, list what you want and need during a power outage. It will help your contractor size a generator for your house. You should also consider the type of fuel source you want( gas, propane, natural gas, or diesel) and its noise rating during operation.
The room that houses a generator should be sealed off from the outside elements and have a concrete pad, which helps protect equipment from bad weather conditions and standing water. A concrete pad can also reduce the fire risk, providing easy access for service technicians. During the generator installation Tyler, TX your contractor will also need a space for the transfer switch that disconnects your house from the grid before your generator kicks in.
Site Assessment
The site assessment phase of a generator project involves determining whether a property is suitable to host a backup power system and what it will be used to support. It includes evaluating current conditions (chemical spill residue, die-back of vegetation, etc.) and researching the past uses of the property to identify possible environmental concerns.
Consultants should also review chain-of-title information to check for environmental liens and, if applicable, conduct file searches on the property. It is a good idea to include indemnity provisions in agreements with consultants and potential purchasers for the property to ensure that confidential documents remain protected should the parties terminate their relationship.
It is also essential to determine if your gas utility can provide enough pressure and volume for a generator or if you need to install a new gas meter. Locating the generator near the utility meter to minimize plumbing costs is an excellent idea, but it must be kept at least 18″ from all doors and windows. Backfeeding a generator into your home wiring presents an electrocution risk to homeowners and bypasses built-in household circuit protection devices, which can lead to fire or electrical failure.
Permits and Approvals
In most cases, a permanent generator will require a building permit, and your contractor should know this. In addition, if you belong to a homeowners association and the generator is powered by natural gas, the HOA will likely need to review the project.
The permitting process usually involves several engineering drawings, including a scaled plat of your property, a generator footprint, and size drawn on a certified floor or site plan, a gas riser diagram (if necessary), electrical single line diagrams for the generator and transfer switch as well as an electric connection to the main power breaker in your home.
Hiring a licensed contractor with an excellent reputation among local city field inspectors is crucial. Ask about their experience with projects like yours, and check out the Better Business Bureau ratings. A good rating means the contractor has been in business for a long time, has responded to customer complaints, and is an honest, reputable company.
Installation
Whole-home generators create a lot of power and must tie into the home’s electrical system, so licensed contractors should install them. It’s too dangerous for DIYers to hook up a portable generator without proper training, and deaths have occurred from carbon monoxide poisoning when the generator is located inside or too close to the house.
A contractor will install a transfer switch that connects to the generator and the home’s breaker panel so that the generator doesn’t back-feed power into the home and overheat. It’s also essential that the generator is a reasonable distance away from windows, air intakes, and doors to avoid overheating or carbon monoxide poisoning.
The last step is to install the generator on a level concrete pad that can withstand vibrations and the machine’s weight. The pad must be large enough to accommodate the generator, a fuel supply tank, and a walkway that technicians can use for maintenance.
