If you have lived in Hampton Roads for a while, you know the drill. A tropical storm rolls up the coast or a nor’easter parks offshore, trees come down, and the power goes out. Sometimes it is back in a few hours. Sometimes it is days.
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and our area also sees strong summer thunderstorms and winter nor’easters. A whole-home standby generator takes the stress out of all of it. Here is what homeowners in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and the rest of Hampton Roads should know.
Standby generator vs. portable generator
A portable generator is a gas-powered unit you roll out, fill with fuel, start by hand, and connect to a few appliances with extension cords or a transfer switch. It can help, but it needs constant refueling, it cannot run central air for most homes, and it has to be kept well away from the house because of carbon monoxide.
A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home, like an air conditioning unit. It runs on natural gas or propane and connects to your electrical system through an automatic transfer switch. When the power goes out, it starts on its own within seconds, whether you are home or not.
What size generator do you need?
Generator size depends on what you want to keep running. Most homeowners land in one of two groups:
- Essentials only. The refrigerator and freezer, sump or well pump, some lights and outlets, internet, and maybe a window unit or the furnace fan. A smaller generator can handle this.
- The whole house. Everything, including central air and the water heater, so life goes on normally. This takes a larger generator sized to your home’s total load.
We size every generator based on your home, your panel, and your list of must-haves, so you are not paying for more than you need or coming up short when it matters.
Natural gas or propane?
If your home has natural gas service, it is usually the simplest choice. The generator runs off your existing line and never needs to be refilled. In rural parts of Suffolk, southern Chesapeake, and other areas without gas lines, propane is a great option with a properly sized tank. Our team can help you compare.
The automatic transfer switch
The transfer switch is what makes a standby generator automatic. It watches the utility power coming into your home. When the power drops, it starts the generator and switches your home over. When Dominion Energy restores power, it switches back and shuts the generator down. It also keeps your generator from sending power back onto the utility lines, which protects line crews working in your neighborhood.
A safety note: never plug a portable generator into a wall outlet or dryer receptacle to power your home. This is called backfeeding, and it can injure you, your family, or utility workers. If you use a portable generator, have an electrician install a transfer switch or interlock.
What does installation involve?
- Site visit and estimate. We look at your panel, gas service, and the best spot for the generator, keeping it the required distance from windows, doors, and vents.
- Permits. Generator installs require permits and inspections through your city. We handle the electrical side.
- Pad and placement. The generator sits on a level pad outside your home.
- Wiring and transfer switch. We install the transfer switch and connect everything to your panel. If your panel is older or near capacity, a panel upgrade may be recommended first.
- Testing and walkthrough. We test the system, simulate an outage, and show you how it works.
Do not wait for the forecast
The best time to install a generator is before you need it. Once a storm is on the radar, everyone calls at once. Planning ahead in the off-season gives you time to choose the right size and get it installed and inspected before storm season.
Learn more about our generator installation service, and pair your generator with whole-home surge protection to protect your electronics when the power comes back on.
Ready to talk it through? Call TC Electric at (757) 977-4827 or request a free estimate. Our licensed, family-owned team serves Chesapeake and all of Hampton Roads.
