Standby Generator Installation Bay Area

A standby generator sits outside the home or building and starts automatically within seconds of a power outage, using an automatic transfer switch to disconnect from utility power and connect to the generator, then switches back once utility power returns. Portable generators, by contrast, require manual setup and extension cords or a manual transfer switch each time they’re used.

Not every circuit needs to run during an outage. A critical-load transfer switch backs up a defined set of circuits — refrigerator, some lighting, a sump pump, a home office — sized to a smaller generator. Whole-house backup covers everything, including HVAC, but requires a larger generator and correspondingly larger fuel supply and installation cost.

We size the transfer switch and generator to what you actually want backed up, not the largest option available.

Generator installation involves wiring the transfer switch into your existing panel — or installing a subpanel dedicated to backed-up circuits — running conduit and wiring to the generator's pad location, and coordinating the gas or propane hookup with the appropriate trade if the generator isn't diesel. Permits and inspection are required in every jurisdiction we work in, and we handle both as part of the installation.