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Avatar for APS Lighting and Electrical LLC
APS Lighting and Electrical LLC
5.0(
5
)

Serving Oakman, AL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"This is our go to electrical contractor for all of our commerical projects. They communicate clearly, arrive on time, and complete everything efficiently and professionally with quality always in mind. Their attention to detail and reliability always help the projects to run smoothly. Can’t recommend them enough for whatever you need done!"
18 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Mach 1 Mechanical Services
Mach 1 Mechanical Services
5.0(
4
)

Serving Oakman, AL and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"The seal on the bottom of my garage door had dry rotted. I hired someone to replace it. They bought the part but could not install it. We were expecting a lot of rain, so I needed it done as soon as possible. I called Mach 1 Mechanical. Jason came out the same day. He was very professional and courteous. Jason determined that the part I had was not the correct part. Since it would take time to get the correct part, Jason decided to modify the part I had. He successfully modified and installed the part. There has been zero water entering under the door. Jason went the extra mile and I could not be happier with the job he did. He did it at an excellent price. I would hire him again in a heartbeat."
Truck @ ATV
Generator
Response time2 days
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for The Home Depot - Generators
The Home Depot - Generators
2.5(
1
)

Serving Oakman, AL and surrounding areas

In business since 2003

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

Today, we're proud to be the world's largest home improvement retailer. In 2,300 stores across North America, we aspire to excel in service – to our customers, associates, communities and shareholders. That's what leadership means to us. That's The Home Depot difference.

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Generator Install questions, answered by experts

It’s usually better to repair your generator if it isn’t working properly, as it will typically be much more affordable and should yield similar results. Generator repairs cost around $300 on average, while installing a new whole-house generator costs around $5,000 on average. The only exception is if you know your generator is reaching the end of its useful life, usually between 30 and 40 years. If you have an older generator, you could face multiple repairs in the coming years, which might mean that a full replacement will be more cost-effective over time.

To determine the right size generator for your house, you should calculate the total wattage of the appliances and devices you want to power during an outage. List all essential items, note their start-up wattages, and add them together.

Here are some typical wattage requirements for common appliances:

  • Refrigerator: 600 watts

  • Large dehumidifier: 700 watts

  • Large window air conditioner: 1,400 watts

  • Water heater: 3,000 to 4,500 watts

  • Electric furnace: 5,000 to 25,000 watts

A 7,500-watt generator might be sufficient for essentials like a refrigerator, freezer, well pump, and lighting circuits. However, for high-demand items like a water heater or furnace, a whole-home generator is a better choice. A portable generator may be enough if you only need to power a few critical items.

While home square footage can offer a rough estimate, it is not always a reliable indicator. For reference, here are some typical generator sizes based on square footage:

  • 1,000 sq ft: 6–9 kW

  • 1,500 sq ft: 7–10 kW

  • 2,000 sq ft: 10–14 kW

  • 2,500 sq ft: 12–16 kW

  • 3,000 sq ft: 16–20 kW+

For the most accurate sizing, consult a professional who can calculate your home's peak and average power consumption and recommend the optimal generator.

You may need a permit for a portable generator if you’ll be installing a transfer switch for your primary residence or similar work. Otherwise, a permit for other uses may not be necessary. Check your local building codes or ask a local generator installer for more information about your local regulations.

As a safety measure, you should always turn off the main breaker while operating your generator’s backup breaker. In addition, you should also switch off all appliance breakers so you don't have a power surge when the main breaker turns back on. And finally, turning off the main breaker prevents back-feeding, which endangers utility workers with the risk of electrocution. Back-feeding could also destroy the electrical circuits of your neighbors if they use the same power network.

In most cases, there are no tax credits available for home generators. However, that’s a general statement that applies to federal tax credits, so you might have access to state or local tax incentives. You can check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) for more information about your area. If you hire a reliable home generator installer, they should also know if there are any state or local perks you can use to reduce your installation costs, including tax breaks and rebates.

The Oakman, AL homeowners’ guide to generator installs

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.