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Avatar for Golden Bay Electric
Golden Bay Electric
4.9(
29
)
Portable Generator - Install

Serving El Cerrito, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Overall experience was average. First day of installation was okay until I find out half of the house did not have power. Edgar came back the next day and explained the cause and fixed it with ease. Was getting push back about how everything was installed as it was and there shouldnâ t be any issues, well there was and he graciously came back and fixed the problem. I would definitely use this company in the future."
Response time2 days
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Warner Electric
5.0(
6
)
Fixed Generator - InstallFixed Generator - RepairGenerator - Install+4 more

Serving El Cerrito, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Steve and his team have done a number of jobs for me from installing light fixtures to adding additional outlets in the bathroom which required going underneath the house. They are professional, timely, courteous, clean, reliable and reasonably priced!"
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Proper Power Electric
5.0(
5
)
Fixed Generator - Install

Serving El Cerrito, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumer's needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

Response time2 days
Response rate100%
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Atomic Telecomm & Electrical Inc.
Atomic Telecomm & Electrical Inc.
4.5(
9
)
Fixed Generator - InstallFixed Generator - RepairGenerator - Install - For Business+3 more

Serving El Cerrito, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1990

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Joe is hard working, diligent, and honest. I hired him 1) to put up an antenna for local tv service and 2) to fix poor wifi signals. TV was converted from cable rapidly using leftover wires. Saving $ not paying for cable and streaming off wifi. Great signal strength! WiFi was harder. He worked with ATT to determine my new iMac was sucking signals. He installed a more powerful router that solved wifi issues when iMac is off. Now I have to work with Apple to figure out how to manage the computer searching. I would not hesitate to call Joe back again. He is an excellent technician and a fine person. He is pretty busy, so sometimes it takes a few days before he can come out, but he is worth the wait."
Network Switch and Router
Driveway Camera
Backyard Camera's
Front Yard Camera
NW corner of house

+9

Response time1 day
Response rate85%
Recommended by87%of homeowners
Home Pro Remodeling & Construction, Inc.
4.1(
31
)
Portable Generator - Repair

Serving El Cerrito, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"I hired home pro remodeling to put pavers on my back yard and to install flloring thorough out the whole house I'm super setasfied with the work and the service . The company also provided me great financial options which I used thank you kobi Leo and Lucas for your great service . Highly recommend them for everyone"
Response time5 days
Recommended by77%of homeowners
Avatar for Vilroy
Vilroy
New to Angi
Portable Generator - Repair

Serving El Cerrito, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Warranties offered

Small jobs welcome

With over 28 years of experience in residential and commercial electrical services, I am a fully licensed electrician in the State of California, committed to delivering excellence in every project.\n\nMy work is built on precision, safety, and strict compliance with California electrical codes. From panel and subpanel upgrades to three-phase systems, transformers, lighting installations, and advanced troubleshooting, every job is executed with professionalism and attention to detail.\n\nI don’t just complete projects — I deliver safe, efficient, and long-lasting electrical solutions.\n\nProfessional. Reliable. Done right the first time.

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Generator Install questions, answered by experts

To reduce AC startup power for a whole-house generator, install a soft start kit or hard start capacitor, which lowers the initial surge by gradually ramping up the compressor. Using a smart load manager can also help by staggering startup loads, preventing a system overload and future costly repairs.

In most municipalities, you will need a permit to install a permanent home generator, including emergency backup, partial-home, and whole-home generators. A permit for a generator usually costs between $50 and $250, depending on where you live. Your electrician or certified generator installer will usually pull the permit for you—and might be required to do so by your building department—but you’ll be on the hook for the cost of the permit. You should ask your installer before agreeing to any work if they will pull the necessary permits for your project.

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.

The amount of time a standby generator can run continuously is around 3,000 hours on average. However, standby generators can generally run indefinitely as long as they have a continuous fuel supply. Generators hooked up to a home’s natural gas supply are the best option for extended usage, as these won’t rely on a finite fuel supply based on how much you have in storage. Generators running on liquid propane or diesel won’t last as long, as these require fuel storage and regular refueling to stay running.

If you’re wondering whether gas generators produce carbon monoxide, know that natural gas generators do not produce carbon monoxide if they are functioning properly, as natural gas burns cleanly. However, if the generator malfunctions and the gas does not burn completely, there is potential for carbon dioxide to be produced. To prevent malfunctions, it's crucial to perform regular maintenance, including running the generator weekly and scheduling professional inspections every 6 to 12 months. Also, be sure to test your carbon monoxide detectors regularly to ensure they function in the rare case of the generator producing carbon monoxide.

The El Cerrito, CA homeowners’ guide to generator installs

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