"Magic Electric, Plumbing & Heating/Air... I have purchased a 102 yr older home in Hagerman, ID. MAGIC: Tucker, Cleaned, Tuned my furnace ASAP. Angel and Adam worked diligently for 2 weeks, plaster/lathe, to rewire my home and shop to code electrically and also functionally for my needs. The also installed exterior security lights. Arron and Cody worked hard and long, in my 1.5 ft. crawl space to upgrade my plumbing Drainage, sinks and commode were reset, outdoor spigots repiped. Installed 2 hot water heaters and a water softener. WOW!!!! I truly, respectfully APPRECIATE each and EVERY ONE of these Professionals who have worked pleasantly through this process. THANK YOU, MAGIC MEN! You all deserve a round to applause and my Gratitude. BRAVO!"
"They were great and really good. we never had any trouble with him, we call him and he came very quick he is very reliable. Its been 7 to 8 years that we've been using his service, he gave us a fair price, does a good quality of work and he is very personable, friendly, on time and we always contact him.We actually have another contractor, but we mostly use his service."
"Needed new lights for a shop and a welder plug in installed . Patrick got it done in timely manner . And got my shop bright again . I Am going too use Vasco Electric for my future upgrades /repairs . Awesome Guys and very fair pricing. Thanks Guys for good work ."
"John happened to be in town when I placed my request. He was at my house in less than 10 minutes and in under an hour had my electrical outlets fixed. John is super personable and knew exactly what the issue was. I am so excited to put out my deck lights now! I will be contacting you for any future needs!"
No, you should never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet in your house. This practice is extremely dangerous, often illegal, and can cause "back-feeding," where power from the generator flows back into utility lines, creating a life-threatening hazard for utility workers. It can also damage your home's electrical system, including appliances like pumps and HVAC fans. If the main power is restored while the generator is connected, it can destroy the generator and cause an electrical fire. To safely connect a generator, you must use a professionally installed transfer switch or an interlocking kit, which prevents back-feeding by disconnecting your home from the utility grid before the generator provides power.
Generators are safe to use as long as they are installed and operated correctly according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The most critical safety tips are to never use a portable or fuel-powered generator inside an enclosed space due to the risk of lethal carbon monoxide poisoning; always operate it outdoors where fumes can dissipate away from your home. Additionally, never attempt to connect a generator to your home’s electrical panel yourself—hire a professional to ensure the setup meets safety standards. Finally, avoid overloading the generator by not connecting more appliances than it is rated for, as this can damage your equipment or cause a fire.
To power a central air system during a power outage, the whole-house generator will need to be at least 5,000 watts, and this number will significantly increase for larger units. Check the specific wattage requirements of your AC unit to choose the right generator size. Consider consulting a generator installer to ensure your whole-house generator meets your electrical load needs.
It might seem counterintuitive, but installing a generator transfer switch will save you money in the long run. While you’ll have to pay between $400 and $2,500 to have the transfer switch installed, you’ll recoup that amount later on when you don’t have to pay for expensive repairs to your appliances, devices, and electrical system that may have burned out, overloaded, or stopped working due to a sudden loss of power or an incorrect hook up of a generator to your home.
If you’re wondering if you can use your electric vehicle as a backup battery, it depends on whether your EV is compatible with bidirectional charging. This technology allows energy to flow both ways, enabling vehicle-to-home (V2H) backup power, vehicle-to-load (V2L) for appliances and camping, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) to support the power grid. Compatible EVs convert stored DC energy into usable AC power, helping reduce energy costs and enhance grid stability while providing emergency backup power.
The Bruneau, ID homeowners’ guide to generator installs
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Natural gas generators are whole-home standby generators that are connected to your home’s natural gas line. The average cost for a natural gas generator is $12,000.
Generators should give you peace of mind, but you’ll only get that if your installer knows what they’re doing. Learn how to hire a pro and what red flags to look for.
