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Avatar for Tri-State Water, Power & Air
Tri-State Water, Power & Air
4.8(
37
)

Serving Ava, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1993

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Kelly installed a new toilet for us. He did a superb job and he deserves a raise. He has such a great attitude. He is a keeper & again, he deserves a raise!! And I am not his mother or grandmother."
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+3

50 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by97%of homeowners
Avatar for VMK Remodeling
VMK Remodeling
4.3(
18
)

Serving Ava, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Very pleased with the quality of the kitchen cabinet installation. Company we contacted with for counter tops also commented on the quality of their work. Customer service was excellent. They arrived as scheduled and quickly responded to messages. Work was done well and on time."
Response time2 days
Response rate90%
82 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for 618 Electric
618 Electric
5.0(
20
)

Serving Ava, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They were very professional and got the job done right, in a timely manner and to my specifications. Very pleased. Would highly recommend."
Response time8 hrs
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by75%of homeowners
Avatar for Hope Electric
Hope Electric
4.8(
9
)

Serving Ava, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"John installed an outdoor generator connection and a lockout on the main panel. A very fair price, good communication and a very professional, quality installation."
Response time1 day
Response rate99%
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Generator Install questions, answered by experts

While standby generators provide essential backup power, they can fail when you need them most due to lack of maintenance, fuel supply issues, dead batteries, electrical problems, or improper installation. To avoid costly failures, professional installation and regular maintenance are crucial. Licensed technicians ensure safety, uphold warranty requirements, comply with regulations, and provide expert servicing.

If you have a transfer switch properly installed, the generator and main electrical power cannot feed the system at the same time. However, you should still shut off the power at your main circuit breaker panel before activating the generator. If you do that, you’ll simply need to shut off the generator and reset your circuit breaker once the local power comes back on.

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.

Portable generators provide backup power for essential appliances during outages and are easy to relocate.

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 Ava, IL homeowners’ guide to generator installs

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