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Avatar for CD Electric
CD Electric
5.0(
6
)
Fixed Generator - InstallFixed Generator - RepairGenerator - Install+4 more

Serving Columbia, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"CD Electric was fantastic. They added electrical outlets to the interior and exterior of my home and installed an exterior light. Chase was very thorough with the estimate he provided me and completed the job in the time he said it would take. I would definitely hire them again for any future jobs and I highly recommend them to anyone else."
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+6

Response time20 mins
Response rate100%
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Tri-State Water, Power & Air
Tri-State Water, Power & Air
4.8(
37
)
Fixed Generator - Install

Serving Columbia, 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

44 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by97%of homeowners
Avatar for VMK Remodeling
VMK Remodeling
4.2(
19
)
Fixed Generator - InstallFixed Generator - RepairGenerator - Install - For Business+3 more

Serving Columbia, 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%
26 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Shinnova Power
Shinnova Power
New to Angi
Fixed Generator - InstallFixed Generator - RepairGenerator - Install - For Business+1 more

Serving Columbia, IL and surrounding areas

Approved (Corporate)

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Shinnova Power is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.

Response time1 day
Response rate100%
44 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Grasser Electric
Grasser Electric
4.6(
30
)
Fixed Generator - InstallFixed Generator - RepairGenerator - Install+4 more

Serving Columbia, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1975

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Paul came over early in morning and gave us a bid to install two ceiling fans and a bathroom light fixture. He said the fee would be $180 for each fan and $80 for the light fixture plus an $89 service fee. Bid seemed high, but he said he could do the work that day, so we went ahead. He was very professional and informative. Did the work efficiently and was courteous. The fans and lights work well."
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Recommended by92%of homeowners
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Generator Install questions, answered by experts

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.

Sizing a generator is a careful process that requires calculating the electrical load of your entire house. You have to take into account every device you want to use and their wattage requirements, plus the wattage needed to start them, and look for a generator that can safely run all that at around 80% capacity.

In more practical terms, a small home can run on a 10,000-watt generator (and if you only want to power a few key appliances, much less than that). A mid-sized home may need something between 15,000 and 22,000 watts. Larger homes require 25,000 watts or more. 

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.

Energy output depends on turbine size, average wind speed at your site, and system efficiency. A 5 kW turbine in a good wind location can generate 8,000 to 12,000 kilowatt-hours per year, which may cover a large portion of an average home’s needs. Accurate output estimates require a professional wind assessment and a review of your household’s energy usage patterns.

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.

The Columbia, IL homeowners’ guide to generator installs

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