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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."
Additional Photos
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+6

Response time20 mins
Response rate100%
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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
Avatar for Bi-State Electric, LLC
Bi-State Electric, LLC
4.6(
9
)
Fixed Generator - InstallFixed Generator - RepairGenerator - Install+4 more

Serving Columbia, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1995

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We hired Bi-State Electric to run a 20 amp circuit from our house to our new garden shed. This required Scott to hand dig a trench about 25 feet long between the house and shed. He installed a small porch light on the shed and a ceiling fan/light inside with switches to operate both. He also installed a total of 5 outlets at various locations inside the shed. As an added service, Scott installed a Whole House Surge Protector to our electrical panel and provided a safety inspection of the panel at no additional cost above his quoted price. Once the work was completed, the County Inspector came out and gave his stamp of approval."
Storm Damage Repair
Back up Generator
200 amp Service Upgrade
Scott
Recommended by88%of homeowners
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Generator Install questions, answered by experts

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.

Generally, you’ll want to keep between 60 and 70 feet between the generator and the transfer switch. There are a few reasons for this, including:

  • The distance reduces the noise coming from the generator into your home.

  • It increases efficiency because you won’t have a voltage drop from this short of a distance.

  • Prevents carbon monoxide poisoning: keep at least 15 feet between your generator and an open window. 

These advanced generators use a key fob or a smartphone app to remotely start, which is ideal for getting power back on immediately without venturing outside. This feature is more common on whole home generators, but you may be able to find it on large portable generators, too.

An undersized whole-house generator has the potential to overheat and shut down when you try to run a central AC system. This scenario can not only damage the whole-house generator, but can also trip your home’s breakers or cause electrical damage. To avoid this situation, hire a local generator installer to correctly size your whole-house generator.

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.