"Outstanding! Super professional. Offered advice on my electrical installation and did the work quickly. I was very pleased with the end installation."
"Outstanding service. I originally needed an electrician to determine why I lost power to ½ my house. What Jody uncovered was a defective circuit breaker and my main switches overheating and in the process of melting down. He was able to change out the panel and install new breakers immediately. I’m grateful for the prompt response by Gene and the professionalism of Jody and Brian."
Calvert Generator 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.\n
"Patrick, who supervised the installation of a generator which I had, also worked up the initial recommendations and estimate. This generator was used, but that did not deter Patrick from coming up with a plan. Other contractors sent estimators who were more sales people than experienced generator contractors. Only Ritzau made the recommendation to replace the old fashioned transfer switch which came with the unit with an up to date digital transfer switch. This "
"Anthony is a true professional. He is very personable which made him easy to talk to. The young men working for him were courteous and about their business. Thought the prices were reasonable. Excellent service. If you are thinking about upgrading, installing outlets or any of your electrical needs, I highly recommend calling this company first."
"Awesome! I wanted to do a heavy-up at my new home. I shopped around and got quotes from several companies incl Tim. I chose Paradise because of the price, responsiveness, and professionalism that Tim conducted himself. The job called for significantly more work than expected because of my desire to eventually add a backup generator, Tim made sure that I would not need to reinvent the wheel later and installed the right equipment to meet my future needs. During the course of his work I decided to add several additional outlets and discovered a mis-wired light. He took care of all of the work in short order. Tim is officially my go-to electrician."
"We would definitely contact Mr. Williams for more household projects. He installed a gas cooktop with a downdraft for us. During the install, he discovered that the vent pipe being used by the old downdraft fan was too small. To ensure that we would have a working cooktop that evening, Mr. Williams went to the hardware store for new parts. The price of the project was very reasonable. He also followed COVID-19 safety protocols (mask, gloves, social distancing, staying within the worksite) for the entire project."
In some situations, yes. Never try to put biofuel into any home generator without checking the specifics first. If a generator has the ability to run on diesel, it can also run pure biofuel (the clear kind made from seed oils, for example). But if you are using biofuel made from animal fats or vegetable oils, the generator will need significant modifications before it can handle a sludgier type of biofuel.
Here’s what you can run with different wattages and types of generators:
Portable generator:
2,000 watts can handle a large appliance like a freezer or refrigerator, plus a few smaller items like phones or computer chargers.
4,000 watts will keep two large appliances operating and a few smaller devices.
8,000 watts should power most essential appliances and other devices, including a sump pump, well pump, or your dishwasher.
Partial to whole-house generator:
20,000 watts and above will make it seem like your home’s power is still on.
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.
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.
Yes, natural gas generators can work without electricity. Natural gas generators are a common type of backup or whole-house generator that operates when the electrical grid isn’t working. The trick is using a transfer switch (which usually needs to be installed with the generator) that safely switches the home electrical system from the power grid to generator power when needed.
The Forestville, MD homeowners’ guide to generator installs
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
The cost to install a whole-house generator in Baltimore, MD varies based on factors like generator size, fuel type, and installation complexity. Learn the typical price range and what influences your total cost.
The cost to install a whole-house generator in Washington, DC varies based on factors like generator size, fuel type, and installation complexity. Learn the typical price range and what influences your total cost.
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.
Thinking about a generator installation? Learn about backup power options, costs to expect, and how to hire the right local pro to keep your home running.