"I regularly and highly recommend Don's Electric to anyone who is looking for top-notch electricians and outstanding people to work with. Don's Electric is a well-run company that provides superb service. The Gabbard family is the best! For example, last week we had a lengthy power outage, and (through no fault whatsoever of Don’s Electric) the engine in our back-up generator died, requiring replacement. With no replacement engine immediately available, Don's Electric was quick to the rescue; within a few hours, the Gabbards had installed a portable generator for use during the balance of the outage. (By the way, Don’s Electric previously replaced my outdated electrical service promptly, professionally, and at a very competitive price.) Thank you, Don's Electric!"
"Mr. Bailey assembled the fan, installed it properly and quickly. He took the old fan to the curb so that I wouldn't have to. The cost (211.50) was a bit more than I had anticipated but the value for the service was reasonable. I can wholeheartedly recommend Lighthouse Electrical Service."
"We lost power after a horrific storm and we contacted them and they sent a tech out after hours and got your generator back up and running. I would highly recommend. Will use again if this ever happens again and we will be referring all of our customers, family and friends to. I'll take care of you guys!"
"wonderful company, i had a specialty issue; needed a new attic fan to vent the heat from a very hot atrium to the outside. these guys came over, took out the old fan, ordered the new one and installed. contractors were very polite, knowledgeable & expedient once the decision was made, i recommend to all."
"Phil at Lake Road Electric was great with customer service, full transparency on pricing, and not only getting the job done in a timely matter, but more importantly, making sure the job was done right! I will be calling Lake Road Electric for my next project and I highly recommend!"
"I called them and they came out within in a week. Quoted the job and completed it the same day. Very professional. Very nice workers. They were absolutely outstanding"
"Doug is a master electrician and has completed not only a panel upgrade for us but several other electrical projects. He’s knowledgeable, reliable, and easy to work with. What really stands out is that he genuinely cares about the quality and appearance of the finished product—not just getting the job done, but making sure it looks great too. Highly recommend and will continue to call True Line electric for my electrical needs."
In most cases, there are no tax credits available for home generators. However, that’s a general statement that applies to federal tax credits, so you might have access to state or local tax incentives. You can check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) for more information about your area. If you hire a reliable home generator installer, they should also know if there are any state or local perks you can use to reduce your installation costs, including tax breaks and rebates.
You can expect a diesel generator to last for up to 30,000 hours of use, which works out to 20 to 25 years with the proper maintenance, of course. That depends on how much you use it, so a diesel generator used for emergencies a couple of times a year will last a lot longer than a generator that takes over for a faulty electrical grid every month for a day or two.
Whole-house generators need to be installed on level ground several feet away from walls and other objects. Because they tap into the electrical system directly, they usually need to be close to your home electrical panel for a transfer switch installation. It also helps with installation if they are near to a gas line or propane tank installation.
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.
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 Goodrich, MI 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.
