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Kirby Electric Services
5.0(
5
)

Serving Sumter, SC and surrounding areas

In business since 1980

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"I can not say enough good things about Mr. Kirby and his company. He was very thorough, efficient and professional. I recently hired him to wire my new barn for lights and power as well as some improvements to my new home. We discussed my wishes prior to starting and his knowledge was pivotal in guiding me through the planning and supply process. He knew and adhered to all the electrical codes and he knew his business and trade. He worked very hard and was there every day until the project was complete. He even found some issues regarding previous work I'd had done and helped me resolve those in addition to the project I hired him for. I highly recommend him for ANY electrical project or problem you may have. I will always call him first for any of my future electrical needs."
Response time3 hrs
Response rate85%
Recommended by100%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.

In most municipalities, you will need a permit to install a permanent home generator, including emergency backup, partial-home, and whole-home generators. A permit for a generator usually costs between $50 and $250, depending on where you live. Your electrician or certified generator installer will usually pull the permit for you—and might be required to do so by your building department—but you’ll be on the hook for the cost of the permit. You should ask your installer before agreeing to any work if they will pull the necessary permits for your project.

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. 

DIY is possible for basic setups. Professional installation ensures safe and proper electrical connections.

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.

The Sumter, SC homeowners’ guide to generator installs

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