"The guys arrived exactly at the prearranged time. They informed me that the work would take longer than the '2 man hours' that I bought through the Angie's List Deals before they began the job - which I appreciated. They were on task and professional the whole time. They explained any problems they encountered while re-installing the old light fixture - need new bulbs. They cleaned up any mess they made at the end of the job. Rates and cost of supplies were reasonable. I WILL BE CALLING THEM BACK FOR ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE FUTURE. "
"While I did not hire, Rick Thompson Electric were straight forward and explained they did not do work on B&S Generators; however, they did provide me with the number for Inspired Electrical who I am working with. Not many companies will be straight forward and recommend a competitor. Definitely signs of a true professional!"
"You cannot find a better contractor than Raufi Services. We hired Raufi Services to install 240V/50A wiring for a hot tub. They were extremely efficient, polite, and timely. The quality of their work was outstanding--I couldn't even tell they ran the wiring in the house after they were done. They were also very competitive in their cost estimate."
"Seriously a great guy and did exactly what I needed. Also made it look clean and like it was supposed to be on the house. I know for sure we will be using him again for any projects we end up wanting done. Thank you for everything!"
"The service that Zack Weaver and Justin Fox provided when they installed my new furnace was fantastic. The attitude and willingness to answer my questions are what you are looking for when such a major addition to your home is happening. I have been in the people business for over 30 years and these professional rank in the top 5% when it comes to service. Job well done."
"Received a call from Parrish Services. We spoke for almost 30 minutes on the phone plus using a video app I was able to stream to him my home heating system. Based on my situation and the current installed oil heating system I would be wasting money trying to change to a new electric system. He indicated the system installed was a top of the line efficient system. After the conversation I let him know I appreciated his honesty and input. That input included having to upgrade electrical panel etc.. Bottom line.. Found Parrish to be honest, bottom line answers yet willing to work with you on what you want done. Thanks Parrish .Services..."
"They did a good job. I got them from Angie’s List. The price is a little high but they did good work. They were very nice. I am pleased with what they did."
A 1,500 square foot home will likely need a 15kW to 20kW generator. When deciding on whole-house generator size, add up the total wattage of the devices that you’d like to continue running during a power outage. That way, you can ensure you purchase a generator that can power your necessary appliances or medical equipment during an electrical emergency.
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.
Portable generators provide backup power for essential appliances during outages and are easy to relocate.
If you’re wondering if you can use your electric vehicle as a backup battery, it depends on whether your EV is compatible with bidirectional charging. This technology allows energy to flow both ways, enabling vehicle-to-home (V2H) backup power, vehicle-to-load (V2L) for appliances and camping, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) to support the power grid. Compatible EVs convert stored DC energy into usable AC power, helping reduce energy costs and enhance grid stability while providing emergency backup power.
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 Culpeper, VA 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.