Get matched with top generator install pros in Gratton, VA

Q: What happens with the generator when the local power goes back on?

• <div><p>If you have a transfer switch properly installed, the generator and main electrical power cannot feed the system at the same time. However, you should still shut off the power at your main circuit breaker panel before activating the generator. If you do that, you&rsquo;ll simply need to shut off the generator and reset your circuit breaker once the local power comes back on.</p></div>

Q: Can I use a generator to charge a back-up battery?

• <div><p>Yes. You can connect your home back-up battery to a generator with its designated charger. Be sure that the output of the generator matches the input requirements for the battery for best results.</p></div>

Q: Can you use your electric car as a backup battery?

• <div><p>If you&rsquo;re wondering <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/using-electric-car-as-home-generator.htm">if you can use your electric vehicle as a backup battery</a>, 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.</p></div>

Q: Do I need a permit to install a home generator?

• <div><p>Yes, in most municipalities, you will need a permit to install a permanent home generator, including emergency backup, partial-home, and whole-home models. Because these installations involve significant alterations to your home's electrical system and produce exhaust fumes, local governments often require a permit or inspection for safety purposes. A generator permit typically costs between $50 and $250, depending on your location. Your electrician or certified installer can usually handle the permitting process for you, but you will be responsible for the cost. It's a good practice to confirm with your installer that they will pull all necessary permits before work begins.</p></div>

Q: How do I determine what size generator my house needs?

• <div><p>To determine the right size generator for your house, you should calculate the total wattage of the appliances and devices you want to power during an outage. List all essential items, note their start-up wattages, and add them together.</p><p>Here are some typical wattage requirements for common appliances:</p><ul><li><p>Refrigerator: 600 watts</p></li><li><p>Large dehumidifier: 700 watts</p></li><li><p>Large window air conditioner: 1,400 watts</p></li><li><p>Water heater: 3,000 to 4,500 watts</p></li><li><p>Electric furnace: 5,000 to 25,000 watts</p></li></ul><p>A 7,500-watt generator might be sufficient for essentials like a refrigerator, freezer, well pump, and lighting circuits. However, for high-demand items like a water heater or furnace, a whole-home generator is a better choice. A portable generator may be enough if you only need to power a few critical items.</p><p>While home square footage can offer a rough estimate, it is not always a reliable indicator. For reference, here are some typical generator sizes based on square footage:</p><ul><li><p>1,000 sq ft: 6&ndash;9 kW</p></li><li><p>1,500 sq ft: 7&ndash;10 kW</p></li><li><p>2,000 sq ft: 10&ndash;14 kW</p></li><li><p>2,500 sq ft: 12&ndash;16 kW</p></li><li><p>3,000 sq ft: 16&ndash;20 kW+</p></li></ul><p>For the most accurate sizing, consult a professional who can calculate your home's peak and average power consumption and recommend the optimal generator.</p></div>

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your generator install project in Gratton, VA?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Find Generator install pros in Gratton

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2001

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"William Burden is the third generation owner of WBLightningRods and his company has been in business since 1950. He is very courteous, professional, was on time, and has a very good crew. William was present for the entire installation. We chose the copper system. We are glad for the peace of mind a lightning rod system will provide."

+79

Response time1 day

62 neighbors recently requested a quote

Recommended by98%of homeowners

Request Quote

Frank Blankenship Properties & Electrical

4.5(

)

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2016

Credit card accepted

Offers commercial services

"His crew that helps him are. Awesome"

Response time6 hrs

Response rate92%

2 neighbors recently requested a quote

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Joe, Mark, and Their Team did a Splendid Job for Us on this Business Phone Line Install. There are Very Knowledgeable and provided the Needed Assessment and "Fix" in a Very Timely Manner. I Highly Recommend Accent Tel USA! God Bless You! Philippians 1:3-6! Have a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood & "Stay on the Nice List"! :)"

Response time3 hrs

Response rate99%

5 neighbors recently requested a quote

Request Quote

bond your Elec

New to Angi

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

Approved

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

Offers commercial services

We and/or I depending on job scale. Try our best any given day work for the customers, you will get a devoted employee when we are on your time and property and have the knowledge and tools to to any job we take on. If any deviation from initial quote or scope of work You the customer will informed and part of the process to fix such event. We will take all protocol into work preformed and the outcome is always a happy customer..

Request Quote

Renewable Engineered Systems

4.7(

)

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Renewable Engineered Systems installed a solar power station for our home. Lovely ground mount system.

Nice people and fast install."

+14

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Request Quote

Landscape Lighting Designers Plus

4.1(

120

)

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"The salesman missed the first appointment scheduled for 10:00 April 23 - received call from officie at 9:10 He had emergency.scheduled next appointment for April 28 at 10:00 and salesman showed 20 minutes late. He got stuck in traffic.
Salesman was very honest about the deal I had purchased the 6 landscaping lights for $649. I could take the deal but I would be calling again to add additional lights. His ideas were right on and what type of lights and where to put them. The job was scheduled for May 6 and it would take 2 days. They called to say they could come out earlier and they did and installed all of the lights in a day and a half. The lights look great and one of the lights went out just a few weeks ago and I called and they were out the next day. There is a 5 year warranty on the lights.
"

Recommended by77%of homeowners

Request Quote

Rife Remodeling & Flooring

4.7(

)

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I am extremely happy with the gutters and downspouts that Rife Remodeling and Flooring installed. They exceeded all my expectations regarding: 1. Cost 2. Time 3. Look/function 4. Honesty/integrity They completed the job same day, were professional, courteous, and trustworthy. The crew for Rife Remodeling and Flooring were left unattended with full access to the property and it's contents. When we got home that evening, the job was done, and they had completely cleaned up after themselves and left no debris in the yard or driveway. I will be a returning customer and would recommend them to anyone for any of your home repair needs."

+34

Recommended by96%of homeowners

Request Quote

Bakers Appliance Heating & Air

4.3(

)

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 1978

Credit card accepted

"I have always had good experiences with Baker's work, employees and prices. The employees who respond are always professional and polite and I like that I have had the same workers return year after year to do my household maintenance and any repairs or installations I may require."

Recommended by82%of homeowners

Request Quote

Ferguson Home Improvements LLC

4.4(

)

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"I contacted Ferguson Home Improvements to come out and help me get my house ready for sale. The owner was fabulous and had a very attention to detail approach to fixing the walls and nail pops in the ceilings. They left the house in pristine condition and everything looked brand new, it made me think twice about wanting to sell the house now that it is in such perfect condition. He also hung some ceiling fans to replace the old ones. When I move into my new home I will have Ferguson Home Improvements back to help me with my new projects what ever they are. They are by far the best home improvement company I have ever dealt with.
"

Recommended by87%of homeowners

Request Quote

Cougar Development Corp

5.0(

)

Serving Gratton, VA and surrounding areas

In business since 1978

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

Barry Foster (CEO) of Cougar Development has been in service for over 36 years since 1978. In his career, he has worked as a General and Sub-Contractor for many large commercial and residential projects. Cougar Development in time has grown to be involved with building shopping centers, malls, restaurants, residential houses and developments. Barry Foster has been able to build himself a clientele full of professional skilled tradesman that are known to be some of the best in the business.

Recommended by100%of homeowners

Request Quote

Showing 1-10 of 37

Generator Install questions, answered by experts

If you have a transfer switch properly installed, the generator and main electrical power cannot feed the system at the same time. However, you should still shut off the power at your main circuit breaker panel before activating the generator. If you do that, you’ll simply need to shut off the generator and reset your circuit breaker once the local power comes back on.

Yes. You can connect your home back-up battery to a generator with its designated charger. Be sure that the output of the generator matches the input requirements for the battery for best results.

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, in most municipalities, you will need a permit to install a permanent home generator, including emergency backup, partial-home, and whole-home models. Because these installations involve significant alterations to your home's electrical system and produce exhaust fumes, local governments often require a permit or inspection for safety purposes. A generator permit typically costs between $50 and $250, depending on your location. Your electrician or certified installer can usually handle the permitting process for you, but you will be responsible for the cost. It's a good practice to confirm with your installer that they will pull all necessary permits before work begins.

To determine the right size generator for your house, you should calculate the total wattage of the appliances and devices you want to power during an outage. List all essential items, note their start-up wattages, and add them together.

Here are some typical wattage requirements for common appliances:

Refrigerator: 600 watts
Large dehumidifier: 700 watts
Large window air conditioner: 1,400 watts
Water heater: 3,000 to 4,500 watts
Electric furnace: 5,000 to 25,000 watts

A 7,500-watt generator might be sufficient for essentials like a refrigerator, freezer, well pump, and lighting circuits. However, for high-demand items like a water heater or furnace, a whole-home generator is a better choice. A portable generator may be enough if you only need to power a few critical items.

While home square footage can offer a rough estimate, it is not always a reliable indicator. For reference, here are some typical generator sizes based on square footage:

1,000 sq ft: 6–9 kW
1,500 sq ft: 7–10 kW
2,000 sq ft: 10–14 kW
2,500 sq ft: 12–16 kW
3,000 sq ft: 16–20 kW+

For the most accurate sizing, consult a professional who can calculate your home's peak and average power consumption and recommend the optimal generator.

The Gratton, VA homeowners’ guide to generator installs

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

See all articles

Alison Kasch
•
Apr 4, 2026Apr 4, 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Generator Transfer Switch? [2026 Data]
The cost to install a generator transfer switch depends on several factors. Our guide will help you understand all of the costs.
Taylor Freitas
•
Apr 6, 2026Apr 6, 2026
How Much Does a Whole-House Generator Cost? [2026 Data]
The average cost of a whole-house generator falls between $5,000 and $25,000. Keep reading to learn how much you can expect to spend.
Alison Kasch
•
May 3, 2026May 3, 2026
How Much Does a Natural Gas Generator Cost? [2026 Data]
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.
Tyler Lacoma
•
May 3, 2026May 3, 2026
How Do Whole-House Generators Work?
Whole house generators are a power alternative that can deal with frequent blackouts and other problems. Here’s how they function.
Breyden Kellam
•
May 3, 2026May 3, 2026
Gas Generator vs. Natural Gas Generator: What’s the Difference?
Before deciding between a gas generator and a natural gas generator, explore the differences. Compare gas vs. natural gas generator with our informative guide.
Michelle Nati
•
May 3, 2026May 3, 2026
Generator vs. Inverter Generator: Which Should You Choose?
Traditional and inverter generators can provide off-grid or emergency power. Learn the pros and cons of a traditional generator vs. inverter generator.