"I have been hiring Cody Malone since we purchased our house in July 2012. They have switched out outlets, installed indoor ceiling fans, installed outdoor ceiling fans, ran electrical to my outdoor water feature and switched out my light fixtures. I plan to hire them again when I add electric to my detached garage. They always do a great job and arrive when they say they will. I have never had a single issue and they have been to my house for no less than six different projects!"
"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."
"Prompt service! Andy is an awesome and patient technician! Root Electric saved my sanity and saved me money. I will definitely be using Root Electric for any future electrical needs!"
Benfield Electric Company is an area leader in the Electrical Service field, serving customers throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. We work with residential and commercial clients and pride ourselves on our capability to meet all types of electrical wiring demands and deadlines. Established in 1968, we are a licensed, bonded and insured class A Electrical contractor. We are focused on providing a wide array of services to meet all our customer's needs
"They are sewer and drain specialists and they do it really well. Reasonable prices, responsive service. We had family visiting and they moved schedules to and to us. We're grateful that they did so."
Stinnett Electrical Services, 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 your interests and make your concerns the basis of our business.
"Assessment : 1) Internal: Electrical Panel Update:Workmanship -Excellent! External: Installation of Grounding Poles: Not Completed in a Timely Fashion. 2) Customer Service Department: Excellent! Kept me informed and addressed my needs in a swift caring manner. Very Professional! I knew I could rely on what ever promise which was made concerning inspection dates and times and final project completion."
M.E. Flow offers FREE in-home consultations for replacement HVAC systems and we are an authorized dealer of most major brands. Established in 1951 by Millard Edward Flow we remain family owned. Replacing your HVAC system and water heater is a big investment. When you go with M.E. Flow your satisfaction is guaranteed. We do not install customer supplied equipment, do new construction, or give quotes over the phone. We send a professional home comfort advisor to your home--even meet you after hours. During your home visit we will design you the perfect system, answer all your questions, and get your system in the family budget. Financing and/or rebates are typically available. Qualified Staff: You get a team of professionals, NATE certification means your getting the best. Company employees are required to pass a background investigation which include a criminal records check and drug testing. We also offer the best guarantees.
"We wanted to try a local contractor and came across Evergreen by chance. It was an excellent experience. Thad was knowledgeable and professional and easy to work with. The crew was exactly the same. Nice, respectful, competent. The worked around my crazy schedule as we had other improvements going on. They had a slight delay in getting the generator as there was a back order, but called and let us know and we worked around it. Laurie in the office was equally good and kept us in communication on details or things to do and schedule etc. I could not be more happy with the experience on such a big purchase. They were always accommodating and helpful. The Generator and switch were high quality and I think the price was fair. They even did some easy side things for us for no charge. We will definitely use them again soon to install an attic fan."
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.
The cost to install a whole-house generator averages $5,200, with a typical price range of $1,500 to $8,900. However, total costs can vary from $400 for a small portable unit to over $18,000 for a large-capacity system. The most significant cost factor is the generator's size and capacity, but other variables include the brand, fuel type, and labor for assembly and installation.
Generator costs can be broken down by type:
Portable or Emergency Backup Generators (1kW–7.5kW): $500 to $2,000
Partial-Home Generators (9kW–20kW): $2,000 to $6,500
Whole-House Generators (22kW–48kW): $5,000 to $18,000
To avoid paying for more power than you need, consider hiring an electrician to calculate the electrical load for your essential appliances. It is also recommended to get at least three quotes to find the best deal for your specific needs and budget.
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.
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.
A portable generator can supply power to selected appliances and circuits in a home, but it's generally not designed to handle the entire household's electrical needs simultaneously. Portable generators have limited wattage capacity, so they are only designed to power essential devices and electronics temporarily until local power is restored. If your power needs outweigh the capabilities of a portable generator, consider installing a whole-home generator instead.
The Montclair, VA 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 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.
