"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."
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.
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.
Generally, you’ll want to keep between 60 and 70 feet between the generator and the transfer switch. There are a few reasons for this, including:
The distance reduces the noise coming from the generator into your home.
It increases efficiency because you won’t have a voltage drop from this short of a distance.
Prevents carbon monoxide poisoning: keep at least 15 feet between your generator and an open window.
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.
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.
The Reva, 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.