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Tek Electric
2.3(
3
)

Serving Athens, WI and surrounding areas

In business since 2002

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"First, they were recommended to us for the whole house generator by home depot.  We were so happy with the generator that we had him do a bathroom fan at my house and a bathroom fan at my son's house.  I did some checking and that was a reasonable price.  With the work he did, it was more than reasonable.  The job was a little more involved than he thought it would be and he didn't have any problem with any of it.  Without anything to judge the pricing from, other than online and a couple of guys I had come over who weren't on the same page as me, I'd say excellent.  The quality was top of the line.  As soon as he got the generator, he got over here to put it in. As a matter of fact, I am thinking about calling him again for something."
Recommended by50%of homeowners
Luke Electric
New to Angi

Serving Athens, WI and surrounding areas

In business since 2002

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

Luke Electric, 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 our customers interests and make their concerns the basis of our business\n\n

Response time12 hrs
Generator Install questions, answered by experts

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. 

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.

While diesel is relatively stable, it won’t last nearly as long as propane and you may have to replace it if it sits unused for too long. Diesel can sometimes struggle to work efficiently or start engines during especially cold weather, so it’s not the best choice for every climate. Compared to fuels like propane and natural gas, diesel generators tend to be noisier and create more exhaust, which isn’t always ideal for home use.

In some situations, yes. Never try to put biofuel into any home generator without checking the specifics first. If a generator has the ability to run on diesel, it can also run pure biofuel (the clear kind made from seed oils, for example). But if you are using biofuel made from animal fats or vegetable oils, the generator will need significant modifications before it can handle a sludgier type of biofuel.

Here’s what you can run with different wattages and types of generators:

Portable generator:

  • 2,000 watts can handle a large appliance like a freezer or refrigerator, plus a few smaller items like phones or computer chargers. 

  • 4,000 watts will keep two large appliances operating and a few smaller devices.

  • 8,000 watts should power most essential appliances and other devices, including a sump pump, well pump, or your dishwasher.

Partial to whole-house generator:

  • 20,000 watts and above will make it seem like your home’s power is still on.

The Athens, WI homeowners’ guide to generator installs

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