A standby generator installation starts with a load calculation to size the unit, then a transfer switch, a fuel source, a proper location and the right permits. Done right, the generator starts on its own when the grid goes down and hands power back when it returns. Here’s what to plan for, and why it pays to finish before hurricane season.
Standby vs. portable generators: what’s the difference?
A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home or business, typically runs on natural gas or propane, and connects to your electrical system through a transfer switch. Larger commercial units may run on diesel. When the power fails, it starts automatically, usually within moments, whether you’re there or not.
A portable generator has to be wheeled out, usually fueled with gasoline and connected by hand, through extension cords or a properly installed inlet and interlock or transfer switch. It’s cheaper to buy but limited in what it can run, and it needs refueling through a long outage.
Safety note: Never run a portable generator indoors, in a garage or near windows and doors, because carbon monoxide can build up quickly. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. That backfeeds your home’s wiring and can energize utility lines, putting line workers and neighbors at risk.
Why Texas homes and businesses install standby generators
Outages here aren’t limited to one season.
- Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. In the Rio Grande Valley, from Brownsville and Port Isabel to Harlingen and McAllen, a Gulf storm can knock out power for days.
- Summer heat makes losing AC more than uncomfortable, especially for older adults, infants and anyone with health conditions.
- Winter freezes have caused widespread outages across the state, leaving homes without heat and pipes at risk of freezing.
- Severe storms in North Texas, including wind, hail and ice, can take down lines around Dallas–Fort Worth.
For a business, an outage can mean spoiled inventory, closed doors, lost sales and point-of-sale systems that go dark. For a home, it can mean spoiled food, no AC and no way to run medical equipment.
How do you size a standby generator?
Sizing comes down to one question: what do you need to keep running? There are two basic approaches.
- Whole-home or whole-building coverage. The generator carries everything, including central AC. It’s the most convenient option and needs the largest unit.
- Essential circuits. The generator covers a chosen list, such as the refrigerator, freezer, some lights and outlets, fans, internet, a well pump or medical equipment, and maybe one AC unit.
Either way, a licensed electrician should do a load calculation instead of guessing. A few things drive the size:
- Air conditioning. AC compressors draw a surge of current when they start, and the generator has to handle it. Soft-start kits can reduce that surge on some units.
- Electric appliances like ranges, dryers and electric water heaters are big loads.
- Load management. Modules that temporarily shut off big loads, like a water heater or second AC unit, can let a smaller generator do more.
- Future plans. An EV charger, pool or addition in the next few years should be part of the math now.
For businesses, the list usually starts with refrigeration, point-of-sale and network equipment, security, lighting and any process that can’t stop. Larger commercial systems bring additional requirements, so involve your electrician early.
What does a transfer switch do?
The transfer switch is the link between the generator, the utility and your panel. When utility power fails, an automatic transfer switch disconnects your building from the utility, signals the generator to start and moves your circuits to generator power. When the utility comes back, it switches you back and lets the generator cool down and shut off.
Transfer switches come in a few types:
- Whole-house (service-rated) switches installed at or near the meter, covering the entire panel
- Essential-circuit switches that feed a smaller subpanel with the loads you chose
- Manual transfer switches, more common with portable generators, where someone has to throw the switch
Whatever the type, the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires transfer equipment that keeps generator power and utility power from ever connecting. That’s what protects line workers from backfeed. Your panel’s condition matters here too. If it’s full, outdated or failing, it may need attention first. Here are the signs your electrical panel needs an upgrade.
Natural gas, propane or diesel: which fuel is right?
- Natural gas is the most convenient where it’s available, since there’s no tank to refill. Your gas meter and piping need enough capacity to run the generator along with your other gas appliances.
- Propane works where natural gas isn’t available, including many rural properties. The tank has to be sized for the runtime you want, and you need a plan to refill it before and during long outages.
- Diesel is common on larger commercial generators. It stores fuel on site but needs fuel maintenance and refueling during extended outages.
The gas or fuel side of the job has its own licensing and permit requirements, separate from the electrical work. Ask who is handling it before the project starts.
What does the installation process look like?
- Site visit and load calculation. Your electrician reviews your panel, your loads and where the generator can go.
- Sizing and quote. You choose whole-home or essential-circuit coverage and get a clear scope and price.
- Permits. Electrical and gas permits are typically required, and some neighborhoods have HOA rules too. Requirements vary by city.
- Placement. The unit goes outdoors on a pad, with clearances from windows, doors, vents and property lines set by the manufacturer and local code. In flood-prone and coastal areas, elevation matters.
- Installation. The generator, transfer switch, wiring and fuel connection are installed and connected.
- Startup and inspection. The system is started, tested under load, set up for its automatic exercise cycle and inspected where required.
Don’t wait for a named storm in the Gulf to start. Equipment, permits and installation all take time, and demand for generators and installers spikes when a storm is on the way. Spring is the time to plan.
How do you maintain a standby generator?
A standby generator sits idle most of the year, then has to work perfectly when you need it. That takes routine maintenance:
- Oil, oil filter and air filter changes on the manufacturer’s schedule
- Spark plugs and battery checks. A weak battery is a common reason a generator won’t start.
- Inspection of connections, wiring and the transfer switch
- Clearing debris, pests and vegetation from around the unit
- Checking the controller for alerts and confirming the exercise cycle runs
- Testing a transfer to generator power, not just an idle exercise
Schedule service before hurricane season starts on June 1, and have it checked again after any long run. Our generator maintenance service checks every critical part so your generator is ready to run when Texas storms hit.
When an outage does hit, knowing what’s safe matters as much as having backup power. Keep our guide on what to do in an electrical emergency handy.
Get help from Alpha Electrical Solutions
Alpha Electrical Solutions is an authorized Briggs & Stratton generator dealer, with more than 150 generator installs and maintenance jobs completed. We install and maintain standby generators, from sizing through ongoing service, with local crews at five offices across Texas. Find the office nearest you on our areas we serve page.
Call (956) 666-9997 or request a free estimate to plan your generator before the next storm.
