Every day more and more homeowners are installing home backup generators to overcome harsher and more unpredictable weather conditions.
Here at Oregon Generators, we help all our customers with the home backup generator buying experience starting with the personalized in-home consultation to installation and permitting.
Automatic standby generator installation is not a do-it-yourself project . The process required for a safe, consistent, and stable power source for your home is complex, and hiring a qualified electrician is always the best choice. Generator installation is more involved and goes well beyond the plug-and-play appliance experience that many of us are used to. The installation process typically includes:
Generator selection
Every home has different electrical demands. We want to ensure that everything you would want during a power outage is powered on when you need it most. Most people don’t realize how often they use something until it is no longer working. Residential standby generators provide homeowners with a permanent and seamless power protection from electrical outages. With our highly trained estimate team, we will take the time to get to know your needs and your home in order to make the best recommendations possible based on a variety of factors such as:
It is important to talk to a Generator Installation Specialist to help determine the right size generator for your power needs. Determining your budget can help your estimator assist you with making the best decision for your home.
All our estimates include all labor, gas piping installation, electrical work, gas and electrical permitting and utility coordination if needed. Overall, a residential standby generator varies in price depending on the size of the generator. For some families, only powering part of their home is important during an outage. A partial home standby generator powers up between 8 and 16 circuits of your choice.
For other families, they want their whole home powered during an outage. The size of your home will impact the size of the generator you need. One of our generator installation specialists can help you make the right selection.
The power capacity of your home helps determines the size of your generator and subsequentially your budget as described earlier. Our estimate team on site can help calculate the starting and peak loads of your home. Peak load is the highest amount of energy that a consumer draws from the electric grid in a set period. They factor in the peak load of your home and can recommend the best size of generator for the peak power capacity of your home and your budget.
Outdated Electrical Panels
Similar to the age of your home, electrical code has changed and evolved to meet the safety standards of the larger energy demands of your home. Also, with many homes becoming all electric or with the clean energy movement and home backup batteries, the smaller electrical panels are not prepared for the electrical demand of these newer items and devices.
Depending on what you have in your home and your future plans for appliances or vehicles, we might recommend upgrading your panel while we are already out there working on your panel during your generator installation to help you save on future electrical upgrade costs.
When you are ready to move forward with your project, one of our office staff will reach out to you to perform the contract signing and take the installation deposit if you have not already given a deposit to one of our on-site generator specialists.
Once that is completed, we will work on scheduling your project and applying for permits. Some important pieces that can impact the start timeline of your project after signing are:
Landscaping work
Required landscaping work will be noted by your estimator when you’re deciding on the location of your new standby generator. The final location of the generator can involve landscaping work. This can be a variety of things such as moving trees, bushes, or plants for the generator to be properly placed with in the required permitting setbacks and on a level surface. It can also be trenching required to lay the gas and electrical work for the generator if the generator is being placed further from the house. We are happy to work with our customers to get the trenching work completed during the job. However, some of our customers prefer to complete their own landscaping work prior to our arrival.
Due to the age of some homes, some customers must work with Puget Sound Energy or their power company to get a meter or line upgrade. These are recommended to be completed before we come out. However, depending on the project timeline provided by the service company, we are flexible with our scheduling. Some of our customers prefer that we complete the work prior to the gas line work or gas meter upgrade being completed.
Homeowner Associations
Some neighborhoods are overseen by an HOA. These governing bodies often require prior approval before work begins. They also might have other requirements for a standby generator. We can help provide the needed details to your HOA to ensure that your project goes smoothly. These types of local approvals are case by case specific. It is recommended that you reach out to your HOA, if you have one, prior to start of installation.
While our customers work on landscaping or gas meter upgrades, we work on acquiring all the needed materials for your project. We set aside your generator and accessories in our fully stocked warehouse. If your project requires special materials, at time of deposit, we schedule the special items to arrive by the date of your installation.
Every generator installation requires an electrical and gas connection. Therefore, applying for the permits for your project is mandatory to ensure that the workmanship standards and safety have been properly adhered to and are compliant with building codes. Permitting varies on jurisdiction. Throughout the duration of your project, we work with the inspectors and you to get the required inspections scheduled. Your gas piping inspection will occur during your installation and will be handled by our team on site. However, your electrical inspection will be scheduled after the project is completed. You must be home on the day of the electrical inspection.
Majority of our installations take between 1 to 3 days. The team of installers will arrive on site by 8:30am to get started. The lead technician will touch base with you to let you know the scope of the project and what to expect while they are on site. Our on-site technicians will also let you know of any additional work that arises during the project and work with you on the possible solutions to any issues that may arise.
During installation, your gas piping inspection may be completed by the gas piping inspector with our technicians on site. Our installers will show the location and work of the piping to the inspector to make sure that the permit gets passed off correctly. This inspection is required for one of the two permits required for your generator installation. As described previously, your electrical inspection will occur after the generator is installed.
At the end of the day, the team will clean up and return the following day if it is a multiple day installation. If not, the team will activate your generator with Generac or Kohler to make sure the warranty gets activated along with getting your generator connected to wi-fi (if possible), to ensure that you will always see the status of your generator.
Also, the final electrical inspection occurs after the team is completed with the work. Our office staff will work with you on scheduling the final inspection. Due to individual inspector interpretation of the National Electrical Codes, your inspector may require additional work to be done. These requests are rare but can happen. If additional work is required, the office staff will work with you on getting you scheduled with one of your installation techs to get it fixed and reinspected.
After installation, you can now enjoy having power when you need it most. It is highly recommended by the manufacturer of your generator to have annual maintenance performed. We offer various maintenance plans and pricing to ensure that your generator is taken care of to manufacture standards. All our technicians are licensed by the manufacturer to perform the annual maintenance, leaving nothing unchecked to ensure that your generator will keep running when you need it most.
Also, if you have enrolled in remote monitoring with Oregon Generators, you have an added layer of security. If your generator ever faults, we will be able to see it before most homeowners, contact you, and get you scheduled for a troubleshooting appointment to fix the problem and get your generator back online.
Monday – Friday:
8:00 am to 5:00 pm (PST)
Weekends & Holidays
Emergency (PST)
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