Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC
Generators
Standby generators and transfer switches sized from a load calculation, permitted and installed by licensed partners, coordinated by one point of contact.
Overview
A standby generator keeps power on when the utility goes down, which in Florida usually means during and after a tropical storm or hurricane. Getting it right involves more than setting a unit on a pad: sizing, fuel supply, the transfer switch, placement and permitting all have to fit together.
Licensed electrical contractor partners perform the electrical connection and transfer switch work, and a licensed gas contractor handles natural gas or propane piping. We coordinate those trades, the fuel supplier, any utility involvement and the site work, and make sure the finished installation is inspected and commissioned.
We begin with what you want to keep running. Some owners want the whole building powered; others want air conditioning, refrigeration, well pumps, medical equipment or a server room. That decision drives everything else.
Who it’s for
- Homeowners who want the house to remain livable through extended outages
- Households with medical equipment, well pumps or other loads that cannot go without power
- Businesses that need refrigeration, security, IT or operations to continue during an outage
- New homes and additions where the generator, gas line and transfer switch can be planned from the start
- Owners replacing a portable generator setup with an automatic standby system
What’s included
Typically included
- Load calculation to size the generator for whole-building or essential-circuit coverage
- Automatic transfer switch selection and installation, service-rated where appropriate
- Load management modules to shed large loads such as air conditioning or pool equipment when needed
- Placement review for clearances to windows, doors, vents and property lines per the manufacturer and local code
- Concrete or composite equipment pad and any wind-anchoring the installation requires
- Natural gas service or propane tank coordination, including gas piping by a licensed gas contractor
- Electrical, gas and, where required, mechanical permits and inspections
- Startup, load testing and a walk-through of operation and exercise settings
Common exclusions
- Utility gas company charges for a new or upgraded gas meter
- Propane tank purchase or lease and fuel deliveries, arranged with a fuel supplier
- Panel or service upgrades required by the load calculation, priced separately if needed
- Ongoing maintenance agreements, which are arranged with the equipment servicer
- HOA application fees or architectural review requirements
Every proposal lists its own inclusions and exclusions in writing.
Materials, design options & upgrades
How pricing works
Generators are priced per project. The estimate is built from the load calculation, which sets the generator and transfer switch size, plus the fuel source, the distance between the generator, the gas supply and the electrical service, and the pad and site conditions.
We price the generator system as a complete installation – equipment, electrical, gas, pad, permits and startup – so you are comparing a finished result rather than a unit price.
What changes the cost
- Generator capacity and whether it covers the whole building or selected circuits
- Transfer switch size and whether the existing panel or service needs changes
- Fuel source: available natural gas, a new gas meter, or a propane tank and its size
- Distance and route for gas piping and electrical conduit
- Placement constraints, clearances and any screening required by an HOA
- Pad, anchoring and site work such as trenching or landscape repair
- Permit requirements in your jurisdiction
If this work is part of a larger project, it’s priced within that project’s budget — please don’t add separate estimates together. Read the pricing guide.
Typical stages
Load calculation and coverage decision
We confirm what you want powered, and the licensed electrical contractor calculates the load to size the system.
Site and fuel planning
Placement, clearances, gas route or propane tank location and any HOA requirements are settled.
Permits and ordering
Electrical and gas permits are submitted and the generator and transfer switch are ordered.
Pad, piping and conduit
The pad is placed, fuel piping is installed and pressure-tested, and conduit is run to the transfer switch.
Setting and connection
The generator is set, anchored and connected, and the transfer switch is installed and wired.
Inspection, startup and training
Final inspections are completed, the system is started and load-tested, and you are shown how it operates.
What affects the schedule
- Equipment availability, which can tighten during hurricane season and after a major storm
- Gas utility scheduling for a new meter or service upgrade
- Propane supplier scheduling for tank setting and first fill
- HOA architectural approval where required
- Permit review and inspection availability with the local building department
Questions & answers
What size generator do I need?
That depends on what you want to power, not on square footage alone. The licensed electrical contractor calculates the load, including the starting demand of air conditioning compressors and pumps, and sizes the generator and transfer switch from that.
Should I wait until a storm is forecast?
No. Equipment and installers become scarce when a storm approaches, and permitting and inspections still take time. Planning outside of storm season gives you more choice and a calmer schedule.
How long can a propane generator run?
Run time depends on tank size, generator size and how much load it carries. We work with the propane supplier to size a tank for the coverage you want, and you can compare that against the cost and space of a larger tank.
Does a generator need maintenance?
Yes. Standby generators exercise themselves on a schedule and need periodic oil, filter and battery service. We can connect you with a servicing company and provide the equipment documentation at handover.
Start here
Planning generators?
A short form — three steps, a few minutes. Share plans or photos if you have them. We’ll review it and follow up using the contact details you provide.