Get your home "Storm-Ready"

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With no lights, no heat, and no appliances, homeowners in a storm or blackout are plunged into the Dark Ages. Power outages can cause mold growth, spoiled food, and loss of heat/cooling system or running water. So in storm zones, where vicious weather knocks out power on a regular basis, the comfort of a standby power system is worth the price. Permanent backup generators are increasingly common in coastal states from the Carolinas to Florida and in New England where powerful storms and shared power grids can threaten local power throughout the year.

Deciding on a Permanent Generator

We will help pick the one that is right for your home

Portable generators can replace part of a household load during an electrical outage, but these devices are typically loud, hard to move, run on gasoline, and limit the number of appliances that can run at any one time. A permanent backup power system can run off the home’s propane or natural gas supply and can be directly wired into the household circuit panel. These systems provide a seamless switch from utility service to backup power.

Some companies market fully integrated systems that feature switching devices and distribution panels in addition to the generator itself. Residential Standby Generator systems have a transfer switch “brain” that monitors the home’s utility power for interruption. If one is detected, the switch automatically fires up the generator and transfers the electrical loads, bringing power back to the house. The same process, in reverse, brings normal utility power back on line when service resumes. generators can have power brought to the home within 7-10 seconds of an outage. This is huge reassurance for homeowners who might not be home at the time of an outage, but still want their home and property protected.

Permanent generators can be set up to power the whole house during an outage or just the essential loads like the furnace, security systems, and various appliances. Whole house distribution naturally requires a more powerful generator, and a transfer switch that carries the same rating as the home’s main distribution panel. Transfer switches, which are essentially special electrical panels, come in automatic and manual models. Automatic systems provide ongoing protection and reassurance for homeowners. A manual transfer switch requires the homeowner to power up the generator and manually switch the load to the backup system.

Permanent generators are preferred in neighborhoods with noise restrictions because they are housed in sound deadening material to minimize sound output.

Installation

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Installation of a permanent generator is a job for Gulf Coast Power. Not only must the wiring to the transfer switch and circuit board be done according to local code, a plumber may be needed to set up the hoses to connect the generator to the home’s fuel supply. Gulf Coast Power will secure the permit and schedule the electrical inspection as part of a package deal.Gulf Coast Power sells one-stop generator packages that include a generator, the necessary permit, and installation of the system.

A permanent generator is installed outside the home, usually on a concrete pad and near the utility meter. If the generator is to run off the home’s fuel supply, a hose is attached to the generator and run into the house to connect with the propane or natural gas. Wiring is run from the generator to the transfer switch, which is commonly installed inside, next to the distribution panel. The transfer switch is connected to the home’s main distribution panel and monitors the power supply for interruption.