Standby generators and backup power
Whole-home standby generators, automatic and manual transfer switches, portable generator hookups and whole-home surge protection, sized to what you actually need to keep running.
Sized to what you need to keep running
After Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, a lot of Houston households decided they weren’t sitting through another multi-day outage. The right generator depends on what you want running when the grid is down: the essentials, or the whole house including the air conditioning.
We size it with a load calculation, not a guess, and install the transfer switch that keeps it safe for you and for the line crews working to restore power.
Rough sizing
| Generator size | What it typically runs |
|---|---|
| 7 to 12 kW | Essentials: lights, refrigerator and key outlets |
| 20 to 22 kW | Most of a house, including central air |
| 24 to 30 kW and up | Larger homes, or more than one AC system |
A guide only. We confirm the size with a load calculation during the estimate.
What we install
Generators
- Whole-home standby generators
- Portable generator hookups
- Generac, Kohler, Cummins and Briggs & Stratton
- Permit coordination
Transfer switches
- Automatic transfer switches
- Manual transfer switches
- Generator inlets and interlocks
Surge protection
- Whole-home surge protection at the panel
- Point-of-use protection
- HVAC and appliance protection
Backup power installations
How the job runs
Site visit and load calculation
What you want to run, where the unit can go, and the clearances it needs from windows, doors and property lines.
Written price and permit
Generator size, transfer switch and a written price. We handle the electrical permit.
Installation
Pad, generator, transfer switch and wiring. The gas line is run by a licensed plumber; we tell you exactly what supply the unit needs.
Start-up and test
We run it, test a transfer under load, and show you how it works.
Common questions
What size generator does my house need?
It depends what you want to keep running. A 7 to 12 kW unit covers essentials: lights, fridge and key outlets. A 20 to 22 kW unit runs most of a house including HVAC. Larger homes may need 24 to 30 kW or more. We run a load calculation during the estimate and recommend a size.
Automatic or manual transfer switch?
An automatic transfer switch starts the generator and switches the house over on its own when the power drops, whether you’re home or not. It’s the standard choice for a standby generator. A manual switch or an interlock suits a portable generator, where you start it and switch over yourself.
Do I need surge protection too?
It’s worth having in any house, and when a service is upgraded or replaced, current code requires it anyway. A whole-home surge protector at the panel protects everything downstream, including the electronics in your HVAC and appliances.
Ready for the next outage?
Book a site visit. We’ll size the generator to your load and put the price in writing.