Whole-house standby generator installation in Wilmington, NC. Sizing, permitting, electrical, and the transfer switch — all handled. When the grid goes down, your lights stay on.
Florence knocked out power for weeks in 2018. Isaias hit in 2020. Even a Category 1 can leave you dark for days. A standby generator kicks on in seconds — no extension cords, no gas runs, no waiting on the power company.
Bigger isn't always better. An oversized generator wastes fuel and money. Every job includes a load calculation to match the generator to what your home actually needs.
| Home Size | Typical Load | Recommended | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 sq ft | Essential circuits | 10–14 kW | HVAC, fridge, lights, outlets |
| 1,500–2,500 sq ft | Most circuits | 16–20 kW | Full home, single HVAC system |
| 2,500–4,000 sq ft | Whole home | 20–24 kW | Full home, dual HVAC, pool pump |
| 4,000+ sq ft | Whole home + extras | 24–48 kW | Everything — load calculation required |
Your home gets a site visit with a load calculation, panel check, and unit placement recommendation. You get a full quote with equipment, electrical, gas, and permit costs.
Electrical permit through New Hanover County. Gas permit coordinated with your propane or natural gas provider. All paperwork is handled for you.
Concrete pad, generator placement, transfer switch at the panel, fuel line connection, and all electrical wiring. Most installs complete in 1–2 days.
Full load test, automatic transfer verified, county inspection scheduled. You'll watch it kick on during the test — power cuts, generator starts, lights come back in seconds.
It depends on what you want to keep running. A 16kW generator covers most homes — lights, fridge, HVAC, well pump. Larger homes or homes with multiple HVAC systems may need 20–24kW. Every job includes a load calculation during the site survey to size it right.
Pricing depends on generator size, fuel type, and transfer switch complexity. That includes the unit, pad, transfer switch, gas connection, electrical, permitting, and inspection. You get an itemized quote before any work starts.
Electrical work takes 1–2 days. The full timeline — permit approval, gas coordination, and inspection — is typically 2–4 weeks from signed quote to first test run. Hurricane season is busy, so plan ahead.
Yes. Standby generators require an electrical permit and usually a gas or propane permit in New Hanover County. We pull the permits, schedule inspections, and make sure everything is on record. Every generator install goes through the county.
A portable requires manual setup — wheel it out, run extension cords, manage fuel. A standby is permanent, starts automatically within seconds, and runs on natural gas or propane so you never run out. For hurricane country, standby is the standard.