A whole house standby generator starts automatically within seconds of an outage — no extension cords, no fumbling in the dark, no worrying about your sump pump, furnace, refrigerator, or medical equipment. We install them, permitted and inspected, anywhere in Puget Sound.
⚡ Authorized installation of Generac & all major standby generator brands · Natural gas, liquid propane, and dual-fuel systems · 7 kW to 150 kW
Portable generators are better than nothing. But they require manual setup, outdoor placement, extension cords, refueling, and you have to be home when the power goes out. A whole house standby generator is infrastructure — it protects your home whether you're there or not.
The generator monitors utility power continuously. When it detects an outage, it starts and transfers power automatically — typically within 10–30 seconds. You don't have to be home. You don't have to do anything.
Unlike portable units that run a few circuits, a properly sized standby generator powers everything — HVAC, well pump, refrigerator, lighting, sump pump, medical equipment, EV charger, and every other circuit.
Connected directly to your gas line or a propane tank, whole house generators don't require storing gasoline or worrying about stale fuel. They run indefinitely as long as fuel supply is available.
Western Washington experiences extended winter outages from wind storms, ice, and flooding. A standby generator keeps your sump pump running, your pipes from freezing, and your family comfortable — for days if needed.
A permitted, professionally installed whole house generator is a documented upgrade that increases resale value and is increasingly expected in high-end Pacific Northwest properties.
Modern standby generators run a weekly self-test cycle, keeping the engine conditioned and alerting you to any issues before the next real outage. They maintain themselves so you don't have to think about it.
Every standby generator installation includes a transfer mechanism that safely switches your home between utility power and generator power. There are different approaches — we'll recommend the right one for your home, your generator size, and your budget.
The most seamless option. The ATS monitors incoming utility voltage and switches automatically — no manual action needed. This is standard for whole house standby generators. Power is restored in seconds without you lifting a finger.
A lower-cost alternative where you manually flip the switch to generator power when needed. Common for smaller generators or budget-conscious installations. Requires you to be home during an outage and to start the generator manually.
A code-approved mechanical device added to your existing panel that prevents the main and generator breakers from being on simultaneously. A budget-friendly approach for portable generator hookups that still meets electrical code.
Generator installation is a multi-step project that involves electrical, gas (or propane), a concrete pad, and permit coordination. We manage all of it. Here's the full picture.
Generac is the #1 selling brand of home standby generators in North America. They're engineered for residential applications, have excellent parts availability, a nationwide dealer network, and outstanding remote monitoring through their Guardian app. We install all major brands, but Generac is what we most often recommend for Pacific Northwest homes.
We evaluate your electrical panel, determine load requirements to size the generator correctly, assess the gas meter and supply line, and identify the best pad location meeting clearance requirements.
Written quote with generator size recommendation, transfer switch type, all materials, permit fees, and labor. No surprises. We coordinate generator procurement — you don't have to source it separately.
We pull the electrical permit (and coordinate the gas permit if applicable). We schedule installation around the permit timeline — no illegal installs, no "we'll get the permit later."
Concrete pad, generator placement, electrical connection, transfer switch installation, gas line connection, and commissioning. Most residential installations are complete in 1–2 days.
We walk the inspection with the city or county inspector, then run a full commissioning test — simulating an outage to verify automatic start, transfer, and shutdown. You get the signed permit and a walkthrough of your system.
Generator sizing matters. Too small and it won't run your essential loads. Too large and you've overspent. We assess your home, your priorities, and your gas supply — then give you a clear recommendation and written quote. No obligation.
Tell us about your home. We'll respond quickly with sizing guidance and next steps.
Straight answers from a licensed Washington electrical contractor. No call center, no script.
An interlock kit is a mechanical plate on your existing panel that makes it physically impossible to have the utility main and the generator breaker on at the same time. Paired with an exterior inlet box it lets you back-feed the whole panel from a portable generator safely and legally, and it is the least expensive legitimate option. A transfer switch is a separate piece of equipment that does the same isolation electrically, and an automatic version will start a standby generator and switch over with nobody home. Both are permitted work.
Yes — genuinely, not as a scare tactic. A suicide cord energizes your panel with no isolation from the utility, which can push power back out onto the line and injure or kill a line worker, and it leaves exposed male pins live in your hand. It is also illegal. An inlet box and interlock is a few hundred dollars of equipment that removes both problems permanently.
Bigger than the pump nameplate suggests. A well pump's inrush at startup is several times its running current, and that surge is what determines the generator and the transfer equipment. We size from the actual starting load, which is why people who buy the generator first sometimes end up buying twice.
Yes. Interlocks, inlet boxes and transfer switches are all permitted, inspected electrical work — Washington State L&I in most of our area, the city in Seattle and Tacoma. We pull it and meet the inspector.
It depends where you live more than what you own. Tree-heavy PSE and Peninsula Light territory — Covington, Maple Valley, Gig Harbor, the outer edges of Auburn and Federal Way — sees fall and winter windstorm outages that run longer than they do in dense urban areas. If you are on a well or septic, or someone in the house has medical equipment, the calculation changes considerably.
More Washington-specific answers on permits, inspections, code and costs are on the electrical FAQ page.
Each city page covers the local utility, who inspects electrical work there, and the wiring problems that are actually common in that housing stock.
