With some 3.5 million Americans left without power in any given week, it’s no surprise that more American households are installing generators to help them keep living normally when the power goes out.
Before you go shopping for a generator, take time to decide what the systems are in your home that you want or need to back up—refrigerator, furnace, air conditioner, etc. This will help you determine the type of generator that’s right for you.
Oak Electric Service provides quality back-up generators, standby generators, generator installation and electrical service for industrial and commercial buildings as well as residential projects. We’ll work with you to help you choose the best generator for your needs.
Standby generators are similar in style to a central air conditioning unit. A key feature is that they turn on automatically whenever the power goes out. They are typically powered by natural gas or propane. The generator can be connected to your natural gas service.
Installation will require a large space to place the unit, near the electrical service into the house. You will also need to hire a plumber to connect the unit to its fuel source, and an electrician to hook it into your house’s power supply. Both should be licensed and certified for the brand of equipment you are installing and familiar with local codes that govern such issues as how close the generator can be located to the house, and whether or not you need a permit. Also be sure to check with your utility company; some utilities require approval before installation.
NOTE: If you choose Oak Electric for the purchase and installation of your standby generator, our licensed technicians are qualified to handle both plumbing and electrical requirements of the installation.
If a gas-powered portable generator is your choice, this is the type of generator that you need to wheel out of the garage during an outage, fill it with gas and usually pull-start it. The continually-running machines generally need gasoline refills at least once a day. Again, you may need to hire an electrician to modify an indoor electrical panel and install an outdoor plug that allows the house to safely accept a generator’s power.
Oak Electric Service is one of southeast Michigan’s leading electrical and renewable energy contractors. Give us a call at (800) 964-7070. We are standing by to answer all of your residential and commercial electrical questions. We will always personally answer your phone call – you will never reach an answering service! Be sure to ask about our “Free Electrical Safety Inspection” with every job. We invite you to visit our website at www.oakelectric.com to learn more about us.
