When storms leave Baltimore homeowners without access to reliable power, their safety and comfort can be at risk.

Whether you’re left stumbling around a pitch-black home or without access to hot water and HVAC, a sudden blackout can be dangerous. That’s why homeowners are choosing whole-home generators to ensure total peace of mind.

At United Air Temp, our highly trained electricians offer expert installation of products from industry-leading brands. With upfront pricing and free quotes, there’s never been a better time to prepare for the unexpected and improve your overall comfort. 

What Is a Whole-House Electric Generator?

A whole-home electric generator is a home power backup system and emergency power solution that ensures your home has access to reliable power during any outage.

Unlike a portable system, a whole-house system can offer enough power to run your entire home, so your most critical systems — including HVAC, security, medical devices, refrigerators, and more — can continue to run during any storm or blackout. 

How Does a Whole-House Generator Work?

Residential standby generators monitor your home’s electrical supply to detect outages and automatically start your generator.

The generator then supplies power to your home’s electrical panel to restore electricity. It can be powered by natural gas, propane, or diesel until the power grid is restored. 

Benefits of a Whole-House Electric Generator

A whole-home generator system offers a wide range of benefits, including:

• Ample power: Whole-home generators come in large capacities, from 10 kilowatts to over 30 kilowatts, to provide enough wattage to power your entire modern-day home.
• Continuous power: The automatic transfer switch, or ATS, in a whole-home generator turns your generator on as soon as it detects a power outage. This prevents any gap in electricity and ensures your systems can run even if you aren’t home.
• Fuel options: A wide range of fuel types can be used with whole-home backup power systems, allowing you to pick one that’s most convenient and cost-effective for your home.
• Remote monitoring features: With smart monitoring systems, homeowners can see real-time status updates, receive automatic alerts, see load management insights, and more.

Types of Whole-House Generators

Choosing the right home power generator system starts with selecting the right fuel option for your home. Options include:

• Gas generators: Gasoline generators are ideal for small to mid-sized generators and can be a cost-effective choice. Since gas is widely available, it can be a reliable fuel option, but due to smaller tank sizes, it requires more frequent refueling.
• Diesel generators: Diesel generators are more fuel efficient than gasoline systems and have greater longevity. Their higher power output makes them ideal for large residential or industrial applications. However, diesel generators tend to be loud and can be expensive to run.
• Natural gas generators: Natural gas systems are ideal for residential homes with available gas lines. They have a convenient and continuous supply that eliminates the need to refuel. Natural gas is also less expensive than gas and diesel and produces fewer emissions.
• Liquid propane generators: For homeowners who don’t have natural gas, liquid propane is an alternative that can be stored in tanks and doesn’t degrade over time like gasoline. While propane is more expensive than natural gas and offers limited storage, it does burn cleaner than gas and diesel and can be stored in multiple tanks for backup. 

How Much Does a Whole-House Generator Cost?

Whole-home generator costs can range from $6,000 to $11,000, which includes the cost of the generator and the labor. However, size and fuel types will make a dramatic impact on the cost. 

Smaller generators that are 7 to 10 kW range from $2,000 to $3,000, while the largest 17 to 20 kW systems can cost between $4,000 and $6,000. Generators in the 13 to 16 kW range fall right in the middle at $3,000 to $4,000 on average.

Fuel type also impacts the overall cost. Natural gas systems range in cost from $2,000 to $6,000, not including the cost of standby generator installation. Liquid propane systems cost about the same, while diesel systems range from $5,000 to $18,000, not including installation.

Whole-House Generator Installation Process

At United Air Temp, we offer a simple and streamlined process for whole-home generator installation. Since a whole-home generator is a significant investment, you’ll want to protect your system and ensure its proper functionality with a professional installation.

Attempting to DIY could lead to greater costs or damage. Installation includes these key steps:

• Generator selection: We can help you determine your exact power needs to find a generator that’s the perfect size. We can also consult on the best fuel type for your home and help you choose from the best home generators on the market.
• Installation location: After picking the best system for your needs, we’ll help you find an installation location that follows all building codes, zoning laws, and HOA rules. This includes ensuring proper clearance and creating a stable gravel or concrete pad to support the generator’s weight.
• Permits and inspections: We handle the process of securing any necessary electrical and gas permits before the project begins and schedule all inspections to ensure total compliance.
• Installation: We start by clearing debris from your generator pad to prepare the site, then position the generator to be level for proper operation.
• Fuel connection: We ensure a safe and compliant fuel hookup for all types of generators.
• Wiring: After installing the automatic transfer switch, we connect your generator to your electrical panel and test the load.

For some homeowners with a smaller or full electrical panel, an upgrade may be necessary during your generator installation. That’s why we offer electrical panel upgrades to ensure your panel isn’t outdated or unsafe. 

Whole-House Generators vs. Portable Generators

For reliable backup power for your home, a whole-home generator will always be the best option.

Portable Generators

There are many limitations to relying on a portable generator for power outages, including:

• Limited power output: A portable generator offers anywhere from 2 to 10 kW, which may only be enough to run a limited number of appliances, like your refrigerator, lights, or small electronics.
• Runtime: Fueled by a small tank of gasoline or propane, a small portable generator can only run for four to 12 hours per tank.
• Manual startup: A portable generator requires manual startup, which means you’ll have to go outdoors and endure the weather to start the system. This also means your home won’t be protected if you aren’t there to turn the system on.
• Noise: Portable generators are notoriously loud and can be disruptive to both you and your neighbors.

Whole-Home Generators

Unlike portable systems, whole-home generators offer these great advantages:

• High capacity: Our systems have sufficient power to run the most critical systems in your home, including your HVAC, security system, lights, medical devices, and more. We can help determine the generator size you need to ensure everything in your home has ample power.
• Unlimited runtime: If your whole-home generator is connected to a natural gas line or large propane tank, it offers unlimited runtime with no need to refuel the system yourself.
• Automatic operation: If you’re on vacation during a storm, you won’t come back to a refrigerator full of spoiled food. Instead, your generator will kick on automatically to keep your home operating as usual even without you there. 
• Quiet operation: A whole-home system uses soundproofing to offer quieter operation than a standby system.

Are Whole-House Generators Worth the Investment?

There’s a reason so many homeowners are installing whole-home generators for reliable backup power — they’re a smart investment in your home and comfort.

With a whole-home generator investment, you can expect:

• Improved comfort during any storm: Don’t suffer during a storm or blackout. A whole-home generator can keep your home comfortable, provide access to food and cooking, ensure a reliable hot water supply, and keep your electronics charged.
• Optimal safety: With the lights kept on, you won’t trip down a dark hallway. Plus, you can keep security systems, cameras, and more functioning to give you total peace of mind that your home is protected.
• Prevention of costly damages: Protect against major home damages like burst pipes, flooding due to sump pump failure, food spoilage, and more.
• Increased home value: Permanent backup power is an attractive element for home buyers and a smart long-term investment. 

Install a Standby Generator With UAT

Ensure the security and comfort of your Baltimore home by installing a whole-home generator from United Air Temp. As part of our comprehensive electrical services, we provide expert installation from our highly trained team and can walk you through the process to ensure superior results.

We offer systems from industry-leading manufacturers to give homeowners systems that are both powerful and durable. 

Assess your home’s power needs and consult with a technician for expert guidance today. Contact United Air Temp to request a free quote for generator installation.