Generators and backup power in Columbus
The lights, the furnace and the fridge still running when the grid goes down.
There are two safe ways to back up a house. A standby generator sits outside on a pad, runs on natural gas or propane, and starts on its own through an automatic transfer switch. A portable generator costs far less and can run the circuits you choose through an interlock or a manual transfer switch that we install at the panel.
What you can't do is backfeed the house through a dryer outlet with a homemade cord. It can kill a lineworker down the street and wreck your generator when power returns. Every setup we install keeps your house isolated from the grid while the generator runs.
What's included
- Standby generator wiring and transfer switches
- Interlock kits and power inlets for portable generators
- Load sizing so the generator isn't overloaded
- Dedicated circuits for sump pumps and furnaces
- A walkthrough of how to switch over safely
Call us when
- You lose power more than once or twice a year
- A sump pump, well pump or medical device can't go without power
- You've been running extension cords from a portable generator
- You work from home and outages cost you
Questions people ask
Don't see yours? Call (614) 555-0163.
Standby or portable?
A standby unit turns on by itself, even when you're away, and can run most or all of the house. A portable with an interlock costs much less, but you have to roll it out, start it and flip the switch yourself. If outages are rare and short, a portable is usually enough. If you have a sump pump and travel a lot, a standby earns its keep.
Where can a portable generator run safely?
Outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors and windows. Never in a garage, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide from a generator can kill within minutes, so keep working CO alarms on every level of the house.