Nationwide · Licensed electricians in 48 states + DC
Call now to check electrician availability in your area
Standby Generator Installation · Tennessee
A standby generator is a permanently installed unit, usually fueled by natural gas or propane, that starts on its own when the power goes out and switches your home over through an automatic transfer switch.
The March 2020 tornado and the May 2020 derecho both left large parts of Nashville without power for days, and many homeowners have since installed natural-gas standby generators with automatic transfer switches. Piedmont Natural Gas may need to upgrade the gas meter.
Older homes often have limited outlets and older panels, and renovations frequently uncover outdated wiring. New construction drives EV and smart-home requests.
Winter ice and spring storms bring down trees on lines in Knoxville's wooded neighborhoods, and outages can last days in Sequoyah Hills, South Knoxville and the hills of west Knox County. Many homeowners choose natural-gas standby generators with automatic transfer switches; KUB provides gas in much of the area and may need to upgrade the meter.
Older homes often have patched wiring from several renovations and too few outlets, while mid-century houses may have small panels. Storms frequently damage overhead service drops in tree-lined neighborhoods.
Storms rolling through the Tennessee Valley bring down trees on Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and outages on the ridges can last longer than in the valley. Many homeowners there choose natural-gas or propane standby generators with automatic transfer switches.
Older homes may have knob-and-tube and small services, and many have been renovated several times. Hillside lots and mature trees make overhead service drops vulnerable in storms.
The July 2003 windstorm locals call Hurricane Elvis left most of Memphis without power, some homes for weeks, and ice storms have caused long outages too. Many families choose natural-gas standby generators with automatic transfer switches sized to run central air; MLGW provides both gas and electricity and may need to upgrade the gas meter.
Midtown homes often have patched or ungrounded wiring and small services, and many post-war homes have 100 amp panels. Large old trees over overhead lines mean storms often damage service drops and masts.
Unlike a portable generator, a standby unit sits on a pad outside the home, runs a self-test each week, and takes over within seconds of an outage without anyone being home. It can power selected circuits or, if sized for it, the whole house including central air.
Installation combines electrical, fuel and site work: an automatic transfer switch at or near the panel, a gas line or propane tank sized for the unit, and a placement that meets the manufacturer's and local code clearances from windows, doors and property lines.
Our local notes cover Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis. The March 2020 tornado and the May 2020 derecho both left large parts of Nashville without power for days, and many homeowners have since installed natural-gas standby generators with automatic transfer switches.
The city or county building department where the home is. Nashville: Electrical permits in Nashville and Davidson County come from Metro Codes, which also licenses electricians to work in the county; a state-issued limited electrician license is not accepted there. Knoxville: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Knoxville's plans review and inspections office; unincorporated areas go through Knox County. Chattanooga: Electrical permits in Chattanooga come from the city's Land Development Office; the same office runs the city's own electrician licensing, so electricians must hold a City of Chattanooga license.
It depends on what you want to run. Essential circuits may need a smaller unit; whole-house backup with central air needs more. A load calculation decides.
A portable generator with an inlet and interlock costs less but has to be set up and refueled by hand. A standby unit starts and switches over by itself.
Yes. Most run on natural gas or propane; the fuel supply must be sized for the unit.
Call now and we connect you with a licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code.
