A standby automatic backup generator is a great safety addition to any homeowner’s current abode. It ensures your home is protected immediately in case any power outages occur that take your house off the grid. It is also an amazing alternative to the convention portable generator by eliminating all the hassle involved with setting up a portable generator when the power goes off.
As eager as you may be to set up your new automatic generator right now, we can stress enough that the installation process is better left to a contracted professional. Specific codes must be met, and safety precautions taken, to guarantee that the generator works efficiently and reliably. Although you may not be able to set up the entire generator without the help of a professional, there are some preliminary measures you can take before your contracted plumber/electrician arrives to help him/her out! Here are a few steps you can take to prepare your generator for installation, as well as what happens once the contractor arrives:
Figure Out Where the Generator Will Go
It is very easy to decide exactly where the generator should be set up. It will always be outside, due to carbon monoxide output. You’ll also want it as close to your main inlet/fuse box as possible. Ideally it will be in an area where a natural-gas line and a line-voltage cable can reach the gas and fuse box inside your house without too much threading and headache. Once you find a good spot with the easiest access to both places from the outside of your house, you’ll want to set up the generator around 5 feet away from any doors and windows. This is to prevent any risk of damage to the unit or water pooling in or around the unit. Once that sweet pot has been discovered, it’s time to begin preparing the land.
Tending to the Land
You are going to want to ensure that you have a pre-cast concrete pad and enough gravel to make a compacted bed. If you have both of these items, create the compacted gravel bad and set the pre-cast concrete pad on top of it so the bed is supporting the pad.
By doing this you’re keeping the generator out of the dirt and off the ground. In the event of any rainfall or bad conditions, the generator will be completely safe from any ground corrosion or rust exposure. Maintenance and preservation is key when owning your own automatic generator, and that all starts with the environment and specific placement of the generator itself.
Securing the Generator
Using four stainless-steel bolts, you’ll now want to fasten the generator to the concrete pad. This will ensure that even with decently strong storm-level winds, your generator will not be moving anytime soon. A loose or unfastened generator can mean serious generator issues down the line. Especially in severe weather conditions, high velocity winds will either make the generator rattle and shake, possible making internal parts within the generator shake loose. If these winds are strong enough, you may even be out of a generator altogether when it gets swept away with various other debris. Ensuring the generator is fastened securely will protect it from the elements in the long run.
Call Your Trusted Plumber
The DIY crowd emits a collective groan. We understand, you’ve bought your beautiful new automatic generator and you just want to set it up without having to rely on anyone else. Unless you can safely and securely connect a natural-gas line from your house to your generator, though, then this call is necessary. Most of the time your contractor will be able to knock this out of the way fairly quickly, as well as the next task on the list.
As we stated in the beginning of this article, everything before this step is a way for you to minimize the hourly that your contractor may charge by prepping as much as you can before the professionals arrive. Your safety and your generator’s efficiency are the top priorities in this situation though, and unless you can connect a natural-gas line confidently then a professional must be called.
Call Your Trusted Electrician
You are also going to need a line-voltage cable ran from your house to your generator. This is, like the last task, something better left to the professionals in order to ensure your safety. If you can confidently state that you are able to run a line-voltage cable by yourself with no problems, then you may be able to get through this task with no such help, but the majority of homeowners most likely cannot claim this confidently. You’ll also most likely need a transfer switch inside beside your electrical meter, which your contractor can take care of too!
Many contractors will be able to cover the entire generator installation process, but these few tips will help your contractor focus on the nitty gritty of the installation, and also help you save some cash if there is an hourly rate involved.
Call Ryan Gath Electric today for answers to all your electrical questions!