Residents of Montgomery County Maryland know all to well the issues throughout the county when the power goes out. In some areas of the county, it goes out far too often and can be a terrible inconvenience. As storms get stronger each year and more power being consumed, the chances of having an outage increase substantially. With all-time highs of employees working from home, it’s more important than ever to make sure you always have power. David Williams Electric is here to assist you in getting your new standby home generator or portable generator set up. David Williams Electric will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about a home generator. We will come out for an on-site visit to cover all the details about a home generator and the most important things that you need to power when the electricity goes out. David Williams Electric is Montgomery County Maryland trusted electrician for over 31 years.

What types of generators are there?

Whole home standby generators 

Whole home generators are designed to power your entire home during an outage. This means that you can continue your day or night in the same fashion that you typically would. Whole home generators are the actual peace-of-mind system many clients desire. This type of system will require a dedicated location outside of your home to host the generator permanently. This type of generator will require an electrician who will “tap” into your main electric panel to ensure that the generator turns on the minute the power goes out from the power company, ensuring that you have a seamless transition of power to the generator.

Portable generators 

Portable generators provide power when you need it for your home, and they also have the flexibility to go with you when you need it, like a camping trip or off-road adventure. Typically, portable generators are much smaller and have less power capability. However, in a pinch, they are helpful to those who need to power a few items in their home while the power is out. The downside of a portable generator is the extension cords that need to be run to each appliance you need power for. David Williams Electric can provide you with the installation of a manual transfer switch that has dedicated lines running to your most essential appliances in the home. 

Ready to get your new generator installed?

David Williams Electric is your preferred Montgomery County, MD generator installer. We can handle all home generators you want to install at your Maryland residential home. We will handle every aspect of getting your generator ready to power your home. Many homeowners have frequently asked questions before they decide on an electric company that will complete the installation.

Q. What can my generator power? 

There are a variety of options and sizes of generators. You can power your most essential items when the power goes out, like your refrigerator, freezer, oven, or TV 😊 to your entire home. 

Q. What size generator do I need?

Our expert technicians will be able to complete a calculation of your energy for the items you wish to power during an outage. We provide in-person consultations, and we will walk you through every step of the process. 

Q. What type of fuel does the generator use?

Natural gas (mainly whole home generators)

You will find natural gas in most residences with a line running to your home by a city or municipality. Dedicated natural gas lines will provide you with an unlimited supply of natural gas to your generator. 

Liquid Propane (mainly whole home generators)

Propane options typically require you to have an onsite tank at your home. You must ensure that your gas company fills your tank when the levels are low to ensure you have propane to power your generator in an outage. Most gas companies will offer monitoring of the tank and provide automatic refills when the tank gets low.

Diesel/Gasoline (mainly portable generators)

Like many vehicles on the road, portable generators can run on diesel and gasoline. This provides the flexibility to refill just about anywhere. The downside of this is that you must have a supply of fuel if you are at your home. If the power goes out too long, you must refill manually.

Q. How much space do I need for the generator? 

Whole home generators will require about a 4’ x 6’ location outside your home. We can assist you with the best site for your generator.

Portable generators can be placed anywhere outside the home in a safe area. You will want to ensure you have the proper ventilation while running your portable generator for your safety.

Q. How long can a generator run?

This will depend on the type of fuel you will need for your generator. Natural gas generators essentially have an unlimited run time due to the unlimited supply of gas running to your home. For liquid propane, it will depend on the size of your tank at your home. A 500-gallon tank will run your home for roughly a week, and a 1000-gallon tank for two weeks. Generators will typically burn about 2-3 gallons per hour. This also depends on what the generator is powering. 

Q. How much do they cost? Can I afford it? 

Generator costs can vary depending on a few factors. Some of the factors to consider are the size of the generator, the size of the main panel in your home, the location of the generator, and the type of fuel required to run the generator. Our professional estimators will be able to provide an in-person assessment and provide you with accurate pricing.  

If you are ready to start the process, we are here to serve you. Please contact our expert customer service team, who will assist you with your Maryland generator estimate, scheduling, questions, and installation date.