Generator installation, ready before the next storm.
Storm coming? Tired of losing the fridge and the heat every time the grid blinks? We put in a standby generator that turns your house back on by itself - no cords through windows, no sitting in the dark. We handle the gas-line coordination. We pull the permit every time.
Sized for your specific load
We run an NEC 220 load calculation during the consultation. Different homes need different generator sizes - 14kW for essentials-only backup, 18-22kW for most NoVA single-family homes, 24kW+ for larger homes with electric HVAC or EV charging. We don't oversize to pad the quote.
Gas line coordinated, pad ready
Whole-house generators run on natural gas (Washington Gas / Columbia Gas) or propane. We coordinate the gas tie-in with your supplier, pour the concrete pad, and install the automatic transfer switch. You don't manage three contractors.
Tested with you watching
After install, we test the auto-transfer with you watching - simulate a utility outage, verify generator starts, verify transfer switch flips, verify house power restores. You leave the install knowing it works.
Which way do you want to back up your house?
Most folks want one of two things. A generator that takes over the whole house on its own, or a switch that lets a generator you already own do the job safely. Click into either one and we'll walk you through the scope and what the work looks like.
Whole-House Generator Installation
Standby generators that automatically restore power when the utility goes out. Generac, Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Cummins. Full scope: concrete pad, gas line coordination, generator placement, automatic transfer switch, panel integration, and post-install testing with you watching. NEC 702. Sized via NEC 220 load calculation.
Transfer Switch Installation
Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) for whole-house standby generators. Manual Transfer Switch (MTS) for partial backup or generator-interlock kits. We install both types and explain the tradeoffs - automatic = transparent operation, manual = lower cost but you flip it yourself.
Generator installs across Northern Virginia
What does putting in a generator actually look like?
A whole-house install pulls in three pieces. The electrical (us), the gas tie-in (your gas supplier), and a concrete pad (we pour or contract it). You deal with one project and one schedule. We do the chasing so you don't have to.
Free consultation
We look at your home, your panel, the proposed generator location, your gas line / propane setup, and run the NEC 220 load calculation. We pick the right generator size + fuel type with you.
Written proposal
Itemized: generator unit, transfer switch, concrete pad, electrical scope, gas-line coordination, permit, post-install testing. Good for 30 days. We quote the full project as one number.
Permit + gas line + install
We pull every permit. We coordinate the gas-line tie-in with Washington Gas, Columbia Gas, or your propane supplier. Pad poured, generator placed, transfer switch installed, panel integration done. Most installs run 2-3 days on-site.
Test + walkthrough
We test the auto-transfer with you watching - simulate utility outage, verify generator starts, verify transfer switch flips, verify house power restores. Inspection card delivered. Done.
Questions homeowners ask about generators
What size generator do I need for my home?
For most NoVA single-family homes: 14kW for essentials-only backup (refrigerator, HVAC fan, some lighting), 18-22kW for full whole-house backup including central HVAC running normally, and 24kW+ for larger homes with electric HVAC, EV charging, or large appliance loads. We run an NEC 220 load calculation during the consultation to confirm.
The variables that drive sizing: square footage, HVAC type (electric vs. gas, with-AC vs. heat pump), water heater (electric vs. gas), kitchen appliances (electric range vs. gas), and EV charging plans. Most NoVA homes with central AC and gas heat run 18-22kW. All-electric homes or homes with electric HVAC plus EV charging usually need 22-26kW. We size for what you want to keep running during an outage, not for some industry-average number.
Natural gas, propane, or diesel - which is best?
For most NoVA homes: natural gas if you have it (no fuel storage, no refills, unlimited runtime as long as gas service holds). Propane if natural gas isn't available in your area (typical for outer NoVA - Loudoun outskirts, rural Prince William). Diesel is rare for residential and usually only makes sense for larger backup systems.
Washington Gas and Columbia Gas cover most of NoVA's natural gas service area. If you're in their territory, natural gas is almost always the right call - generators run as long as gas service holds, and gas service usually stays up during electrical outages because it doesn't depend on grid power. For propane installs, we coordinate with your propane supplier on tank size - typical residential setups use 250-500 gallon tanks.
How long does a generator install take?
A typical whole-house generator install runs 2-3 days of on-site work across the project timeline. Add 1-3 weeks for permit + gas-line scheduling before install starts. From consultation to running generator: typical timeline is 3-6 weeks depending on permit pull-times and gas-supplier availability.
The schedule bottleneck is usually not us - it's gas-line coordination. Washington Gas and Columbia Gas schedule new line connections 1-3 weeks out depending on demand. Once gas is set and permit pulled, the install itself is straightforward: day 1 is pad pour and electrical rough-in, day 2 is generator placement and transfer switch install, day 3 is testing and inspection. We give you a written schedule before any work starts.
Can I use a portable generator with a transfer switch instead?
Yes - for partial backup setups. A generator interlock kit on your panel plus a portable generator plus a manual transfer switch can back up critical circuits for a fraction of the whole-house cost. Tradeoffs: you have to start the generator manually, manage fuel (gasoline goes stale, propane tanks run out), and manually flip the panel switches.
For homeowners who already have a portable generator and want a safer way to use it during outages, the interlock kit is a code-compliant upgrade from running extension cords through windows. We install interlock kits on most panel brands. For homeowners considering this as a long-term solution, we recommend whole-house standby instead - the upfront cost difference is significant, but the lifetime maintenance cost (fuel storage, manual operation, generator maintenance) usually flips the math toward standby within 5-7 years.
Do you handle the gas-line connection or do I need a separate contractor?
We coordinate the gas-line connection. Anson is licensed for electrical and remodeling but not gas-line work - the actual gas tie-in is done by Washington Gas, Columbia Gas, or your propane supplier. We schedule it, we're on-site when they're on-site, and we integrate it into the install timeline so you only deal with one project.
The split: gas suppliers handle the service-line connection (from the meter to the generator) and any meter upgrades needed for the additional gas demand. We handle the generator placement, electrical scope, transfer switch, and post-install testing. Permits get pulled together - gas permit by the gas supplier, electrical permit by us. You sign one contract with us and we coordinate the rest.
What homeowners usually fold in while we're already there
A generator rarely lands on its own. It leans on the panel, sometimes on EV charging, sometimes on smart-home load control. The same crew that wires your transfer switch handles these too, so it's one team start to finish.
Tired of losing power? Let's get your house covered.
The crew that quotes your generator is the crew that pours the pad and lands the transfer switch. No rotating subs. You get a free consultation, and a written, itemized quote within 48 hours - sized for your home, not the upsell. A lot of the homeowners behind our 5.0 on Google called us back for the next job. That's the bar we're aiming for here.