Whole house generator installation, power that stays on.
Storm knocks the grid out and you're sitting in the dark again? Next time, the lights just stay on. A standby generator starts on its own the second the power drops - heat, fridge, sump pump, all of it. We size yours to your actual home, not a guess. We get the gas line scheduled for you. And we stand right there with you to watch it kick on before we call it done.
Which backup setup fits your house?
Most folks who call us about a generator fall into one of these four situations. Every one starts the same way. We come out and do the math on what your home actually draws, so the size fits your house and not a guess. Then you get a written, itemized quote in your inbox within 48 hours. No verbal prices.
01 You want the whole house covered - an 18-22kW Generac Guardian
The most common NoVA install. We size a Generac Guardian Series 18kW or 22kW with an NEC 220 load calculation during the consultation, then handle the whole scope: concrete pad pour, generator placement on the pad, an automatic transfer switch (ATS) installed at the main panel, generator-to-transfer-switch wiring per NEC 702, gas-line tie-in coordination with Washington Gas, Columbia Gas, or your propane supplier, the permit, and post-install testing with you watching. Typical scope is 2-3 days on-site once the permit and gas-line scheduling are complete.
02 You have a brand in mind - Kohler, Cummins, or Briggs & Stratton
When you'd rather not go with Generac. Kohler 14RESA / 20RESA / 26RESA if you want the 5-year warranty, Cummins Quiet Connect if a quiet unit close to the patio matters, and Briggs & Stratton if you're watching the budget. All installed to the same NEC 702 and 220 standards. We don't push a brand based on our margin - we help you pick the brand and tier that match your home's load and your budget, then install it to the manufacturer's commissioning procedure on top of code.
03 You run on all-electric or charge an EV - a 24-26kW+ unit
For NoVA homes with electric HVAC, EV charging, an electric water heater, and an extensive electric appliance load. The NEC 220 load calc during the consultation determines whether 22kW is enough or whether you need 24-26kW. Larger generators add roughly $3K-$8K to the project but eliminate load-shedding compromises during an outage. Most NoVA homes under 3,500 sqft with gas appliances are fine with 22kW; all-electric homes or homes with EV charging usually need 24kW+.
04 Your panel can't take it yet - generator plus a panel upgrade
When the existing panel can't safely accommodate the new ATS, or doesn't have headroom for both the generator and future loads. This pairs often with EV charging plans. We quote the panel upgrade, generator, and ATS as one project - see our Panel Replacement page for panel-only scope. Coordinating the Dominion or NOVEC disconnect, the gas-line tie-in, the concrete pad, and the generator install in one project window is the heaviest multi-trade coordination we do.
What separates a generator that holds through the storm from one that doesn't
The most common problem we find when we're called in to fix someone else's generator is that it was shrunk to fit a budget instead of sized to the home - so when the outage comes, it can't carry the load and it sheds half the house. We size for the home first and price second. Here are the six things that decide whether your generator carries you through: three NEC sections your inspector checks, and three brand-and-install standards we hold to.
Transfer switch isolation, no back-feed
NEC 702 governs standby generators not intended for life-safety use. The key requirement: the transfer switch must isolate the generator output from the utility input so the generator never back-feeds onto a downed utility line. We install UL-listed transfer switches that meet this on every job. Manual interlock kits for partial-backup setups must also be UL-listed.
We size for the home, not the budget
Generator size is determined by your home's actual connected load - HVAC, electric appliances, lighting, and EV charging if applicable. We run an NEC 220 load calc during the consultation and recommend the size that matches the load you actually want to back up. Most NoVA homes need 18-22kW for full backup; essentials-only setups may run 14kW.
Generator + transfer switch grounding
Generator grounding follows NEC 250 with specific requirements for standby systems - generator neutral handling at the transfer switch (separately-derived vs. non-separately-derived), bonding within the generator enclosure, and grounding electrode connections. Improperly grounded generators trip nuisance faults and create shock hazards.
Generac is our most-installed brand
Generac is the residential market leader for whole-house generators. The Guardian Series (14-26kW) covers most NoVA homes; the Protector Series covers higher-end installs with higher kW ratings and extended warranty options. We install per Generac's documented commissioning procedure: oil and coolant check, fuel-pressure verification, exercise-cycle programming, and an auto-transfer test.
Other brands, same install standard
Kohler 14RESA / 20RESA / 26RESA is a top-tier alternative with a 5-year warranty standard. Cummins Quiet Connect is a higher-end residential unit with the quietest decibel ratings. Briggs & Stratton covers value-tier residential generators. All three are installed to NEC 702 and 220 plus each manufacturer's commissioning procedure. We install all four major brands - pick what matches your home and budget.
Natural gas, propane, or diesel
Natural gas (Washington Gas, Columbia Gas) for most NoVA homes with existing service. Propane for areas without natural gas. Diesel for larger backup systems, which is rare in residential. We coordinate the gas-line tie-in with your supplier - schedule the meter upgrade if needed, coordinate the on-site connection day, and integrate it into the install timeline.
What putting in your generator actually looks like
It's the same three steps as every Anson job, with the parts that belong to generator work built in. This is the most moving pieces we juggle on any job. Our crew, the gas company, the concrete pad, and sometimes the power company. Brad lines up the gas and power-company timing himself. You have one person to call, and you're never the one chasing three trades.
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01
Free consultation on site (45-60 minutes)
We walk the proposed generator location, the existing panel, and the gas-line or propane setup. We run the NEC 220 load calculation on-site and pick the right size, brand, and fuel type with you. We assess the concrete-pad location for setbacks - typically 5 feet from the house, 5 feet from windows and doors, plus the manufacturer's clearance. Typical: same week.
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02
Written proposal · we coordinate the gas line · permit pulled
An itemized quote: generator unit (specific brand and model), automatic transfer switch, concrete pad pour, electrical scope, gas-line coordination with Washington Gas, Columbia Gas, or your propane supplier, building and electrical permits, and post-install testing. Good for 30 days. We schedule the gas-line tie-in with the supplier - typically 1-3 weeks out depending on demand. Quote within 48 hours of the consultation.
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03
Install (2-3 days on-site total)
Day 1: concrete pad pour and electrical rough-in. Day 2: generator delivery and placement, transfer switch install, electrical tie-in, and gas-line connection coordinated with the supplier on-site. Day 3 (often the same as Day 2): commissioning and testing. We test the auto-transfer with you watching - simulate a utility outage, verify the generator starts, verify the transfer switch flips, verify house power restores. County inspection scheduled. From consultation to a running generator: typically 3-6 weeks. The schedule bottleneck is usually gas-supplier scheduling, not our work.
What a whole-house generator runs - and what moves the number
A whole-house generator quote moves with several variables: generator size (14kW vs. 18-22kW vs. 24-26kW+), brand tier (Generac Guardian vs. Kohler vs. Cummins vs. Briggs), fuel type (natural gas vs. propane, which adds tank coordination), ATS vs. a manual transfer kit, existing panel headroom (no upgrade vs. a combined panel-plus-generator project), gas-line proximity (an existing meter at the generator location vs. a new run), and the concrete-pad scope. We don't post fixed prices because the variables are too wide - but here's how we frame the conversation.
What a whole-house generator looks like in practice
"A 14kW essentials-only generator is the same job, mentally, as a 26kW Generac Protector - we just have less to coordinate. Same NEC 702 transfer switch. Same NEC 220 load calc. Same gas-line tie-in coordination. The job size determines complexity; the standards don't change."
Why homeowners trust us with the box that has to start when nothing else will
The master electrician sizes it himself
Brad Anson is a Virginia Master Electrician trained in the Shreve/McGonegal lineage, and he's on most generator consultations himself - running the load calc and walking the fuel line and pad spot. A unit that has to carry your whole house through an outage is not the one to size from a brochure.
One person holding all three trades together
The same crew runs it from the pad pour to the cutover test, and Brad keeps the gas supplier and utility on schedule himself. When a job touches electrical, gas, and concrete in one window, you should never be the one playing scheduler between them.
Everything in writing, the gas line handled
An itemized quote citing the exact NEC 702 and 220 sections, the gas tie-in scheduled by us, the concrete pad poured by us, the permit pulled in your county - and the auto-transfer tested with you watching before we hand it over.
5.0 on Google, on 20+ years of this work
The 22kW Generac Guardian is what most NoVA homeowners land on, and it's the unit we install most. A lot of our 5.0 rating comes from folks who called us back for the next job. We charge for what we do, don't upsell, and earn the next call.
Questions about whole-house generators
What size generator do I need for my home?
A 14kW generator covers essentials only - refrigerator, HVAC fan, some lighting. Most NoVA single-family homes need 18-22kW for full backup. Larger homes with electric HVAC plus EV charging usually need 22-26kW or more. We run an NEC 220 load calculation during the consultation rather than guessing.
The variables that move the number are square footage, whether your heat is gas or electric, whether you have an electric water heater, whether you charge an EV, and your overall appliance mix. Most NoVA homes around 2,500-3,500 sqft with gas heat and central AC land at 18-22kW. All-electric homes usually need 22-26kW. We size for the home first, price second - and we tell you the answer up front, in writing.
Natural gas, propane, or diesel - which fuel should I use?
Natural gas if you have it. With Washington Gas or Columbia Gas service already at the home, there is no fuel storage, no refills, and unlimited runtime as long as gas service holds during the outage. Propane is the answer for areas of NoVA without natural gas service. Diesel is rare for residential whole-house generators.
Propane requires an on-site tank that you keep filled, so it adds tank coordination to the project, but it is the right call where natural gas service isn't available. Diesel usually only shows up on larger backup systems. For the vast majority of NoVA homeowners with existing gas service, natural gas is the straightforward choice, and we coordinate the gas-line tie-in with your supplier as part of the project.
How much does a whole-house generator cost?
It depends on generator size, brand tier, fuel type, whether you need an automatic transfer switch or a manual transfer kit, and whether your existing panel needs an upgrade. Typical install range is $12K-$25K for an 18-22kW Generac on a panel that already has headroom. Top-tier 22-26kW Kohler or Cummins installs on a combined panel-plus-generator project with a new gas-line run run $20K-$40K+.
We don't post fixed prices because the variables are too wide, but every quote is written, itemized, and good for 30 days after a free consultation, with the NEC 702 and 220 sections cited. Gas-line coordination, the concrete pad, and post-install testing are all in the scope - no separate change orders for those.
How long does the install take?
The hands-on work is 2-3 days of on-site time across the project. Before install starts, add 1-3 weeks for permit pull-times and gas-line scheduling. From consultation to a running generator is typically 3-6 weeks depending on permit timelines and gas-supplier availability.
The on-site days break down as concrete pad pour and electrical rough-in, then generator placement, transfer switch install, electrical tie-in, gas-line connection, and commissioning. The schedule bottleneck is usually gas-supplier scheduling, not our work - we build the timeline around when your supplier can be on-site, and we coordinate that for you so you aren't playing scheduler between trades.
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 itself - the gas tie-in is performed by Washington Gas, Columbia Gas, or your propane supplier. What we do is schedule it, be on-site when they are on-site, and integrate the connection day into the install timeline.
You sign one contract with us and we coordinate the rest. You don't deal with the gas supplier directly or play scheduler between three trades. This is the heaviest multi-trade coordination we do - electrical, gas supplier, concrete, and sometimes the utility disconnect - which is exactly why we keep it to a single point of contact.
Can I get a generator on a budget? What is the entry tier?
A Briggs & Stratton 12-14kW essentials-only setup runs about $8K-$12K installed if your panel has headroom and your gas line is close to the proposed generator location. For full whole-house backup, the realistic entry tier is around $12K-$15K for an 18-20kW Generac Guardian.
Cheaper installs exist but usually skip something - transfer switch tier, concrete pad spec, gas-line scope - that we won't skip. We will tell you straight during the consultation what your home actually needs and where you can and cannot save money without compromising the install. We want you as a customer for life, not as a one-time large invoice.
Other services that pair with a generator
A whole-house generator install usually touches one or more of these. All sit under the same Outdoor Electrical hub or cross to indoor power.
Tired of losing power every storm? Let's get you covered.
Free on-site visit. We size it to your home, not a guess. Written, itemized quote within 48 hours. Gas line handled. Permit pulled. Tested with you watching.