Home standby power · Kansas City, MO
Generator Installation for Kansas City Homes
We handle generator installation in Kansas City, MO, from the first load calculation to the final inspection. That means whole house standby generators that start on their own, Generac installs, and transfer switches that let a portable generator power your house safely. You get the right size for what you want running, a gas line that can feed it, and a written estimate that shows every line.
What we install
- 01
Whole House Generator Installation
Permanent standby generators that start on their own when the power drops.
- 02
Generac Generator Installation
Generac home standby units sized, set and wired for your house.
- 03
Generator Transfer Switch Installation
Automatic and manual transfer switches, plus safe hookups for portable generators.
- 04
Whole House Generator Cost
What goes into the installed price, and how to compare estimates line by line.
How a generator installation works
- Site visit. We look at your electrical panel, gas meter and yard, and ask what you want running when the power is out.
- Sizing and estimate. A load calculation sets the generator size and transfer switch. You get a written estimate with the generator, switch, gas line, pad and permits listed separately.
- Permits. The electrical and gas work are permitted through the city. If your gas meter needs to be larger, we start that request with the gas utility early, since it takes time.
- Install day. The pad, generator, gas line and transfer switch usually go in over a day or two.
- Inspection and startup. After it passes, we start it, test it under load, set the weekly self-test and show you how it works.
Why Kansas City homeowners add a standby generator
Outages here come from a few directions: summer storms with straight-line winds, ice that builds on trees and lines in winter, and the occasional big one that lasts for days. In the January 2002 ice storm, some homes in the metro went close to two weeks without power. Most outages are shorter, but a few hours is enough to flood a basement when the sump pump stops, or to make a house dangerously cold in January.
A standby generator turns itself on in seconds and runs on your natural gas or propane, so you don't have to be home, haul fuel or run cords through a window. If outages at your house are rare and short, a portable generator with a transfer switch can be the better value, and we'll tell you if that's the case.
Where we work
We install generators across Kansas City, MO, from older homes in Brookside and Waldo to newer neighborhoods north of the river. We also take jobs in North Kansas City, Gladstone, Independence, Raytown, Grandview, Lee's Summit and Parkville.
Generator installation questions
How long does a generator installation take?
The work at your house usually takes a day or two once the generator and the permits are in hand. The wait before that is often longer: a few weeks is common for the permit, the equipment and, if it’s needed, a gas meter change. After a big storm, demand jumps and so do wait times, which is why most people do this before they need it.
What size generator does my house need?
It depends on what you want running when the power is out. Covering the essentials (furnace blower, refrigerator, sump pump, some lights and outlets) takes a smaller unit than running the whole house with central air. Home standby generators commonly run from about 10 to 26 kilowatts. We size it from a load calculation on the visit, not a guess. The whole house generator page covers the choices.
Natural gas or propane: which is better?
If your house already has natural gas, that’s usually the simpler choice, since there’s no tank to refill during a long outage. Homes without gas service run on propane from a tank sized for how long you want to run. Some natural gas homes need a bigger meter for the generator, and that’s the gas utility’s call. We check it during the visit.
Do I need a permit to install a generator in Kansas City?
For a permanent standby generator, usually yes. The electrical work and the gas line are both permitted and inspected through the city, and the installer pulls the permits. Portable generators you plug in with a cord typically don’t need one, but connecting one to your house wiring does need a proper transfer switch or interlock.
What happens when the power goes out?
The automatic transfer switch senses the outage, starts the generator and moves your house over to it, usually within seconds. When utility power comes back and stays steady, it switches the house back and lets the generator cool down and shut off. You don’t have to be home for any of it.
What areas do you work in?
Kansas City, MO, north and south of the river, plus North Kansas City, Gladstone, Independence, Raytown, Grandview, Lee’s Summit and Parkville. If you’re a little farther out, ask.
Get ahead of the next outage
We come out, look at your panel, gas meter and yard, and give you a written estimate that lists the generator, the transfer switch, the gas and electrical work and the permits as separate lines.