Standby generators

Standby generator sizing, installation and connection for Edmonton homes and businesses: natural gas, propane and diesel units with automatic transfer.

Why standby

A standby generator is permanently installed, connected to your fuel supply and wired through an automatic transfer switch. When the power fails, it starts on its own and takes over the load within seconds, whether you are home or not. When the grid returns, it hands the load back and shuts itself off.

That matters most when nobody is around to respond: a sump pump during a spring storm while you are away, a furnace on a January night, a walk-in cooler over a long weekend, or a medical device that cannot stop.

For businesses, a standby generator can also protect revenue: keeping a restaurant's coolers running, a pharmacy's fridge cold, or a shop's heat on so pipes and inventory do not freeze over a long weekend.

Sizing the generator

We size from a list of loads, not a guess. Motor loads such as well pumps, sump pumps, furnace blowers and air conditioners draw a surge when they start, so the generator must handle that peak, not just the running load. Electric heat, ranges and dryers are large loads that may be better left off backup or managed.

For businesses, we review what must run to keep operating safely and what can wait. Sometimes a smaller generator plus a UPS system for sensitive equipment is the best combination.

Load management modules can shed large loads, like an air conditioner or EV charger, while the generator is running, then bring them back when there is capacity. That lets a smaller generator cover a whole home sensibly.

Installation

The generator sits on a level pad outside, with clearance from windows, doors, vents and air intakes so exhaust cannot get into the building. Manufacturer and code clearances, plus municipal rules on noise and setbacks, decide the exact spot. We wire it to an automatic transfer switch beside your panel and run the control wiring between them.

Natural gas and propane connections are made by a licensed gas fitter under a gas permit. The gas meter and piping must be able to supply the generator at full load along with your other appliances, which sometimes means a meter upgrade from the gas utility. We coordinate that early.

Ready for -30 C

Cold starts are the hardest test a generator faces. We specify a cold-weather kit with a block heater and battery warmer where the manufacturer offers one, place the unit where drifting snow will not block the intake or exhaust, and confirm the unit's exercise schedule so it runs regularly through the winter.

Placement also considers service access. Technicians need room to open the enclosure and reach the controller, so we avoid tight corners between the house and a fence.

What drives cost

We do not post prices. The main drivers are generator size, fuel type, distance to the panel and fuel supply, the transfer switch, pad and placement work, cold-weather options, gas meter upgrades and any panel changes. A clear load list keeps the system the right size.

Ask any contractor to show you the load list they used to size the generator and the clearances they plan to meet. A clear answer to both is a good sign the system was designed rather than guessed.

Questions we hear