Standby generators for Wilmington homes

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and whether you need a new generator, a transfer switch, a fuel hookup or a repair.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent generator installer that serves the Wilmington area.

3. They call you back

   They visit, size the system and quote the work directly.

Why do so many Wilmington homeowners look at standby generators?

Because long outages here are a matter of record, not a hypothetical. When Hurricane Florence came ashore near Wrightsville Beach on September 14, 2018, the National Hurricane Center reported that more than 90 percent of customers in New Hanover County lost power, along with about 97 percent in Pender County and more than 80 percent in Brunswick County. The National Weather Service office in Wilmington notes the city was cut off for several days as flooded highways closed. A standby generator is wired into the house and starts on its own when the grid drops, so the refrigerator, well pump, medical equipment and air conditioning keep running while you wait for crews.

What is a home standby generator?

It's a permanently installed generator that sits on a pad outside the house and runs on natural gas or propane. An automatic transfer switch watches the utility line. When power fails, the switch disconnects the house from the grid, the generator starts, and within moments your chosen circuits are back on. When utility power returns, the switch moves the house back and the generator shuts itself down after a short cool-down. Nobody has to haul a portable unit out in the rain or run extension cords through a window.

Whole-house or essential circuits?

• Whole-house coverage powers nearly everything, including central air, which matters during a September outage when the heat index is high. It needs a larger generator and a service-rated transfer switch.
• Essential-circuit coverage powers a short list: refrigerator, freezer, a few lights and outlets, the gas furnace blower, a well pump or sump pump, and medical equipment. It uses a smaller generator and a subpanel.
• Load management lets a mid-size unit run a whole house by briefly shedding big loads, such as a second air conditioner or a water heater, when the generator is near capacity.

A good installer adds up what you actually want to run, including the surge an air conditioner draws when it starts, before recommending a size. Be cautious of anyone who picks a size without asking about your appliances.

What does an installation involve?

1. Site visit and load calculation. The installer looks at your panel, meter, gas meter or propane tank location, and where a unit can sit with the clearances the manufacturer and code require.
2. Permits. North Carolina law requires permits for electrical work like this, and gas piping needs its own inspection. In the City of Wilmington and unincorporated New Hanover County, permits run through the county.
3. Pad and setting the unit. The generator goes on a level pad, positioned away from windows, doors and vents.
4. Transfer switch and wiring. A licensed electrician installs the switch and connects it to your service.
5. Fuel line. A licensed gas piping contractor runs the line from the gas meter or propane tank.
6. Inspections and start-up. After the inspections pass, the installer tests the system under load and shows you how it works.

When should I start?

Well before you need it. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and NOAA puts the peak around September 10. Permits, inspections, gas utility work and equipment availability all take time, and installers are busiest right after a storm, when everyone else has the same idea. Late fall through spring is the calmest time to get quotes and schedule the work.

Warning signs your current generator needs attention

• It didn't start during the last outage, or the transfer switch didn't move the house over
• The controller shows a warning or fault code you can't clear
• It no longer runs its weekly self-test
• Oil leaks, rust or salt corrosion on the enclosure, or rodent nests inside
• It hasn't had an oil change or service in more than a year

Are you a generator company?

No. Wilmington Generator Installation is a referral service. We connect you with an independent installer that serves your address, and that company quotes, performs and stands behind the work. We aren't a dealer for any generator brand. Read our tips for hiring a generator installer and the Wilmington standby generator guide before you sign anything.

Areas we cover

• Wilmington
• Carolina Beach and Kure Beach
• Leland and northern Brunswick County
• Hampstead and Pender County

Planning ahead? Read our Wilmington standby generator guide.