Standby Generators 101: Your Guide to Home Generators in the Tri-Cities & Yakima Valley

Standby generators are an essential part of homeownership in the Tri-Cities and Yakima in order to keep your home protected from power outages. However, choosing and maintaining the right generator can be a confusing maze of options and considerations.

At Campbell & Company, our team is here to make the generator installation process an easy one. In this blog, our experts will go over everything from why you need a generator to how to care for one.

Understanding the Need for Standby Generators in the Region

In the Pacific Northwest, the Tri-Cities and Yakima are thriving cities known for their vibrant communities and landscapes. On the other hand, these areas are also known for wildfires, extreme temperatures, storms, and power outages. Washington even saw some of the highest rates of power outages in 2021, ranking eighth-worst overall as compared to the rest of the U.S. With all this in mind, having a standby generator keeps your family protected from losing power when the electrical grid system falters. Whether it's preserving safety measures, ensuring comfort in extreme weather conditions, or safeguarding your home's security systems, your standby generator plays an essential role in your home.

Choosing the Right Standby Generator for Your Home

Not every generator is built the same, so finding the right match for your home takes a little effort. Here are a few key considerations for selecting the right system for your power demands:

• Generator sizing: Determining the right size of your generator is based on the requirements of your home. This includes evaluating the power needs of essential appliances, HVAC systems, and other electrical devices to ensure your system is providing adequate power without overloading the system. By calculating the total power consumption of these essential components during normal operation and identifying peak loads, you can determine the appropriate generator size for your home.
• Fuel options: With propane, natural gas, and diesel options available to homeowners in the Tri-Cities and Yakima Valley area, it’s important to find a cost-friendly solution that aligns with the unique needs of your home.
• Considerations for specific home features: No two homes are lived in the same way, making your home power needs unique. Accounting for special electrical features in your homes ensures you receive a customized and reliable power solution in times of need. Whether you’re powering medical equipment, large appliances, or other unique electrical devices, understanding the power requirements of these devices allows you to make an informed standby generator selection.

Standby Generator Installation Process

Installing a standby generator in your home is an extensive process that begins with finding the right company to seamlessly integrate your unit into your current electrical infrastructure. When you choose the expert team at Campbell & Company as your generator installer, here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

• Site assessment: Your home is evaluated to determine the best location to install your system, factoring in proximity to the electrical panel and local building regulations.
• Permit acquisition: All necessary permits are filed, ensuring your system complies with local safety standards.
• Electrical panel evaluation: Your existing electrical panel is assessed to ensure it can accommodate the standby generator connection.
• Professional installation: After key preparation factors are made, including selecting your system, prepping your electrical panel, determining your fuel source, and confirming your generator size, your technicians move on to installing your automatic transfer switch, making electrical connections, and ensuring your system is safely and securely ready for use.
• Testing: The last step is to conduct thorough testing to ensure your system operates seamlessly.  

Maintenance and Care Tips for Standby Generators

Maintenance is a crucial part of ensuring your system is reliable and ready during unexpected outages. Here are a few tips for keeping your system storm-ready:

• Check fuel levels: Regularly check on your generator’s fuel levels to ensure your generator is prepared for potential outages.
• Visual inspections: Perform routine visual inspections of your system to ensure you don’t see signs of damage or corrosion.
• Testing: Occasionally test your generator to ensure it is working properly and without delay.

By proactively keeping tabs on your standby generator system and adhering to maintenance routines, homeowners can confidently depend on their system during the toughest of storms.

Choose Campbell & Company as Your Generator Installer

Since 1983, Campbell & Company has strived to deliver unmatched HVAC, electrical, and plumbing services to residents of Yakima, the Tri-Cities, and the surrounding areas. Our trusted local experts deliver quick and reliable services, ensuring your generator needs are met with precision, care, and the highest quality of customer service. Recently voted Yakima Best of the Valley award for "The Best HVAC" and "The Best Electrician," Campbell & Company proudly continues its legacy of excellence.

Schedule a standby generator installation in the Tri-Cities area by calling Campbell & Company at (509) 412-3146 today.