Dependable Generator Installation & Maintenance in Missoula, MT

The right generator size depends on what you want to keep powered during an outage and how much electricity those loads require. Some homeowners only need backup power for essential equipment, while others want to maintain more of their home's normal electrical use. Common loads to consider include:

• Refrigerator and freezer
• Furnace and heating equipment
• Well pump
• Lights and outlets
• Internet and home office equipment
• Other appliances or essential equipment

Larger equipment can have significant starting loads that also need to be considered. An electrician can evaluate the actual electrical loads you want to support rather than recommending a generator based only on your home's square footage. Proper sizing helps provide enough capacity without unnecessarily oversizing the system.

A standby generator is permanently installed and can provide automatic backup power, while a portable generator must typically be brought out and connected when an outage occurs.

The main differences include:

• Standby Generator: Permanently installed outside the home
• Automatic Operation: Can start automatically when utility power is lost
• Portable Generator: Can be stored when it is not needed
• Manual Setup: Typically needs to be connected and started during an outage
• Power Capacity: Either option must be properly sized for the loads you plan to use

The electrical connection is important with either approach. Portable generators should never be connected in a way that can send electricity back onto utility lines. A proper transfer system helps prevent this dangerous condition.

A GenerLink is a meter-mounted transfer device designed to provide a safe connection between a compatible portable generator and a home's electrical system.

For homeowners who prefer a portable generator, a GenerLink can offer several advantages:

• Connects a compatible portable generator to the home's electrical system
• Reduces the need to run extension cords to individual appliances
• Allows homeowners to select which household circuits they use
• Helps isolate generator power from the utility system
• Provides an alternative to installing a permanent standby generator

The available backup power is still limited by the generator's capacity. 360 Electric installs GenerLink transfer switches and can explain whether this setup is appropriate for your home, generator, electrical service, and backup-power goals.

A properly installed transfer method is important because it separates generator power from utility power and helps prevent electrical backfeed.

Backfeeding can occur when generator electricity is improperly sent through the home's electrical system and back toward utility lines. Transfer equipment provides a controlled way to change between the two power sources.

The appropriate setup depends on your generator:

• Standby Generators: Commonly use an automatic transfer switch
• Portable Generators: May use a GenerLink or another approved transfer method
• Whole-Home Systems: Must be designed around the generator capacity and electrical loads being backed up

An electrician can determine which transfer method is appropriate for your generator, electrical service, and intended use.

A standby generator needs routine maintenance so it is more likely to operate correctly when an outage occurs. The appropriate maintenance schedule depends on the generator, its usage, and the manufacturer's requirements.

Generator maintenance may include:

• Inspecting electrical connections
• Checking components for wear or damage
• Checking the transfer equipment
• Identifying problems that could prevent proper operation
• Completing manufacturer-recommended maintenance

It is important not to assume a generator is ready simply because it has not been used much. Backup equipment can sit unused for long periods and still develop problems. 360 Electric provides generator maintenance and is factory authorized to repair Briggs & Stratton residential and commercial generator systems.

A whole-house generator can be especially useful for Missoula-area homeowners who need important electrical systems to continue operating during an extended outage.

Backup power may be important for:

• Heating equipment during cold weather
• Refrigerators and freezers
• Well pumps on rural properties
• Medical equipment
• Home offices and internet equipment
• Other essential household loads

A whole-home generator is not the only option. If you don't need automatic backup power or don't need to power most of the home, a portable generator combined with a properly installed GenerLink transfer switch may be a better fit.

The goal is to choose a backup system based on what you actually need to keep running rather than assuming every home needs the same generator setup.