Whole-Home Generators in Middle Tennessee
- Licensed and insured plumbing, HVAC and electrical techs
When the power goes out, a standby generator starts on its own and keeps the house running: the circuits you choose, or the whole house if it's sized for it. It sits outside like an AC unit and runs on natural gas or propane, so there's no fuel to haul in a storm.
Electrical work is done by licensed and insured techs. We run gas lines too, so one call covers the generator, the transfer switch and the fuel. We'll help you decide what needs to stay on, and give you a firm price before any work starts.
Signs you need generators help
- Outages leave you without heat, cooling, water or a working refrigerator
- Your home has a well pump or a sump pump that has to keep running
- Someone in the house relies on medical equipment that needs power
- You work from home, and an outage stops your day
- You're tired of setting up a portable generator and extension cords in bad weather
- A portable generator is connected to the house through a dryer outlet or a homemade cord
- You're building or renovating and want the house ready for a generator
What we do
Standby generator installation
A permanent generator on a level pad outside, set at the distances from windows, doors and vents that the manufacturer and local code require, and sized to what you want running.
Automatic transfer switch
The switch that disconnects the house from the utility, starts the generator and moves the load over when the power fails, then switches back when it returns. It also keeps generator power from feeding back onto the utility's lines.
Gas line to the generator
A natural gas or propane line sized for the generator. A large generator can also need a bigger gas meter or a larger propane tank, which is arranged with your gas supplier.
Inlets and interlocks for portable generators
An outdoor generator inlet and an interlock or manual transfer switch at the panel, so a portable generator can power the circuits you choose safely.
New construction and renovations
A transfer switch, a pad location and a gas line planned during the rough-in, so the generator goes in cleanly before or after move-in.
What it costs, and how we price it
What drives the price
- Generator size, and whether it covers the whole house or chosen circuits
- The type of transfer switch, and the size of your electrical service
- Natural gas or propane, the distance to the meter or tank, and whether the meter or tank is large enough
- Where the generator sits, and the site work its pad needs
- Panel changes, if the existing panel needs work to accept the transfer switch
- Permits and inspections, which usually cover both the electrical and the gas work
- The diagnostic visit
- Free. We come look, find the cause and explain it.
- Your price
- Firm price given before any work starts.
- How we price
- Priced per job. Each job is priced on its own.
- Why prices stay down
- Low overhead, and the work done right the first time with current methods, equipment and quality materials, so you are not paying for callbacks.
How a visit works
Call or text
Call or text (615) 426-9344 and tell us what's going on. A photo helps. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A free diagnostic visit
We come look, find the cause and explain it in plain words. The visit is free.
A firm price before any work starts
You get the price for the job before we begin, so you can decide with real numbers.
The work, done right the first time
Current methods, good equipment and quality materials. We keep overhead low and skip the callbacks, which keeps prices down.
Follow-up
If anything we worked on gives you trouble, call or text the same number.
What size generator does a house need?
It depends on what you want running when the power is out. A generator that covers the essentials (the refrigerator, some lights and outlets, the furnace fan, a well pump) can be much smaller than one that runs the whole house, central air included.
Sizing starts with a list of what matters to you and a look at your panel. Some transfer switches manage big loads, taking turns between them, so a smaller generator can cover more of the house. We'll price more than one size so you can compare.
Is it safe to run a portable generator?
Yes, when it runs outside and connects the right way. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, a basement or a crawl space, even with the doors open. Its exhaust carries carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell and which can kill. Keep it at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents, and keep carbon monoxide alarms working inside.
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or a dryer outlet to power the house. That's called backfeeding. It can send power back out on the utility's lines, where it can injure line workers, and it can start a fire. An interlock or a transfer switch at the panel is the safe way to connect.
How does a standby generator know the power went out?
The automatic transfer switch watches the utility power. When it drops, the switch starts the generator and, a few seconds later, moves the house over to generator power. When utility power comes back and holds steady, the switch moves the house back and lets the generator cool down and shut off.
Most standby generators also run a short self-test on a schedule, so you'll hear yours now and then even when the power is on.
Common questions
Do you install whole-home generators?
Yes. Root House handles standby generator installs, including the transfer switch and the gas line. Licensed and insured techs do the electrical work, so one call covers the whole job.
Natural gas or propane: which should I use?
Natural gas is simpler if your home already has it, since there's no tank to refill. Propane works where there's no gas service, with a tank sized for how long you want the generator to run. We'll look at what your home has.
Can I plug my portable generator into a dryer outlet?
No. Backfeeding through an outlet can energize the utility lines and put line workers at risk, and it can overload your wiring. An inlet with an interlock or a transfer switch is the safe way to connect a portable generator.
Where can a standby generator go?
Outside, on a level pad, at the distances the manufacturer and local code require from windows, doors, vents and the house. Closer to the gas meter and the panel usually means a simpler install.
Will I need a permit?
Usually, yes. Generator installs typically need an electrical permit, and the gas line may need its own. Your city or county sets the rules. We'll tell you what your job needs when we give you the price.
Does a standby generator need maintenance?
Yes. Like a car engine, it needs oil changes, filters and a working battery, and the manufacturer sets a schedule. Keeping to it is how you know the generator will start when you need it.
Can you get a new home ready for a generator?
Yes. Root House specializes in new construction and renovations. A transfer switch, a pad location and a gas line can be planned during the rough-in, so the generator goes in cleanly later.
Related
- Gas Line Installation and Repair
- Electrical Panel and Meter Base Upgrades
- Whole-Home Surge Protection
- Well Houses and Well Water Plumbing
- Sump Pumps and Crawl Space Drainage
- Electrical Repair and Troubleshooting
Electrical
What size generator does a house need?
Size a generator to what has to run at the same time. Add up the running watts, then allow for the extra surge the biggest motor pulls to start. Covering the fridge, lights and a well or sump pump takes a much smaller generator than adding central air or electric heat.
Work that holds.
Call or text for generators anywhere we serve in Middle Tennessee.