Round Rock, Texas

Home generator installation in Round Rock

Want power when the grid goes down? Text me what you want to keep running. I’ll help you find a licensed local installer and know what to ask.

Text Terry about a generator

OnHand Home is not an installer. I help you find one, and you get their business name before you agree to anything. There is no charge for my help. You pay the installer for the work.

What the work involves

A generator job is one of two things. One is a portable generator with a safe way to connect it to the house. The other is a permanent standby generator that starts on its own when the power fails.

Either way, the installer plans three things: what the generator powers, how it connects to your house, and where it sits. For a standby unit the installer also plans the fuel supply, the pad and the controls.

Start with a list of what you must run in an outage. Fridge, lights, internet, a medical device, the AC. That list sets the size of the generator and the scope of the quote.

Why Round Rock homeowners ask about a generator

You want the fridge, lights and internet to keep working in an outage
Someone at home depends on powered medical equipment
You work from home and need power
You own a portable generator and want a safe way to connect it
You want power to start on its own while you are away
You are comparing a whole-house unit with a smaller option

Portable or standby?

The two options differ in cost, effort and what they can run.

Portable. You roll it out, start it and connect it. It needs fuel on hand and someone home to run it. It must stay outdoors.
Standby. It sits outside the house on a pad, runs on natural gas or propane, and starts when the power fails. It is a bigger install.
Transfer switch or interlock. Either one lets you feed the house safely and stops power flowing back to the grid. A licensed electrician installs it. Ask which one suits your panel.
Natural gas or propane. Natural gas comes from the gas line. Propane needs a tank. Ask what your lot allows.

What changes the price

Generator prices vary widely with what you want to power. A written scope keeps quotes comparable.

The size of the generator, set by what you want to run
Portable or standby
Whether you power the whole house or selected circuits
The transfer switch or interlock, and any panel work
The fuel: a gas line extension or a propane tank
Where the unit sits, the pad, and how far it is from the house and panel
Any City permit and inspection
A maintenance plan, if the installer offers one

Questions to ask the installer

Use these to compare quotes side by side.

What is your Texas electrical license number?Texas requires licensed people for non-exempt electrical work. You can look the number up yourself.
How did you size the generator?Ask them to list the loads they counted.
Transfer switch or interlock, and why?Either one is a safe way to connect. The answer depends on your panel.
Who handles the gas or propane connection?Fuel work may involve a different licensed trade. Ask who does it.
Where does the unit go, and how far from windows and doors?CDC says to keep generators outdoors at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.
Does the job need a City permit, and who files it?The City lists a standalone electrical permit. Its page does not mention generators. Ask whether yours needs one.
What does maintenance involve, and who does it?A generator that sits unused still needs care.

Generator safety

Generators make carbon monoxide (CO), a gas you cannot smell. CDC says never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.

Put battery-operated or battery back-up CO detectors near every sleeping area. If an alarm sounds, or you feel dizzy, sick or have a headache, get outside to fresh air and call 911.

Never plug a generator into a wall outlet to power the house. Utilities call this backfeed. GVEC, a Texas electric cooperative, calls it a serious danger and says to have a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. A New Jersey state safety advisory adds that backfeed can electrocute anyone working on the lines.

Round Rock and Texas notes

Texas requires a license for non-exempt electrical work. TDLR runs a public license search.
The City of Round Rock lists a standalone residential electrical permit. Its page does not mention generators. Ask whether your job needs a permit.

What happens after you text

You text meSay what is going on, add a photo if you can, and include your ZIP code. The message is already started for you, and you can change it.
I ask a question or twoI check the details an installer will need and confirm you are in our area. We are starting in Round Rock.
I look for an installerI check who can take the job. You get the business name before you agree to anything. If I cannot find someone, I tell you.
They quote and do the workThe installer confirms the time and the price with you. You pay them for the work. I follow up afterward.

Tell me what is going on.

Text me a short description and your ZIP code. A photo helps.