Backup Home Generator Installation
When the power goes out, it’s more than an inconvenience — food spoils, sump pumps stop protecting your basement, medical equipment loses power, and in winter, pipes can freeze within hours. Professor Gatsby’s Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electric installs whole-home standby generators for homeowners throughout Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties, in the South Jersey area, so a storm or grid outage doesn’t have to mean losing power to your home.
Standby Home Generators
Backup generators are permanently installed outside your home, connected to a natural gas or propane line, and wired into your electrical system through an automatic transfer switch. When utility power fails, the system detects the outage and starts the generator automatically — typically within 10 to 15 seconds — with no manual setup required. When utility power returns, it shuts itself off and switches your home back over just as automatically.
For most homeowners looking for real peace of mind, a standby generator is the more reliable long-term investment.
How a Standby Generator System Works
- Constant monitoring – The automatic transfer switch (ATS) continuously monitors incoming utility power.
- Automatic startup – When it detects an outage, the generator starts itself and the ATS switches your home’s power source from the utility to the generator.
- Seamless operation – Your home runs on generator power for the duration of the outage, with no action required from you.
- Automatic shutoff – Once utility power is restored and stable, the ATS switches your home back to utility power and the generator shuts itself down.
Most standby generators also run a brief weekly self-test to confirm the system is ready when you need it — so don’t be alarmed if you hear it start up on its own for a few minutes.
Choosing the Right Fuel Source
Natural Gas Connects directly to your home’s existing gas utility line, providing a continuous fuel supply with no manual refueling — ideal for extended outages, provided the gas line itself isn’t affected.
Propane Stored in an on-site tank, propane remains available even if utility gas lines are disrupted, and burns cleanly for a long engine life. It does require monitoring fuel levels and periodic refills during extended outages.
Dual-Fuel Some systems can run on either fuel, offering flexibility if one supply becomes unavailable.
Our electricians can walk you through which option best fits your home, your outage risk, and your existing utility setup.
Sizing Your Generator
Generator sizing isn’t just about your home’s square footage — it’s about what you actually want powered during an outage:
- Smaller units (8–12 kW) typically cover essential circuits — refrigerator, sump pump, some lighting, and a few key outlets
- Mid-size units (12–22 kW) can handle more of the home, including central air conditioning and multiple major appliances
- Larger installations are sized for whole-home coverage in bigger properties with higher electrical demand
Rather than guessing, our team calculates your home’s actual load requirements — including startup demand from equipment like central AC — to recommend a generator that’s neither underpowered nor oversized for what you need.
What Installation Involves
- Site assessment – We evaluate your home’s electrical panel, layout, and the best location for the generator and transfer switch.
- Load calculation & sizing – We determine the right generator size based on what you want powered during an outage.
- Fuel line coordination – We coordinate natural gas or propane fuel line installation to meet the generator’s requirements.
- Electrical connection – The generator is wired to an automatic transfer switch connected to your main panel.
- Permits & inspection – Standby generator installation requires permits and inspection for both electrical and gas work — we handle the process.
- Testing – Once installed, we test the full system to confirm automatic startup, transfer, and shutdown all function correctly.
Generator Safety
Standby generators are installed outdoors, away from windows and doors, and vented safely — unlike portable generators, which pose a serious carbon monoxide risk if run indoors or too close to the home. Professional installation ensures your system meets all safety clearances, electrical code requirements, and local gas installation standards from day one.
Why Choose Professor Gatsby’s
- Licensed electricians experienced in whole-home generator installation and sizing
- Coordination of both the electrical and fuel line components of your system
- Honest guidance on fuel type and generator size for your home’s actual needs
- Full permitting and code-compliant installation
- One trusted company for your electrical, heating, cooling, and plumbing needs
Serving All of South Jersey
Storms and outages aren’t a matter of if but when. Professor Gatsby’s can help you plan and install a standby generator system that keeps your home running — automatically, safely, and without the scramble.
Ready for real peace of mind during the next outage? Contact Professor Gatsby’s today to schedule a generator consultation.
Our Locations
Williamstown, New Jersey Office
(856) 315-0007
Berlin, New Jersey Office
(856) 315-1651
Trenton, New Jersey Office
(609) 308-7655