Residential Generator Services

What is a Standby Generator?

A standby generator is a permanently installed backup power system that automatically restores electricity to your home within 10-30 seconds of a power outage. Unlike portable generators that require manual setup and refueling, standby generators connect to your home's natural gas or propane supply for unlimited runtime and use an automatic transfer switch to seamlessly power your entire home or essential circuits during grid failures. These systems are designed for whole-home protection, providing 8-48 kW of power capacity depending on your home's electrical needs.

Standby generators operate automatically and require no intervention during power outages—making them ideal for protecting your home when you're away, asleep, or unable to manually operate backup power equipment. Professional installation ensures code compliance, proper sizing, and reliable operation for 20-30 years of service life.

How to Choose the Right Generator Size for Your Home

Selecting the correct generator capacity ensures reliable backup power without overspending on unnecessary capacity.

What is an Automatic Transfer Switch?

An automatic transfer switch (ATS) is the control system that continuously monitors your utility power and automatically activates your standby generator when an outage is detected. Within seconds of sensing power loss, the ATS signals your generator to start, waits for it to reach proper operating voltage and frequency, then seamlessly transfers your home's electrical load from utility power to generator power. When utility service is restored, the ATS reverses the process—transferring your home back to grid power and shutting down the generator after a brief cool-down period.

The ATS is the "brain" of your backup power system, making standby generators truly automatic and requiring zero manual intervention during outages. Professional installation ensures the transfer switch is properly sized for your electrical panel, programmed with appropriate delay settings, and compliant with local electrical codes. Quality automatic transfer switches are designed for 20+ years of reliable service and thousands of transfer cycles.

How to Prepare Your Generator for Hurricane Season

Ensure your backup power system is ready before storms threaten the Gulf Coast (June 1 - November 30).

What is Generator Load Testing?

Generator load testing is the process of operating your backup generator under its full rated electrical load to verify it can perform as designed during an actual power outage. Unlike the weekly automatic exercise cycle (which runs the generator at minimal load for 15-20 minutes), load testing simulates real-world emergency conditions by applying the generator's full electrical capacity using either your home's actual electrical systems or specialized load bank equipment. This critical test confirms the generator can start reliably, reach proper operating temperature, maintain correct voltage and frequency, and sustain power delivery for extended periods.

Load testing is essential because generators can develop "wet stacking" and other performance issues when only exercised at low loads. Professional load testing should be performed annually at minimum, with semi-annual testing recommended for critical applications. Buffalo Power Solutions includes comprehensive load testing in all maintenance contracts, using calibrated equipment to document your generator's performance and identify potential issues before they cause failures during emergencies.