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When an ice storm or a summer thunderstorm takes the power out in Central or Southside Virginia, it can stay out for hours or days, especially on rural lines. A home standby generator starts by itself within seconds of an outage and runs your home on natural gas or propane until the utility is back, whether you’re home or not.
This guide covers how a standby system works, how it’s sized, what permits and placement involve in Virginia, and what keeps one ready to run.
How a Home Standby Generator Works
A standby system has two main parts:
- The generator, a permanently installed unit outside the house, fueled by your natural gas line or a propane tank.
- An automatic transfer switch (ATS), which watches utility power. When it drops, the switch starts the generator, disconnects your home from the utility and connects it to the generator. When the utility returns, it switches back and lets the generator cool down and shut off.
The transfer switch is what makes it safe: your home is never connected to the utility and the generator at the same time, so no power can flow back onto the lines where crews are working.
Whole-Home or Essential Circuits?
There are two common approaches:
- Whole-home coverage: the generator is sized to carry the house as you normally use it, often with load management that holds off a large load (like a second air conditioner or an electric range) when the generator is near its limit.
- Essential circuits: a smaller generator and a transfer switch that serves a chosen set of circuits, such as the refrigerator, furnace or heat pump, well pump, sump pump, some lights and outlets.
Well pumps, heat pumps and electric water heaters are common in our area and drive the size up, so sizing is done with a load calculation, not by square footage alone.
Fuel: Natural Gas or Propane
In town, natural gas is the usual fuel and never needs refilling. Outside gas service areas, most standby generators run on propane. The tank has to be large enough to run the generator for a multi-day outage, and the gas line from the meter or tank has to be sized for the generator’s demand. Your gas supplier and a licensed gas fitter handle that side; we coordinate with them.
Placement, Permits and Inspections
- Placement follows the manufacturer’s installation manual and the codes: minimum distances from windows, doors, vents and air intakes so exhaust can’t get inside, clearance for service, and a level pad.
- Permits: a standby generator usually needs an electrical permit, and the gas connection needs its own permit. Some localities also review placement.
- Utility and HOA: we let you know if your homeowners’ association has rules about outdoor equipment.
We pull the electrical permit, schedule inspections and commission the system before we leave.
Keeping It Ready
A standby generator is an engine that may sit for months, then has to start in the middle of a storm. Modern units run a short self-test on a schedule, but they still need routine service: oil and filter changes, battery checks, spark plugs, air filter, and a check of the transfer switch. Our Home + Generator maintenance plan includes yearly generator care.
Generac Home Standby Generators
Progress and Heritage is a Generac Aligned Contractor, and we install and service Generac Home Standby Generators. We also install other makes when that suits your home better.
Ready for the next outage? Book a visit on our booking page and we’ll size a system for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size generator do I need for my house?
It depends on what you want to run during an outage. A load calculation that counts your heating and cooling, well pump, water heater and appliances decides it. Many homes are well served by a mid-size generator with load management.
Do I need a permit for a standby generator in Virginia?
Generally yes: an electrical permit for the generator and transfer switch, and a separate permit for the gas connection. We handle the electrical permit and coordinate the rest.
How long can a standby generator run?
On natural gas, as long as gas service continues. On propane, it depends on the tank size and the load; your propane supplier can estimate runtime for your tank.
Is a standby generator better than a portable one?
A standby generator starts automatically, runs on a permanent fuel supply and can carry more of the house. A portable generator costs less and works well for essentials if it’s connected safely. See our guide to portable generator hookups, or compare with battery backup.
Why Homeowners Choose Progress and Heritage for Backup Power
Our licensed, insured, background-checked electricians size the system, handle permits, install and commission it, and keep it serviced. We serve Lynchburg, Bedford, Amherst, Campbell, Appomattox, Roanoke, Salem, Danville, Martinsville and the surrounding counties. See our home technology and power solutions.
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