Home Or Business
Home Or Business | Generators | Electrical | Old Fort
When the lights flicker out in Old Fort, savvy homeowners and business owners alike trust HEP’s licensed electricians to keep everything running with reliable generators. From sudden mountain storms to planned utility interruptions, our team designs and installs backup power solutions that match your property’s exact load demands, so you can keep refrigerators cold, servers online, and life moving without a hitch.
HEP handles the entire process—consultation, permitting, installation, and ongoing maintenance—while you enjoy peace of mind and a predictable energy supply. Whether you need a compact unit for a small cabin or a commercial-grade system for your storefront, our locally based pros arrive on time, treat your space with respect, and back every job with transparent pricing and 24/7 emergency support. Stay powered, stay productive, and let HEP bring dependable current to your corner of Old Fort.
FAQs
What types of generators do you install for homes and businesses in Old Fort?
We install standby (permanently-mounted) generators that run on natural gas, propane, or diesel, as well as smaller portable units when appropriate. For most residences and small businesses in Old Fort, we recommend air-cooled standby generators from 10 kW to 26 kW, while larger commercial facilities often benefit from liquid-cooled models ranging from 30 kW to several hundred kW. We are certified dealers for major brands such as Generac, Cummins, and Kohler, and we match the generator type to your fuel availability, budget, and power-backup needs.
How do I determine the right size generator for my property?
Proper sizing starts with a load calculation. We list every circuit or piece of equipment you want to power, add their running wattages, and account for motor starting surges. For homes, that might include HVAC, refrigerators, well pumps, and select lighting. For businesses, we assess machinery, POS systems, servers, or life-safety loads. Once we know the total amperage, we recommend a generator that can supply at least 20 % additional capacity for future growth. Our site visit in Old Fort typically takes about an hour, and you receive a written load analysis and generator recommendation the same day.
Do I need a permit or inspection for generator installation in Old Fort?
Yes. McDowell County and the Town of Old Fort require an electrical permit for any standby generator that is hard-wired into your panel. If the unit is fueled by propane or natural gas, a mechanical or gas permit is also required. After installation, county inspectors verify the wiring, grounding, and fuel connections before the generator can be placed in service. We handle all permit paperwork, schedule inspections, and provide “as-built” diagrams so you remain fully compliant with NEC, NFPA 70, and local ordinances.
How often should a standby generator be serviced?
Manufacturers recommend maintenance every 6–12 months or after 100–200 hours of run time, whichever comes first. A typical service visit in Old Fort includes an oil and filter change, spark-plug replacement, valve clearance check, battery load test, firmware updates, and exercise cycle verification. For commercial diesel units, we also test coolant, inspect fuel filters, and perform a load-bank test annually to prevent wet-stacking. Enrolling in our maintenance plan ensures your warranty remains valid and your generator starts when you need it.
Can a generator be tied into my existing electrical panel for automatic transfer?
Absolutely. We install an automatic transfer switch (ATS) that monitors utility voltage 24/7. When it senses an outage, it signals the generator to start and safely switches your chosen circuits from utility to generator power—usually within 10–15 seconds. When grid power returns and stabilizes, the ATS re-connects you to the utility and cool-down shuts the generator off. The ATS can be a whole-house model or a load-center style that backs up only critical circuits, giving you flexibility on cost and power coverage.
What happens during a power outage and how quickly will my standby generator start?
1. Power fails: The ATS detects the voltage drop within a fraction of a second. 2. Generator starts: The engine cranks automatically and reaches operating speed—typically 5–10 seconds for air-cooled units and 10–15 seconds for larger liquid-cooled models. 3. Load transfer: Once voltage and frequency stabilize, the ATS transfers your electrical loads to the generator. 4. Continuous power: You have full backup until the utility is restored, whether the outage lasts minutes or days. 5. Return to utility: When grid power is stable for a preset time (usually 5 minutes), the ATS switches back and the generator runs an automatic cool-down cycle. Throughout the process you won’t need to flip breakers, refuel, or even be on site—your standby generator takes care of everything automatically.