Generator Installation — Standby & Portable
When a summer storm takes the power out, a properly wired generator keeps the sump pump, furnace, fridge and lights running. EMT Electric installs standby generators with automatic transfer switches and wires safe hookups for portable generators across Chicago's South Side and the south and southwest suburbs, including Tinley Park, Orland Park and the Palos area.
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Two ways to back up your house
The right setup depends on how much of the house you want running and how hands-on you want to be when the lights go out.
Standby generator
- Permanent unit outside, running on natural gas or propane
- Automatic transfer switch starts it within seconds of an outage
- Whole-house or essential-circuit coverage, sized to your load
Portable generator hookup
- Outdoor power inlet box — no extension cords through windows
- Interlock kit or manual transfer switch at the panel
- Lower cost, and you choose which circuits run
Why the transfer switch matters
A generator plugged into a dryer outlet or wired straight into a panel can push power back onto the utility lines — a real danger to line crews and to your own equipment when the grid comes back. Every setup we install isolates the house from the grid first, through an automatic transfer switch, a manual transfer switch or a listed interlock, so the generator and the utility can never feed the house at the same time.
How an install goes
It starts with a load calculation so the generator is sized to what you actually need to run, not oversold. We pick a location that meets clearance requirements from windows, doors and property lines, set the transfer switch next to your panel, and run the wiring between them. The gas connection is made by a licensed gas contractor, coordinated with our work. We pull the electrical permit, meet the inspector, then test a full outage-and-return cycle with you before we leave.
What moves the price
Generator work is quoted per job, free, and firm before we start. The big variables: standby versus portable, the size of the generator, whole-house versus essential circuits, how far the unit sits from the panel and gas meter, whether your panel needs an upgrade to accept the transfer switch, and your municipality's permit fees.
Generator questions we hear
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what has to run. Keeping the sump pump, furnace, fridge and some lights on takes far less than running central air and an electric range. The load calculation during the estimate gives you a real number.
Can I just plug my portable generator into an outlet?
No. A so-called suicide cord can backfeed the utility lines and electrocute a line worker. An inlet box with an interlock or transfer switch is the safe, code-compliant way to do it, and it's usually a one-day job.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Generator and transfer switch installs are permitted and inspected in every town we work in. We handle the electrical permit, and the inspection protects you when you sell or file an insurance claim.