Meta from Howell, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since December of 2021. The generator was commissioned in March of 2022: 18 kW on natural gas, on a 200-amp service-entrance switch with a smart management module and surge protection. The load calculation asked for 15 kW across the 2,000 square foot house, with a sump pump among the loads – the item that turns a long outage from an inconvenience into water in the basement. Howell is largely wooded and its outages tend to come from trees on lines rather than from the coast, which often means a longer wait for restoration than a shore town would expect. The generator is supported by annual maintenance, an extended parts-and-labor warranty, and monitoring we manage.
Project Facts
- Location
- Howell, NJ
- Services
- Standby Generator Installation, Standby Generator Service
- Client since
- December 2021
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 7226
- Rated output
- 18 kW LP / 17 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Home sized for
- 2,000 sq ft
- Electrical service
- 200 amp
- Transfer switch
- 200 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
Standby generator questions from Howell homeowners
Does the generator need its own gas shutoff?
The fuel installation has to include the shutoff arrangements required by the adopted fuel-gas code and by the installation instructions. The valve must be positioned where it is accessible, both for servicing and for isolating the machine in an emergency.
Will an 18 kW generator run an entire Howell house?
For many homes, yes, but that does not mean every load can run at the same moment. Houses with two central air conditioners, electric heat, EV charging, pool equipment or electric cooking may need load management or a larger machine. The answer comes from a load calculation rather than from the phrase whole house.
Can a generator be installed on a deck or a roof?
Platform, deck and supporting-structure installations are recognized, but they call for additional review: structural capacity, noncombustible surface requirements, fire clearance, exhaust, airflow, vibration, service access and local requirements all have to be addressed. It is a site-specific installation rather than a routine location.