Riccardo from Shrewsbury, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since September of 2019. The generator was commissioned that December: 20 kW on natural gas, on a 200-amp whole-house transfer switch, sized against a 17 kW calculation for the 3,800 square foot house. A sump pump, two refrigerators, a separate freezer, a washer, a gas dryer and a dishwasher make up the load. Whole-house rather than a critical-load panel is the choice worth noting on a house this size: nothing has to be nominated in advance as the part that keeps working. An annual maintenance plan covers the generator, taken up two years after the installation.
Project Facts
- Location
- Shrewsbury, NJ
- Services
- Standby Generator Installation, Standby Generator Service
- Client since
- September 2019
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 7039-1
- Rated output
- 20 kW LP / 18 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Home sized for
- 3,800 sq ft
- Electrical service
- 200 amp
- Transfer switch
- 200 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
Standby generator questions from Shrewsbury homeowners
Will a 22 kW generator run an entire Shrewsbury 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 sit behind a solid privacy fence?
Potentially, if the fence stays outside every airflow, exhaust and servicing clearance and does not create a partially enclosed space where heat or exhaust can accumulate. Municipal fence and screening rules may apply as well.
Will a larger gas meter be needed?
Possibly. A generator can significantly increase a home's maximum gas demand. If the existing meter or service cannot hold the required pressure while supplying the generator and the other appliances together, the gas utility may require an upgrade.