As the title states, new to the area, and want to get prepared for Hurricane season. We are looking for a portable generator and electrician that can install the necessary equipment to our house to plug-in and operate a few appliances and above garage apartment.

We are looking to stay portable for cost and various uses outside of just hurricane prep (but these are less important).

Have started looking and it gets overwhelming quickly. Wondering if there is any suggestions for a contractor / company that specializes in this area that could provide some assistance. Any ideas?

Mark Luchak is often recommended for electrician work and installed an interlock device on my breaker box as I already had a 220 in the garage.

When I was looking into a while back I was thinking of installing a transfer switch but I'll just turn off the breakers that I don't need when running on generator power.

281.450.2673

The issue will be your ACs, everything has to be scared around the start up demands in Amps. Then add your refrigerator compressors. Most everything else is little compared to those. Using a portable has upper limits in size/power and it also depends if you'll have one that's able to connect to Nat Gas, or if you'll use gasoline and/or propane.

Then there's storage issues and noise. They're Loud.

This is the route I went down. Much cheaper than a built in Generac BUT more labor intensive and less convenient.

Here's a long thread on it after the winter storm.

If you don't want to run your ACs (which I can't fathom as it'll be hot and miserable out) you can get away with a much smaller system.

https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/3184462

Oh yeah, I got a portable AC recently to use when camping and to cool a medium sized room. Other than the freeze, we've never lost power for very long.

Mark Luchak has moved away from Houston and refers business to Brian Ziese.

(281) 770-6179

After the freeze I went about fortifying my house.

A couple things:

1. You want to get an electrician to come out and install a 50 amp interlock in your fuse box. This will let you either have power from the grid or power from the generator.

2. It's worth also having the electrician put a home surge protector + hard/soft start on your AC. This gives some protection, plus lowers the amps needed to start the AC which helps.

3. Decide on your fuel source. There are typically gasoline or gas/propane generators that are reasonble priced. You can get a tri-fuel or get a dual fuel fitted for tri-fuel (this is what I did). The obvious benefit of propane or nat gas is that you don't have to worry about gas going bad in your generator and gunking it up. You may need a plumber to come out and add a link for you to get nat gas to your generator.

4. Unfortunately you've just missed the sales on generators. Firman is typically an intro generator and can be found for a decent price at Costco or Sams. I have this Duromax (link: Duromax 13000) that is dual fuel and I had converted to tri-fuel. It was just on sale last week, so worth keeping an eye out for again. Of course you can look for honda engines as well, but will mostly be gasoline.

5. Size wise, most of the boiler plates will be rated for gasoline which achieves the highest wattages at start up, then propane, then nat gas. I have a 5 ton AC and my generator will start it easily with any of the fuels. I've read where people can get 2 AC's going with the 13k start (even with nat gas) as long as you have hard starts on your AC.

Hope that helps as a start. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to help.

YourFavAggie said:

---

As the title states, new to the area, and want to get prepared for Hurricane season. We are looking for a portable generator and electrician that can install the necessary equipment to our house to plug-in and operate a few appliances and above garage apartment.

We are looking to stay portable for cost and various uses outside of just hurricane prep (but these are less important).

Have started looking and it gets overwhelming quickly. Wondering if there is any suggestions for a contractor / company that specializes in this area that could provide some assistance. Any ideas?

---

Where do you live?

This has been helpful start. Thank y'all.

Based in league city

Anti-taxxer said:

---

RC_57 said:

---

Don't know why you're worried about a generator when you're focus should be on insuring you have enough bleach.

---

This. Bleach is the first thing you need.

If you live in Katy, your next step needs to be to identify an evacuation route.

---

South or East is the best direction to go.

I highly reccomend Brian Ziese from above.

He installed my interlock and repaired few other minor issues with my old house.

I have 6000 running watt generator that was impulse buy when our power got turned off after Harvey.

If in did it again I would get one that is tri fuel to give some backup if I can't find fuel.

I have a portable ac ready to go as in remember sweating my butt off after Ike for two weeks.

During hurricane season I keep 4+ cases of water on hand because my wife drinks tons of water and don't want to go out and fight the idiots buy some last minute

Take stock of your fridge and pantry to see if you can survive for a week.

If not stock up with some non perishable things to have on standby for same reason as water.

If you can foot the cash, the larger Honda inverters are badass. Mine powers everything in my house except the central air and can easily run portable AC in closed off rooms as well. Plus they are quiet.

YourFavAggie said:

---

This has been helpful start. Thank y'all.

Based in league city

---

I have been telling everyone that we are full. I am gonna need to to forcibly remove some yankees or California idiots to get us back to capacity.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

---

YourFavAggie said:

---

This has been helpful start. Thank y'all.

Based in league city

---

I have been telling everyone that we are full. I am gonna need to to forcibly remove some yankees or California idiots to get us back to capacity.

---

Based on the amount of houses being built behind my neighborhood, looks like you need to work a little harder

Haven't seen this mentioned yet. If you are going to try and backfeed (via interlock switch) both sides of your panel, you have to have a generator that produces 220v. Otherwise you would be better off with a transfer switch where you pick what breakers you want to power ahead of time.

Stringfellow Hawke said:

---

Mark Luchak has moved away from Houston and refers business to Brian Ziese.

(281) 770-6179

---

Working with Brian on this. Thanks again

MrWonderful said:

---

Haven't seen this mentioned yet. If you are going to try and backfeed (via interlock switch) both sides of your panel, you have to have a generator that produces 220v. Otherwise you would be better off with a transfer switch where you pick what breakers you want to power ahead of time.

---

They do have adaptors to bridge both sides.

I have two 1000w yamaha generators, each with 120v power, in parallel. It's still just 120v. But pretty sure my 30A to 50A adaptor bridges each leg.

I'm far from an electrician, so almost positive some of my wording is incorrect. But I know I've used this setup and powered my entire house multiple times, well minus the A/C, Washer, & Dryer.

Welcome.

Just noticed a Westinghouse dual fuel 12,000 kw generator listed on Facebook. Missouri City, 1 yr old with 50 amp electric cable. All like new $2000. This is the generator that was popular on the TexAgs thread that I own.

Also see a new Generac 11000 kw for $2500 in Santa Fe TX.

Maybe someone can benefit.

Thanks, getting the interlock installed tomorrow and will confirm with Brian what I need

Whoop Delecto said:

---

Just noticed a Westinghouse dual fuel 12,000 kw generator listed on Facebook. Missouri City, 1 yr old with 50 amp electric cable. All like new $2000. This is the generator that was popular on the TexAgs thread.

Also see a new Generac 11000 kw for $2500 in Santa Fe TX

---

Pretty good deal. Just make sure it runs!

If you do nothing and had never posted this, your life wouldn't change a single bit. Not needed

YourFavAggie said:

---

Thanks, getting the interlock installed tomorrow and will confirm with Brian what I need

---

Brian did some work at my house yesterday and mentioned how he loves the TexAgs referrals. Good dude.

Super helpful! Thanks