Standby Generators in Harrison, NY

Harrison sits just inland from Long Island Sound, and the storms that roll in off the water do not stop at the shoreline. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 knocked out power to roughly two out of three Con Edison customers in Harrison, by Daily Voice's count, and thousands were still waiting a week later. A year earlier, Irene caused major outages downtown and in West Harrison. Ice storms and summer thunderstorms add to the list.

A standby generator is the permanent fix. It sits on a small pad outside, runs on natural gas from your meter or on propane from a tank, and connects to your panel through an automatic transfer switch. Lose power, and within seconds the switch starts the generator and moves your circuits over. Your heat, sump pump, refrigerator and lights keep going whether or not anyone is home.

Every house is a little different. A Purchase property may have room for a generator far from the bedrooms but need a long gas line. A downtown house may have a short run but tight clearances from the neighbor's windows. Older homes may need a panel upgrade before a transfer switch can go in. That is why a site visit comes before any real price.

Use the short form to tell us your town, your fuel and what you want to keep running. We pass your request to a local electrician or generator installer who will contact you, visit and give you a written quote. The guides on this site cover sizing, transfer switches, panels, maintenance and typical published costs.

What makes a good generator job

• A real load calculation. The installer should size the generator from your actual appliances and pumps, not a rule of thumb, and show you the math.
• A clear fuel plan. Natural gas needs a meter that can carry the extra load. Propane needs a tank sized for a long outage. Both connections belong to licensed pros.
• Sensible placement. Exhaust clearances, flood risk near the Sound, noise and how far the unit sits from the house all matter. Expect them to be discussed on site.
• Permits pulled by the contractor. Harrison and its neighbors require permits and inspections for this work. The contractor should handle both.
• A licensed contractor. Westchester County licenses home improvement contractors. Ask for the license number and insurance certificate before you sign.

What size generator fits a Harrison house?

Sizing starts with a list. Write down what you need during an outage: furnace or boiler, sump pump, refrigerator, freezer, a few lights and outlets, and maybe central air or an electric range. A smaller generator can cover the essentials. Running everything takes a larger unit or a load manager that staggers big appliances. Fuel changes the rating too; Generac's 24kW model is rated 24 kW on propane and 22.5 kW on natural gas. Your installer should turn your list into a written load calculation.

Homes near the water

If your house is in or near a flood zone in Rye, Mamaroneck or other Sound Shore areas, ask how the installer will protect the generator from water. Raising the pad, choosing higher ground on the lot and keeping the transfer switch above expected flood levels are common approaches. Local flood rules may set where equipment can go.

Generator safety at home

Until a standby system is in, be careful with portable generators. Run them only outdoors, well away from windows, doors and vents, and never in a garage or basement, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide has no smell and can kill. Never connect a portable generator to a wall outlet or the panel without a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician; backfeeding can electrocute utility workers and is illegal. Keep carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the house.

What standby generators and related work typically cost

Published national ranges, not quotes. Expect local labor and permit costs to matter.

Ranges come from the national cost guides listed below and are not quotes. Your price depends on the generator size and fuel, the distance from the unit to the meter and panel, any panel or meter work, flood protection near the water, and permit fees.

Sources: Fixr, whole house generator installation cost; Fixr, electrical panel upgrade cost; HomeGuide, EV charger installation cost

Questions homeowners ask