FAQ

Castle Generators, LLC in Stamford, CT has the answers to the most frequently asked questions about generators and our services.

Why CASTLE GENERATORS?

         COMPETITIVE PRICING

                   VAST SELECTION FROM MANY MANUFACTURERS

                             FAST TURNKEY INSTALLATION

                                       SERVICE BY EXPERT FACTORY-TRAINED AND CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS

The staff at Castle Generators have years of experience furnishing, installing, maintaining and repairing standby and portable generators. We are sales and service representatives for the “big three” generator manufacturers: Generac (makers of the famous “Guardian” series line), General Electric, and Briggs and Stratton. Each system has its own capabilities and features, and only one of them is the best fit for your electrical needs and your budget.

Purchasing too small a system will compromise your ability to run what you need during a power failure; purchasing too large a system is just a waste of money. CASTLE GENERATORS HAS THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO DETERMINE, FURNISH AND INSTALL THE GENERATOR SYSTEM THAT EXACTLY MEETS YOUR NEEDS, AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST.

We feature some of the lowest prices in the industry. Call us for a free, no cost, no-obligation consultation by telephone or in-person, and we show you how we provide the lowest-cost systems in the industry.   

1. WHAT IS A GENERATOR SYSTEM?

2. HOW DOES A GENERATOR SYSTEM WORK? 

3. WHAT DOES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH DO? 

4. DOES THE GENERATOR JUST PLUG IN? 

5. WHY DO I SEE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN PRICES FOR GENERATOR INSTALLATIONS?

6. WHY DO I NEED A STANDBY GENERATOR?

7. WILL A GENERATOR SYSTEM SUFFICIENTLY PROTECT ME IN THE EVENT OF A POWER FAILURE?  

8. WILL MY SYSTEM PROVIDE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO RUN EVERYTHING IN MY HOUSE? HOW BIG A GENERATOR DO I NEED?

9. I’VE HEARD ABOUT “LOAD-SHED” OR “CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT” SYSTEMS. WHAT ARE THESE AND WHY MIGHT I NEED ONE?

10. WHAT IF I HAVE 400 AMP SERVICE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, ANYWAY?

11. I’VE HEARD OF “WHOLE HOUSE” GENERATOR SYSTEMS. WHAT ARE THOSE?

12. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PORTABLE GENERATOR AND A “STANDBY” GENERATOR?

13. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO DURING A POWER FAILURE TO GET MY GENERATOR SYSTEM RUNNING?

14. WHAT KIND OF FUEL DOES A HOME GENERATOR RUN ON? 

15. HOW DO I DETERMINE WHAT FUEL MY GENERATOR SHOULD RUN ON? 

16. WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE NATURAL GAS?

17. AS LONG AS I AM GETTING PROPANE, CAN I USE IT FOR AN OVEN OR COOKTOP? HOW ABOUT A GAS DRYER, OR FIREPLACE LOG LIGHTER? CAN I HOOK UP MY OUTDOOR GRILL TO THE SAME PROPANE SO THAT I DON’T EVER HAVE TO LUG THOSE TANKS TO A FILLING STATION AGAIN?

18. CAN I BURY MY PROPANE TANK UNDERGROUND? 

19. HOW BIG IS A GENERATOR UNIT? 

20. HOW MUCH NOISE DOES THE GENERATOR UNIT MAKE WHEN IT RUNS? 

21. WHERE WILL THE GENERATOR AND TRANSFER SWITCH BE INSTALLED? 

22. HOW LONG DOES THE ENTIRE PROCESS TAKE FROM THE TIME WE MAKE OUR DECISION?  

23. HOW LONG DOES THE ACTUAL INSTALLATION TAKE?

24. WILL MY POWER BE OUT DURING THE INSTALLATION OF MY GENERATOR SYSTEM? 

25. WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE?

26. IS THERE A WARRANTY THAT COMES WITH THE GENERATOR SYSTEM?

27. HOW MUCH DOES ALL THIS COST? 

28. SO HOW DO WE GET STARTED?  

1. WHAT IS A GENERATOR SYSTEM?

A generator system (sometimes called a standby generator, or an “emergency” or “backup” generator system) provides temporary emergency power to your home when a power failure or “brownout” occurs.

2. HOW DOES A GENERATOR SYSTEM WORK?

A generator system works the same way that your utility’s system works: an engine powered by natural gas or propane produces electricity to run the appliances and systems in your home. The only difference is that your system is smaller and is located on your property. 

3. WHAT DOES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH DO?

All standby generator systems are operated by an automatic transfer switch. This automatic transfer switch controls every aspect of the functioning of your generator. It constantly monitors the power that your utility provides to your home, sensing any interruption, and immediately switches you over to emergency power until the power from your utility is fully restored. It then shuts down the generator and resets everything, ready for the next power emergency.

Your transfer switch can be installed inside or outside, and is often installed right next to the electrical panel (usually found in your basement or garage) that contains the circuit breakers that provide power to your lights and appliances. 

4. DOES THE GENERATOR JUST PLUG IN?

A generator is not like any other appliance in your home. It cannot be “plugged in” to your existing electrical system, but must be wired into that system, changing its configuration. This work is too complicated and potentially dangerous for “do-it-yourselfers.” It has to be done by a licensed electrician – one who is experienced in generator installations, who is responsible for the safe integration of the system into your home’s electrical system. The installer also has to program the generator and transfer switch and thoroughly test these devices before putting your system into service, or serious damage might result.

All installations by CASTLE GENERATORS are performed by experienced factory-trained technicians and supervised by a master electrician holding an “E-1” license from the state – the state of Connecticut’s highest licensing designation. Our company is fully insured. We stand behind our work with a warranty against all defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of installation. Each manufacturer provides additional periods of warranty of up to five years. We service and maintain everything we sell, and we will be here whenever you need us.

5. WHY DO I SEE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN PRICES FOR GENERATOR INSTALLATIONS?

As a consumer product, generators have certain similarities to other things you might buy, like televisions or computers. As with televisions, where you have to decide whether you want a 42” or a 55” screen, or whether you need 3D, there are many variables in the choices of generators: size, power output, and features, to name but a few.

But generators are also unlike any other consumer product: a generator is not just plugged in; it has to be wired into your home’s electrical system and will change that system in fundamental ways. Only a skilled electrician can perform that work, and it often requires several technicians to assist him or her. Also, the generator itself must be installed outside your home, and the cabling required to connect the generator to your electrical system has to travel along wires which are installed inside conduit (plastic sleeves) far underground. Cabling must extend from the generator to your meter or electrical panel, which often means that the cables must run for some distance both inside and outside your home. When the cabling is outside, safety regulations require that the conduit and cable be installed in a trench which is 20 inches below the surface. 

But the most important factor in price differences is the company furnishing, installing, and standing behind your emergency power system. Anyone can sell you a generator, and any licensed electrician can install it. The seller does not even have to be an authorized dealer. Some dealers are sales dealers only – not service dealers. That means that they cannot service or repair your system, and cannot do any work covered under your warranty. 

What separates “the men from the boys” is what happens after the sale. Your system will require regularly-scheduled preventive maintenance. On occasion, you might experience a problem with your system, and because you use it only when your power fails, you might not know about the problem until the moment when the power failure happens. That’s the moment when you are depending upon your generator system – and if there’s a problem, you want it addressed and fixed immediately. Depending upon who furnished your generator, you might be waiting days for someone to show up and attend to your problem. You might be waiting days more for parts to be ordered and to arrive. Or you might not get your problem fixed at all.

At CASTLE GENERATORS, we are factory-authorized sales and service dealers for everything we sell. Our service technicians are factory-trained and factory-certified. We carry a full line of parts for every generator we install. We are available 24/7 to respond to emergencies. 

The company that you choose to furnish, install and service your system is actually more important than which generator you choose. Even the best generator is useless to you if no one is available to maintain and repair it.

Ultimately, the questions you have to ask yourself when purchasing a generator system, are:  

• Will my generator company answer the phone at 1 a.m. on a Friday night in the middle of a hurricane?
• Will they respond and address my problem (now and not during the next business day)?
• Will they be sending a factory-trained technician who has the knowledge, experience, and parts to rectify the problem?
• Are they authorized to perform work under my manufacturer’s warranty, so that I have no out-of-pocket costs for the service call?

If your generator system is installed by CASTLE GENERATORS, the answer to all of these questions is YES. 

6. WHY DO I NEED A STANDBY GENERATOR?

The power provided by your utility has become much less reliable in recent years. This results from
several factors –

• Like the rest of our infrastructure (bridges and highways, for example) the power transmission system (generally referred to as “the grid”) is aging, and its components are not being repaired or replaced
  quickly enough.

• There has been significant deregulation in the power industry (hence the many mail and telephone solicitations you receive to switch to another power supplier). Because of this, there is no single company responsible to maintain the power grid to the extent and at the speed that it used to be done. Because the money that homeowners spend on electric service is now spread among many suppliers, there is less capital available to your main utility to maintain its power grid. 

•  In the northeast (as elsewhere) we are experiencing increasingly unpredictable and severe weather systems – excessive winds, ice storms and other foul weather which either directly affects the power grid, or causes trees to blow down and fall on power lines, disrupting the system. You are well advised to install a generator system before a series of storms puts the demand through the roof. 

• There is an increasing demand for a limited amount of power – particularly during hot summer days when the demand for power for air conditioning is at its peak. Electrical power cannot be stored – it has to be produced as needed. Producing power is expensive - your utility does not want to engineer so much capacity that it has idle "down time" during the winter months, so it sizes its production capacity for the winter months, which means its capacity in the summer months is frequently insufficient to power the demand for air conditioning, resulting in brownouts and blackouts. 

7. WILL A GENERATOR SYSTEM SUFFICIENTLY PROTECT ME IN THE EVENT OF A POWER FAILURE? 

Any generator system is better than no generator system. However, it is important that your system be properly sized and designed to properly protect your particular home. Every home is unique – and so are your needs and preferences. Some homeowners find air conditioning a necessity; for others, it’s not so important. Some homeowners have accessory equipment (pools, hot tubs, exercise equipment) that use a lot of electricity, but don’t necessarily need to run during a power failure. Some homes have very efficient heating and cooking systems; others use electric heat and/or electric stoves that use a huge amount of electricity.

If properly configured, a generator system can adequately handle all of the appliances and systems in your home, without requiring oversized (and overpriced) equipment.

8. WILL MY SYSTEM PROVIDE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO RUN EVERYTHING IN MY HOUSE? HOW BIG A GENERATOR DO I NEED?

CASTLE GENERATORS provides choices from inexpensive portable units to small standby generators, to commercial liquid-cooled units sufficient to power the larger homes we find in our area. But there are choices to be made for your particular home. Some of our customers decide that they want a system only to power the essentials: heat, water, cooking, a TV, computer, and a few lights. Other customers want a system that will run nearly everything they would be using if there were no power failure, and we can furnish that as well. Larger generator systems cost more to purchase and install, and consume more fuel when they are running.

So you have many choices, but we can save you money by making ensuring that:

• Your generator system is properly sized
• The systems & appliances in your home which consume the most power are effectively managed.

9. I’VE HEARD ABOUT “LOAD-SHED” OR “CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT” SYSTEMS. WHAT ARE THESE AND WHY MIGHT I NEED ONE?

The biggest electrical “draw” in your home is certain to be your air conditioning compressors, which can consume almost the entire output of a residential generator system if not carefully controlled. All manufacturers now offer some form of load-shed system to keep your air conditioning from overloading the generator system and shutting it down. When these systems are installed, they will separately monitor and control your air conditioning compressors, and cycle them off temporarily when there is insufficient power to run them (as when you are running a laundry or using an electric stove). When sufficient power is restored (e.g. when you are done with your laundry or cooking) the load-shed system will sense this and restore your air conditioning. This system works beautifully and is inexpensive, but it is an option and may not be needed in your particular circumstances. This is something we will determine when we visit with you at your home. 

10. WHAT IF I HAVE 400 AMP SERVICE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, ANYWAY?

Most homes of average size have 200 amp service. This is the amount of power (actually current) provided by your utility. Some very small homes have 100 amp service. For larger homes, (generally those above 5,000 square feet), 400 amp service (twice what is available from 200 amp service) is installed. In our area, this generally means two 200-amp panels.

This is important because the size of your generator system’s transfer switch (discussed in question 3) has to match the power provided by your utility if you want your generator system to run on a “whole house” basis. In other words, if you have 200 amp service from your utility, you have to have a 200 amp switch; if you have 400 amps from your utility, you will need a 400 amp switch.

The alternative is for us to take breakers from your existing panels and install them in a special “generator panel” or a transfer switch that will accommodate these breakers. This will save you money if you have 400 amp service, because we can install a 200 amp switch, which is cheaper. On the other hand, this means that not everything in your house will be “live” when you are running on generator power. In other words, this is not a “whole house” installation. Which wiring configuration is right for you is something we will help you decide when we visit with you to do an electrical evaluation of your home. 

11. I’VE HEARD OF “WHOLE HOUSE” GENERATOR SYSTEMS. WHAT ARE THOSE?

Actually, there is no such thing as a “whole house” generator. There is a whole house transfer switch, which, when installed, connects to every appliance, system and light in your home. This “whole house” transfer switch can be installed on any size generator. Whether a particular system is adequate to run what you want to run during a power failure is a function of your electrical needs and the size of the generator installed. If you put a “whole house” switch on a generator that is too small for your needs, you are going to overload your generator, in which even the entire system will shut down. It is therefore critical that your system be properly sized for
your needs. 

12. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PORTABLE GENERATOR AND A “STANDBY” GENERATOR?

Portable generators are smaller units that run on gasoline, rather than natural gas or propane. Their great advantage is that they are moveable, inexpensive to purchase and easy to set up. 

However, they also have their limitations. Most portable generators hold only enough fuel to run for 8 to 10 hours. Then you have to refill it. That can be dangerous, and requires that you either have to run back and forth to a service station (and hope that you find one open during a severe storm) or you have to store gasoline in your garage. That is again dangerous and is probably not permitted by the terms of your homeowner’s insurance. Further, if you store gasoline for a period of several months or more, it deteriorates, breaking down into components that can gum-up your carburetor. 

All portable generators are entirely manual. You can use it right out of the box, but to do so you must plug into it whatever systems or appliances you wish to power. Of course your heating system (and often your pumps, washer and dryer, air conditioning and other systems) do not have plugs on them – they are, as electricians call it, “hardwired.” To be able to use those systems and appliances that don’t have plugs, you will have to hire us or someone else to install a manual switch which you will have to operate yourself during a power failure. That in turn means that you have to be present to operate the system during a power failure.

By contrast, a standby system is permanently installed and fueled. It is completely automatic – it will start up and shut down whenever necessary, and will run itself once a week on an “exercise” program to ensure that everything is working properly and that all internal parts are lubricated. You do not have to do anything for the system to operate during a power failure – in fact, you don’t have to be home at all. You are fully protected, even when you are traveling. 

Whether a portable generator is appropriate for your particular needs, or alternatively, whether the added convenience and safety of a standby system is worth the extra cost is a personal decision and we are here to help you decide.

13. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO DURING A POWER FAILURE TO GET MY GENERATOR SYSTEM RUNNING?

If you have a standby system, you don’t have to do a thing. Your standby system is fully automatic. It will detect a power failure or brownout immediately, and start the generator automatically. Within seconds, all of your electrical appliances and systems that have been wired to your transfer switch will be up and running. When power is restored, your system will switch you back to the utility grid, and then power down and reset itself, ready for the next emergency.

If you use a portable generator system, you will have to bring your generator out from your garage (or wherever else you have it stored), fuel it, start it, and if you have an installed manual transfer switch, connect that switch to your generator with a power cord, then turn on the switch manually, and turn on whatever circuits you want to have run. When power is restored, you will have to reverse this procedure, and switch each circuit in your manual transfer switch back to utility power.

14. WHAT KIND OF FUEL DOES A HOME GENERATOR RUN ON?

Portable generators run on gasoline. All standby generators for residential use run on either propane (sometimes called liquefied petroleum or LP gas) or natural gas.

15. HOW DO I DETERMINE WHAT FUEL MY GENERATOR SHOULD RUN ON?

In almost all cases, if you already have natural gas present at your home, you will use that source; if you do not have natural gas already, you will use propane.

16. WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE NATURAL GAS?

If you do not have natural gas present at your location, we will install and connect a propane tank and arrange for a propane supplier to refill your tank automatically, on a schedule which helps insure that you never run out of fuel.

17. AS LONG AS I AM GETTING PROPANE, CAN I USE IT FOR AN OVEN OR COOKTOP? HOW ABOUT A GAS DRYER, OR FIREPLACE LOG LIGHTER? CAN I HOOK UP MY OUTDOOR GRILL TO THE SAME PROPANE SO THAT I DON’T EVER HAVE TO LUG THOSE TANKS TO A FILLING STATION AGAIN?

Yes to all of the above. Once you have propane installed, you can use it for anything that can be fueled by it. Many of our customers find that the installation of a new propane fuel source for their generator is a perfect opportunity to upgrade to gas-fired appliances that they’ve had their eye on for some time. We can arrange to have these devices and appliances installed by a propane company or a licensed plumber. 

18. CAN I BURY MY PROPANE TANK UNDERGROUND?

Yes, unlike oil tanks, propane tanks may be buried underground. Ask us about this option – we know the best excavators to use for these purposes. 

19. HOW BIG IS A GENERATOR UNIT?

A generator system consists of two main components. The generator unit itself, which generates the electrical current, is approximately 2 feet by 4 feet, and about 31” high, depending upon the manufacturer. Liquid-cooled commercial units for larger homes have bigger dimensions. Photographs of the generators we offer can be found on our generator page on our website. The other necessary component of your system is the transfer switch, discussed above in paragraph 3. 

20. HOW MUCH NOISE DOES THE GENERATOR UNIT MAKE WHEN IT RUNS?

Although there are slight differences among the various units, the 20kW units (to pick one example) produce 63 to 68 decibels of noise when running at full speed (i.e. when they are powering your home). This noise level is comparable to your car engine running at mid-speed. All generators turn themselves on once a week for their “exercise” period, and some units exercise at a slightly slower speed and therefore produce slightly less noise. When actually powering your home, all generators produce about the same amount of noise. 

21. WHERE WILL THE GENERATOR AND TRANSFER SWITCH BE INSTALLED?

When deciding where your generator and transfer switch will be installed, there are several factors to take into consideration. Ideally, your generator would be placed close to your electric meter, since that will minimize the trenching and cabling we would have to do if it is placed farther away. However, there are regulations that must be observed which mandate certain minimum distances from combustible materials (like the siding on your home, or fences or trees), and from openings in your home like windows, doors and vents. There are also zoning requirements imposed by the city or town in which you live which require minimum distances from your property lines. And then, of course, you may have your own feelings about where you would like to see the generator placed. The unit is not unattractive (a lot of people think it looks something like their central air-conditioner compressors) but you may want the unit to be at least partially shielded from view. If the cost of trenching and cabling is not an issue, the unit can often be placed a significant distance from your home. Our installation team will discuss the siting of the generator unit with you in detail when we come to your home to do a free evaluation of your emergency power needs and together you and we will reach consensus regarding the best location for the generator.

The transfer switch needs to be installed near your electric meter or inside near your electric panel. Most transfer switches are completely weatherproof (like your meter pan) and can be installed on an outside wall of your home.

22. HOW LONG DOES THE ENTIRE PROCESS TAKE FROM THE TIME WE MAKE OUR DECISION? 

From the moment you instruct us to go ahead with your new generator system and provide to us a signed copy of our proposal and your deposit, your unit and its transfer switch will generally arrive at your home within a week to ten days. During that period, our permitting team will meet with you, mark on the ground the physical location where the generator will be installed, and establish your permit with municipal authorities. Generally within two weeks after that, we will install your new generator system.

23. HOW LONG DOES THE ACTUAL INSTALLATION TAKE?

The physical installation of the generator and the transfer switch will usually take our installation team one to two days to complete, including the rewiring of and integration to your existing system.

24. WILL MY POWER BE OUT DURING THE INSTALLATION OF MY GENERATOR SYSTEM?

We will not need to shut off your electricity during most of the installation of your system; however, during the actual “cut-in” of your transfer switch, there will be a short period when your electricity will need to be turned off.

25. WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE?

CASTLE GENERATORS offers one of the best maintenance and emergency service programs in the industry.

Just like your car’s engine, your generator engine requires regular maintenance from a competent professional. Generator manufacturers (and CASTLE GENERATORS) recommend two service visits a year (more frequently if the generator has seen some hard or extended use).

If you prefer, you can have us add you to our regularly-scheduled maintenance program so that your unit will automatically receive the care that it needs in the fall and the spring, performed by factory-trained
service personnel. 

We never bill you in advance, and each charge is only for the service performed (i.e. we do not lock you in for a year or more, nor have you pay for your service contract up front). After every visit, you will receive a written report, informing you of the conditions we encountered, the services we performed, and the results, together with any recommendation for action. Should you ever wish to cancel your maintenance contract, you can do so via email or phone with no waiting or notice period. Ask us about the details of our maintenance program. 

We are one of the few generator companies that provides 24/7 emergency response if your power is out and your generator is not functioning properly. When deciding on which generator company to use for your new system, ask yourself whether they will respond in the middle of the night during a storm (and have the necessary education, experience and replacement parts) to get you up and running. During storms that result in widespread power outages, we get constant calls from homeowners who cannot reach their generator installers and want us to assist them.  But in such circumstances, we are usually busy helping our own customers.  Choose your generator company carefully!

26. IS THERE A WARRANTY THAT COMES WITH THE GENERATOR SYSTEM?

Each manufacturer of every generator system that we sell offers a warranty, but the terms of these warranties differ depending on the manufacturer. The term of the warranty on most air-cooled units is between two and five years. Some companies offer extended warranty coverage at additional cost, and some do not. Your warranty is an important component of your long-term cost of owning a generator. We are experts in these matters, and believe it is important that you understand the differences in the terms of these warranties. Please ask us at any time about the specific terms of the warranty that covers the generator system in which you are interested. 

27. HOW MUCH DOES ALL THIS COST?

CASTLE GENERATORS furnishes and installs units from small portables to larger air-cooled units appropriate for most houses, to commercial liquid-cooled units designed for mansions or larger businesses. Completely installed, these units can run as little as a few thousand dollars, or as much as several times that, depending upon the size and the features of the system you choose to have installed. We can give you an exact estimate once we have visited with you and evaluated your existing electrical system and your requirements for emergency power. 

28. SO HOW DO WE GET STARTED?

You can call us at 203-359-6500 or send us an email: jir@castlegenerators.com. We can answer your questions in a telephone conversation or provide information to you via email, fax or postal mail. But the best way to proceed is to have us visit you at your home (without any cost, obligation or pressure) so that we can evaluate your existing electrical system and make a recommendation to you that will properly meet your emergency power needs.  

Still Have Questions?

Free consultations available via phone or at your home. Call 203-359-6500, or contact us online.

CASTLE GENERATORS, LLC serves all cities and towns in Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. 

We Carry the Following Brand Names:
 

Click here to view our Briggs & Stratton Products

Click here to view our GE Products

Click here to view our Generac Products