Why Colorado Springs Homeowners Need Generators

Colorado Springs sits at the base of Pikes Peak and gets weather that can shift dramatically in a short time. Winter storms can bring significant ice and snow that takes down power lines. High-wind events, which are common on the Front Range, can cause outages that last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. And as wildfire activity has increased across the region, the possibility of intentional utility shutoffs for fire safety has become a real consideration for homeowners in areas like Black Forest and the western foothills.

Standby Generators vs Portable Generators

Portable generators require you to be home, require manual setup, cannot power your whole house, and run on gasoline that you have to have on hand before the outage hits. A whole-home standby generator is permanently installed, connects directly to your natural gas or propane line, and starts automatically within seconds of a power outage – whether you are home or not. For Colorado Springs homeowners who travel, have medical equipment, or simply want genuine peace of mind, a standby generator is in a different category than a portable unit.

What a Whole-Home Generator Actually Powers

Depending on the generator size, a whole-home standby generator can power everything in your house simultaneously, including your HVAC system, refrigerator, water heater, lights, outlets, and electronics. WireNut helps you choose the right generator size for your home’s square footage and your specific priorities, so you get the coverage you need without paying for more capacity than your home requires.

• Site assessment. WireNut’s electricians assess your home’s electrical system, determine the right generator size for your needs, and identify the best placement for the generator unit – typically on a concrete pad on the exterior of the home.
• Permit applications. Generator installation in Colorado Springs requires electrical permits and, depending on placement, may require a building permit as well. WireNut handles all permit applications as part of the installation.
• Gas line coordination. Whole-home generators run on natural gas or propane. If your home uses natural gas, WireNut coordinates with the appropriate trades for the gas line connection. If you use propane, tank sizing and placement are part of the planning process.
• Transfer switch installation. A transfer switch is required for safe generator connection. It prevents your generator from backfeeding power into the utility lines, which protects utility workers and your own equipment. WireNut installs automatic transfer switches that start the generator and switch your home over without any action required from you.
• Generator unit installation. WireNut installs the generator unit on its pad, connects it to the transfer switch and the gas line, and handles all electrical connections.
• Testing and walkthrough. Once the installation is complete, we test the system, verify automatic startup and transfer, and walk you through the generator’s operation and maintenance requirements before we leave.

Generator installation is more involved than most homeowners expect going in. Here is an honest overview of what the process looks like in Colorado Springs.

How to Choose the Right Generator Size

Generator sizing is measured in kilowatts. A 10 to 20 kilowatt generator can power the essentials in most Colorado Springs homes, including the HVAC system, refrigerator, lights, and outlets. A 20 to 22 kilowatt generator can typically power an entire average-sized home. Larger homes or homes with significant electrical loads like hot tubs, well pumps, or electric vehicle chargers may need a larger unit. WireNut’s electricians walk you through the sizing decision during the assessment so you get the right generator for your home and your budget.