Home Generators in Calgary: From First Question To Commissioning

Outages happen here. A properly designed standby generator keeps heat, lights, Wi-Fi, medical devices, and sump pumps running without dragging cords through a doorway. This guide walks through sizing, fuel, placement, permits, commissioning, and why load management can beat a full service upgrade for many Calgary homes. Start with an Online Estimate so we can review photos and give you a realistic range.

Standby vs. Portable: Choose The Right Tool

A standby generator sits outside on a pad and connects through an automatic transfer switch. When utility power drops, it starts and moves selected circuits over in seconds. No refueling runs. No backfeeding risks. Portables are fine for a fridge and a couple lights, but they aren’t a whole-home solution and still need a proper interlock to be safe. If you want the permanent option, here’s our Generac generator installation overview.

How We Size It Without Overspending

We build around how you live, not just a nameplate. Heat, refrigeration, network, key lighting, pumps, and any device that protects the home get priority. Motors draw more at startup than they do running, so we plan for that surge and pick a generator that carries the house comfortably instead of “just big.”

Load Management Instead Of A Full Upgrade

If panel space is tight, we often pair the transfer switch with a listed load-shedding device. It briefly pauses one big appliance during generator startup, then brings it back automatically. You keep comfort loads online and avoid jumping straight to a service upgrade. If you’re stacking future loads like an EV charger, hot tub, AC, or a suite, we’ll price both paths — managed loads versus a clean 200-amp upgrade — so you can choose with facts, not guesses. For permits and local rules, the City of Calgary has the basics; we handle the paperwork.

Calgary Fuel Choices And Cold Starts

Natural gas is the default for most neighbourhoods. It supports automatic weekly exercise and eliminates refilling. Propane works where gas isn’t available; we size the tank for winter run time and coordinate placement. Cold weather matters here, so we spec battery warmers or cold-weather kits based on exposure, and we set the exercise time to a window that won’t annoy the household.

Placement That Works Year-Round

Location is about safety, noise, and serviceability. We maintain required clearances from doors, windows, and vents; use a level, frost-resistant pad; and route conduit short and protected to the transfer switch. Weekly exercise noise and future access guide orientation. The unit should look intentional and be easy to maintain ten years from now. See where we work on our Calgary service area page.

Permits, Inspections, And Documentation

In Calgary, standby systems require electrical permits and, when applicable, gas permits. Crew Electrical Services handles applications, books inspections, and meets the inspector. You get a simple closeout packet that shows what changed and how to operate the system safely. If you’d rather talk through the process, reach us on Contact.

What Installation Day Looks Like

1. Protect floors, confirm scope, and mark routes.
2. Set, level, and anchor the generator pad and unit.
3. Install straight, protected conduit; verify bonding and grounding.
4. Mount the transfer switch; land conductors to spec; label circuits clearly.
5. Coordinate fuel tie-in and pressure test with your licensed gas contractor.
6. Commissioning you can watch: failover test, return-to-utility test, exercise schedule set, voltage and frequency verified, homeowner walkthrough.

Commissioning You Can See

We don’t disappear after the last screw. You’ll see a full failover and return-to-utility test, confirmation that priority circuits behave as intended, and the exercise time programmed to a quiet hour. We leave you with a plain-language guide for normal operation, what to listen for, and when to call.

Maintenance That Actually Matters

• Weekly self-test at a sensible time

• Annual oil and filter, battery test, air filter, and enclosure/termination check

• Quick post-outage look and listen for anything unusual

Crew Electrical Services offers scheduled checkups so the system works when you need it, not just when the weather is nice. Browse the rest of our Residential services if you’re planning other upgrades alongside the generator.

Common Questions

Will it run the whole house
It can, but most families prioritize heat, refrigeration, network, key lights, and a few outlets. With load management, a right-sized unit covers essentials comfortably.

Is it loud
Modern enclosures are quiet in exercise mode. Placement and timing matter more than raw decibel numbers, and we plan for both.

Do I still need surge protection
Yes. A transfer switch doesn’t replace whole-home surge protection at the panel.

Do cold-weather kits matter in Calgary
Often, yes. We add them when placement and exposure call for it so winter starts are reliable.

Why Homeowners Choose Crew Electrical Services

Safety and code come first: permits, inspections, proper bonding and grounding, and terminations torqued to spec. Routing is straight, devices sit square and level, circuits are labeled clearly, and the pad placement is tidy. You get honest options — managed loads versus upgrade — and commissioning you can watch, with documentation you’ll keep.