Barrie · Alectra Utilities service area
Generac standby generator installation for Barrie homes
Barrie sits where heavy snow off Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe meets a lot of finished basements. A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch keeps the furnace and sump pump going, whether you're home or halfway down the 400. We're an authorized Generac dealer, so the unit, the install and the upkeep come from one contractor.
Barrie winters
Snow, ice and a basement that can't flood
Barrie gets more snow than Toronto. Squalls off Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe can drop heavy, wet snow in a short time. Ice storms bring branches and lines down across Simcoe County. When the power goes in January, a gas furnace stops too, because its fan and controls need electricity.
Spring is the other risk. Snowmelt and rain raise the water table, and the sump pump runs hardest just as thaw storms knock the supply out. In a finished basement, or one with a tenant living in it, a few hours without that pump can mean a lot of damage.
Commuters and empty houses
Many Barrie households spend the working day in Toronto. A portable generator is no help when nobody's home to start it. A standby unit with an automatic transfer switch handles the outage on its own and hands back to the grid when power returns.
Sizing
Choosing what stays on
Most Barrie homes are on natural gas, so fuel supply is rarely the limit. The size of the unit comes down to what you want running. We go through it room by room and write it down.
- Must stay onFurnace, sump pump, fridge and freezer, a few lights
- Usually addedInternet, a home office, the kitchen outlets, the garage door
- Basement unitIts heating and lighting, or the whole sub-panel
- Larger unitsCentral air, a hot tub, or the full service
Installation
From the first visit to a tested system
Walk the lot
We check the panel, the gas meter, possible pad spots and where snow and roof run-off collect.
Size and quote
Generator and transfer switch matched to your list, with travel time shown.
Permits and gas
We file with ESA and arrange the licensed gas fitter.
Install
Pad, unit, transfer switch and wiring, usually over one or two days.
Inspect and hand over
ESA inspection, a test with the house on the generator, and a walk-through of what happens in an outage.
Placement and safety
Clear of the snow and clear of the grid
On a Barrie lot, we place the unit where it won't be buried. That means away from roof valleys that dump snow and out of the snowblower's path. You should also be able to reach it in February. It also has to meet the clearances from windows, doors and vents that keep exhaust out of the house.
The transfer switch separates your home from Alectra's lines before the generator starts feeding it. That keeps line crews safe while they restore the street. If the panel is already full or still on 100 amps, plan a panel upgrade in Barrie in the same project. Our main standby generators page covers the equipment in more detail.
After the install
Keep it ready
Standby generators run a short self-test on a schedule and need regular servicing. We'll show you what to watch for.
Ask about servicingQuestions
Backup generators in Barrie: questions
We're both in Toronto all day. Will the generator start without us?
Yes. With an automatic transfer switch, the generator senses the outage, starts, and takes over the circuits it's sized for. When Alectra's power returns, it switches back and shuts down on its own. Many models can also send an alert to your phone.
Our side yard is narrow. Where would a generator go?
Side yards in many Barrie subdivisions are tight, so the rear yard is often the better spot. The unit has to clear windows, doors, vents and the lot line, and the maker adds its own spacing rules. We measure on site and only propose a location that will pass inspection.
We rent out our basement. Should the generator cover the unit?
It's worth considering. If the unit has its own panel, the transfer switch can include it. Or you can cover only its heating and the shared sump pump. We plan it with both households' essentials on the list.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want running during an outage. Some homeowners back up essentials only (furnace, sump pump, fridge, a few lights and outlets). Others want the whole house. We look at your panel and how you use power, then recommend a size and a transfer switch to match.
More in Barrie