Richmond Hill · Alectra Utilities service area
Generac home standby generators for Richmond Hill
For many Richmond Hill homes, backup power is about water. A well pump in Oak Ridges or a sump pump under a finished basement stops when the grid does. We size a standby generator to keep them running. We supply Generac standby units as an authorized dealer.
Why Richmond Hill owners add one
Keeping the water moving
Oak Ridges sits on the moraine at the north end of Richmond Hill. Some homes there and toward the town's northern edge rely on a private well. In those houses, a power cut does more than turn off the lights. Once the pressure tank empties, there is no water until power returns.
Across the rest of town the concern is the basement. Large homes in Bayview Hill and South Richvale often have finished lower levels with a sump pump in the corner. So do many newer ones in Jefferson and Westbrook. Heavy rain and storm outages tend to arrive together.
Richmond Hill was among the York Region communities hit hard by the December 2013 ice storm, when some homes waited days for power. Owners who remember it are often the first to ask about standby power.
City water or a well
How the water supply changes the generator
| Municipal water | Private well | |
|---|---|---|
| Water in an outage | Keeps flowing | Stops once the pressure tank empties |
| Pumps to carry | Sump pump, if the house has one | Well pump, plus a sump pump if there is one |
| Sizing concern | Furnace and sump pump starting together | The well pump's large starting surge |
| Transfer switch | Essential circuits or the whole home | Essential circuits, with the well pump always included |
What's included
A standby system, installed and tested
- Load calculationIncluding the starting surge of each pump
- Generator placementClear of windows, doors, vents and the lot line
- Automatic transfer switchWired at your panel
- Wiring to the unitPower and control, protected outdoors
- Coordination with a licensed gas fitterWho makes the gas connection
- ESA permit, inspection and a live testBefore we hand it over
For the full picture on standby units and transfer switches, see our backup generator page.
Large homes
Whole-home backup for larger houses
On the larger lots of Bayview Hill and South Richvale, there's usually room to place a generator well away from bedrooms and neighbours. Owners there more often ask for the whole house, including air conditioning. That means a bigger unit and a transfer switch sized for the full service.
If you're rebuilding, plan the generator with the house. A pad location, a conduit and a panel laid out for the transfer switch cost little during construction. For everything else we do locally, see our Richmond Hill page.
Panel first?
Older service, new generator
In older village homes, the panel may need upgrading before a transfer switch can be added. We'll check both at one visit.
Panel upgrades in Richmond HillQuestions
Backup generators in Richmond Hill: questions
What happens to our water in an outage if we're on a well?
Once the pressure tank runs down, the taps stop. The well pump needs power to refill it, so a long outage means no water for drinking, washing or flushing. A generator that carries the well pump keeps the water on.
Can we use a portable generator instead?
Yes, with the right connection. A portable unit must feed the house through a transfer switch or an approved interlock at the panel, never through a dryer or other outlet. That protects you and the Alectra crews working on the lines. We install the inlet and the switch.
How long can a natural gas standby generator run?
As long as the gas supply holds, which is why most standby units in Richmond Hill run on natural gas. Long runs do call for the routine checks in the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, such as oil changes.
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.
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