Scarborough · Toronto Hydro service area
Generac standby generator installation for Scarborough homes
When a Scarborough basement holds a family or a tenant, a power cut affects two households at once. A standby generator keeps the furnace, the sump pump and the essentials running for both, starting on its own within seconds. We're an authorized Generac dealer, so one contractor handles the unit and the wiring.
Why Scarborough owners add one
Two households below one roof
So many Scarborough bungalows and backsplits now have a finished basement, and often a second unit, that a power cut means something different here. The lower level isn't storage. It may be someone's bedroom, kitchen and living room.
The sump pump protects that space. When a summer storm takes the power out, the pump stops at the moment the ground is wettest. In winter the risk is cold: a gas furnace still needs electricity, and a basement unit cools quickly when the heat stops.
A standby generator answers both. It starts by itself when the grid fails, whether you're home, at work or away, and it shuts down when Toronto Hydro restores power.
Lots and placement
Placing a generator across Scarborough
The unit must keep set distances from openings and the property line. Here's how Scarborough's lots tend to work out.
| Lot | Where it's common | What we usually find |
|---|---|---|
| Deep lots near the Bluffs | Guildwood, Cliffside, Birch Cliff, Scarborough Village | Plenty of space, so the choice is about noise, views and run length |
| Post-war bungalow lots | Wexford, Bendale | A side yard near the gas meter, away from bedroom windows |
| Split-level lots with a garage | Throughout the south and centre | Beside the garage, close to a panel that often sits on the lowest level |
| Semis and townhouses | Malvern, L'Amoreaux, Agincourt | Tighter clearances. The rear yard may work; condo complexes need approval |
Sizing
Deciding what stays on
Generator size comes from a list, not the square footage. In a house with a suite, the list covers both units. We go through it together.
- Furnace and its controlsHeat for both floors through a winter cut
- Sump pumpFirst on the list for any finished or rented basement
- Both fridgesThe main kitchen and the suite's kitchen
- Lights and outlets on each floorEnough to live normally, plus internet and phone charging
- Central air or whole-homeFor owners who want nothing to change during an outage
Installation
Getting a generator running in Scarborough
Site walk
Panel, gas meter, and every location that meets the clearance rules.
List and size
We size the unit and transfer switch to what both households need, with a fixed, written price.
ESA and gas
We file the electrical permit and arrange the licensed gas fitter.
Install
Pad, generator, transfer switch and wiring, usually in one or two days.
Inspection and test
ESA inspects. We run the system under load and walk you through an outage.
Line crews and safety
A transfer switch, every time
A generator connected without a transfer switch can send power back into the street. That puts Toronto Hydro crews at risk while they repair storm damage. The automatic transfer switch cuts your house off from the grid before the generator takes the load, and switches back when the grid returns. Read more about standby systems on our backup generators page.
Questions
Backup generators in Scarborough: questions
We rent out our basement. Does the generator need to cover the suite too?
It's your choice, but most owners include the suite's heat, lights and fridge. If the house has one service, the generator and transfer switch can back up circuits on both floors. We list what each household needs and size the unit to that.
Where would a generator go on a townhouse or semi in Malvern?
It depends on the lot. The unit needs set distances from windows, doors, vents and the property line, which can be hard on a narrow lot. On a freehold semi, the rear yard sometimes works. In a condominium townhouse complex, the corporation has to approve it first.
Our Guildwood lot is deep. Can the generator sit far from the house?
It can sit further away, but distance adds cost. Longer gas and electrical runs mean more trenching and heavier cable. We usually look for a spot that meets the clearances while staying reasonably close to the gas meter and panel.
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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