5 Things to Know about Commercial Generator Installation

February 28, 2017
Generator

In late winter, you have several seasonal concerns to worry about for your commercial property, from frigid winter storms to the heavy rains that are common at the beginning of spring. Unfortunately, this weather can lead to blackouts. Blackouts can lead to some serious problems, from stopping business productivity to endangering your employees and clients. If you work in a complex industry or run a medical practice, losing power is simply not an option. Thankfully, a power generator can keep you running even when the weather tries to prevent it. Before you order commercial generator installation, though, you should understand how the installation process works and how you can benefit from these reliable machines. This is a big investment, and a bit of research will prepare you for what's to come.

Inspecting the Premises

Before you get a generator, a technician will first visit your property to survey it. They will evaluate your natural gas meter, the size of your gas power source, the amount and required input of any gas appliances on the property, and other relevant features of the property. This information is needed for generator installation companies to understand if your gas supply can serve the current appliances and your new generator.

Installing Gas Lines

A meter upgrade may be required, which is a very inexpensive upgrade. However, sometimes the gas company may need to visit your property to upgrade the gas line into your property. While this can be costly, this first step prepares your property for backup generator installation by ensuring you will have a sufficient power source in the event of a blackout. 

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Applying for Permits

An industrial generator company will handle this next step for you. Whether or not you need to improve the natural gas supply to your property, local utility companies will still need to be contacted. For example, electric permits, fire permits, zoning approvals, and other local permits will be required. After this process begins, installation will start about a month later. 

The Installation Process

Once all the above steps are completed, installing a generator only takes 2-3 days. A team of experts, including a plumber, an electrician, and a certified generator installer will all cooperate to make sure all components work correctly, guaranteeing that your generator will be reliable in a blackout. The company who provides your generator will staff the installation team themselves so you do not need to hire a subcontractor. They will also test the generator appropriately after installation is complete. The process should be fairly simple unless excavation for a 400-500-pound generator is necessary.

Determining What You Need

Only a commercial generator installation expert can determine which specific type of generator suits your needs, budget, and the type of building the generator will be servicing. There are many types, including portable or stationary generators, standby or prime, single- or three-phrase power, gas or diesel, and more. Different generators also have different power capacities and prices. Get in touch with an expert to find out which type of generator will provide your business with necessary, reliable power during an outage.