What Is a Whole-Home Generator and How Does It Work?

A whole-home generator automatically powers your home during a utility outage. It connects directly to your home’s electrical panel and typically runs on natural gas or propane. Within seconds of losing power, it kicks on to keep lights, appliances, and HVAC systems running.

How Is a Whole-Home Generator Different From a Portable One?

Whole-home generators are permanently installed and can power your entire home automatically. Portable generators require manual setup, limited fuel, and only support select appliances. The convenience, safety, and capacity of whole-home systems make them ideal for long-term reliability.

What Size Generator Do I Need for My Home?

The right size depends on your home’s square footage and the appliances or systems you want to power. Most homes need a generator between 14–22 kilowatts for full coverage. A licensed electrician can calculate your exact power needs and recommend the appropriate model.

Does a Whole-Home Generator Turn On Automatically?

Yes, whole-home generators have automatic transfer switches that detect outages and start the generator within seconds. This ensures continuous power without you needing to lift a finger. When utility power returns, the system shuts off and switches back seamlessly.

Can a Whole-Home Generator Power My HVAC System?

Absolutely—one of the major benefits of a whole-home generator is its ability to support high-demand systems like air conditioning and heating. This keeps your home comfortable even during extended outages. Make sure the unit is sized correctly to handle your HVAC load.

How Often Does a Whole-Home Generator Need Maintenance?

Most generators should be serviced at least once a year, or after every 100–200 hours of use. Regular maintenance includes oil changes, filter replacements, and system checks. Many systems also perform self-tests weekly to ensure they’re ready when needed.

Is a Whole-Home Generator a Good Investment?

Yes, especially in areas with frequent storms or unreliable power. It protects your food, electronics, and comfort while also increasing your home’s value. Many homeowners find peace of mind alone makes it worth the investment.

What Fuel Types Can Be Used for Whole-Home Generators?

Whole-home generators typically run on natural gas or propane, with some models also supporting diesel. Natural gas is convenient if your home already has a line, while propane is great for rural areas with large storage tanks. The fuel choice affects installation and operating costs.

Durham Whole-Home Generators

Power Your Home With Confidence

Whether it’s storm season or an unexpected outage, a whole-home generator gives your family the comfort and safety you deserve. In Durham, having backup power is more than a luxury—it’s peace of mind. Ted’s HVAC, Plumbing, & Electrical installs dependable whole-home generators that integrate with your electrical system to automatically turn on when the power goes out. No more spoiled food, dead devices, or freezing nights. Along with seamless power restoration, many of our generator systems include built-in electrical/surge-protection/”>surge protection—offering an added layer of security for your home’s electrical system. Keep life running smoothly in Durham with a professionally installed generator.

Our Whole-Home Generator Services

We provide a full range of services to ensure your whole-home generator is ready when you need it most. From installation to maintenance and repairs, we are dedicated to delivering reliable solutions. Keep your home powered during outages with our expert services tailored to your needs.

Whole-Home Generator Installation — Installing a whole-home generator ensures your entire house stays powered during an outage. We assess your electrical needs to recommend the perfect unit for your home and provide seamless installation.
Generator Maintenance — Regular maintenance helps prevent costly breakdowns and ensures your generator works efficiently. Our team performs thorough inspections and necessary tune-ups to extend the life of your system.
Generator Repair — If your generator isn’t working correctly, we’re here to diagnose and fix the issue quickly. We handle all types of repairs, from minor adjustments to more complex fixes, so your generator runs smoothly.
Transfer Switch Installation — A transfer switch automatically switches the power to your generator during an outage. We install and set up these systems to ensure an immediate response and hassle-free power restoration.
Generator Load Testing — Testing your generator’s load capacity ensures it will run effectively when needed. We perform comprehensive load tests to confirm your generator is ready for any situation.

To see what Ted's can do for you, call us and schedule today!

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919-823-7344

Why Choose Ted’s For Whole-Home Generators?

Ted’s HVAC, Plumbing, & Electrical offers more than just high-quality generator services; we provide peace of mind. Our skilled technicians are dedicated to ensuring that your home stays powered during unexpected outages. We offer personalized service tailored to your home’s specific needs and always prioritize your safety. With our trusted team, you can rest assured knowing you’re getting reliable and efficient generator solutions.

Tailored Solutions for Your Home — We take the time to assess your home’s power needs and recommend the best whole-home generator. Our personalized approach ensures that your generator installation fits your home perfectly.
Full Range of Services — From installation to maintenance and repair, we provide complete generator services. No matter what your generator needs, our team has the expertise to get the job done right.
Attention to Detail — Every job we take on is handled with precision and care. Our technicians go above and beyond to make sure everything from the generator installation to the transfer switch is correctly set up.
Trustworthy Advice — We offer clear, honest advice about the best generator options for your home. Our team helps you make informed decisions so you can invest in the right generator for your needs.
Thorough Workmanship — Our technicians ensure that all aspects of your generator installation or repair are completed with the utmost attention to detail. We follow industry best practices and guarantee that your system will operate efficiently.

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What Our Customers Say About Us

4.9 Google Rating

I have always had a great experience with Ted’s. I had my annual service recently, Kendall(electrical), LJ and Nathan(plumbing). They gave great service and conducted theirselves professionally. They were very knowledgeable and explained everything in detail to ensure you understand everything completely before any work is done. The work quality is also great, I had a new sump pump and water heater installed and I was satisfied with all of the work completed. Highly recommend! Also was able to get some quotes on future electrical needs. I will continue to use Ted’s

Gregory Penny

2 days ago

Technicians were very professional. They weren't even too scared of my backyard goats. Thanks for coming out

Michael Langford

2 days ago

Everybody did an excellent job, except for the waiting time on the parts that had to be replaced. Thank you guys.

Kikin Perez

2 days ago

Great! Very polite, professional, and curious! Very helpful and gave detailed advice and feedback. All around great people to do business with!

Troy Gibson

3 days ago

LJ and Nathan are fantastic. The entire experience was easy and surprisingly fast. They were Extremely respectful of the property, to me, and my dogs😀. The cost was exactly what I expected. Very fair.

Tina Hamlin

3 days ago

Awesome service, Kail did a great job keeping me informed and was very friendly.

Adam Shick

3 days ago

Mr.Jose was very professional and knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile.I look forward to working with him. I will definitely recommend this company for any and all HVAC or plumbing issues.

Kimberly Moore

3 days ago

There is no after hours we are paying monthly for service and they were suppose to come Friday to perform regular maintenance and didn't show now 24 hours later our unit quit and their is no one to call until Monday. Its Saturday!!! It is Thursday and I am a little late on my update. I found out that the 24/7 service had been cancelled some time age and they sent out a notice to costumers email ( I believe mine is wrong in their system). The technician came out and solved our issue whole doing regular PM Monday afternoon. The staff have been very sincere and apologetic for the hole issue which seems more of a misunderstanding I think more on my part. I am changing my review to 5 stars. But I do wish they would consider in the future to go back to 24/7 emergency service, there are a few companies the do off the service in Roxboro area . I will say that every technician we have dealt with have been exceptional.

Scott Glenn

4 days ago

Jairo and Wesley provided exceptional service on our HVAC. They were professional, knowledgeable and understanding. We had working AC in no time.

Jaime Jerman

4 days ago

Would highly recommend Ted's! Jairo and Wesley came to my home today and walked through my original concern and showed me videos so I didnt have to go under the house too. They also found my duct work to be leaking water at the seams and some other preventive maintenance issues that should be addressed on our AC unit. They were very thorough and respectful of our home and even offered to carry in a large package that was on my porch. Great customer service, knowledgeable, quick to get on the schedule and same day quotes.

Kassi Shimek

4 days ago

Great service, fair price, local employees

Tony Wilkins

5 days ago

Jairo did an excellent job. Good employee.

Les Puryear

5 days ago

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Your home deserves top-quality care from experts who prioritize your comfort and safety. Whether you need a fast repair, a system upgrade, or routine maintenance, our skilled team is here to deliver reliable solutions with unmatched professionalism. We take the time to understand your needs and provide services that enhance efficiency, performance, and long-term savings. With a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, we ensure every job is done right the first time. Experience the difference of expert service—contact us today to schedule your appointment!

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