Generator backup solutions keep essential circuits running during an outage. A standby generator sits outside on a pad, runs on natural gas or propane, and starts automatically through a transfer switch when utility power drops. Smith handles generator circuits, transfer switch installation and the electrical side of backup power.
When outages happen, backup power can help keep essential systems running. Smith helps homeowners compare generator options and understand the right setup.
When Backup Power Makes Sense
- Frequent outages
- Protecting critical systems
- Home-based work or medical needs
- Wanting more control during power loss
Planning the Right System
Smith helps you compare generator types, understand electrical requirements, and plan a system that works safely with your home.
Frequently asked questions
What size backup generator does my house need?
Sizing starts with what you actually want running: a whole-house generator carries every circuit including central air, while an essential-circuits system covers the furnace blower, well or sump pump, refrigerator, lighting and a few outlets. The second is smaller, cheaper to run, and covers most of what matters during a Colorado winter outage.
Why do I need a transfer switch instead of just plugging a generator in?
A transfer switch physically separates your home from the utility lines before generator power energizes the house. Without one, backfeeding through a generator cord can push voltage out onto lines that utility crews believe are dead. It is both a serious safety hazard and a code violation, and the switch is the part that makes backup power legal and safe.
What causes most power outages in the Colorado Springs area?
Two patterns dominate here. Winter storms bring heavy wet snow and high wind that bring down limbs and lines, often when the furnace is the thing you least want to lose. Late-summer monsoon afternoons bring lightning and sudden severe storms. Both arrive with little warning, which is why automatic standby systems appeal to homes with wells, sump pumps or medical equipment.
Is a portable generator with an interlock enough instead of a standby unit?
For many homes, yes — and it is the cheaper route. A portable unit feeding an inlet and a panel interlock can carry a furnace blower, refrigerator, sump pump and lighting through a storm outage. The tradeoffs are real: someone has to be home to start it, keep fuel on hand, and run it outdoors well away from windows. It will not carry central air.
How long can a standby generator run during an extended outage?
Not indefinitely. A propane unit runs until the tank empties, and a natural gas unit depends on utility gas pressure staying up. Both have oil and service intervals that come due during an extended run, so a multi-day outage means maintenance mid-outage. Engine output is also derated at Colorado Springs elevation, so a unit sized on sea-level numbers delivers less here than the label suggests.