Storms in the Greater Richmond area can knock power out for hours or days at a time. Tropical systems push up from the coast, summer thunderstorms drop trees on Dominion Energy lines, and ice storms in January are practically a yearly event. A whole-home standby generator switches on automatically when the grid goes down and keeps everything running, from the HVAC system to the well pump to the fridge. Fresh Air installs whole-home generators across Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Glen Allen, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Ashland, and the surrounding counties.
We start with a load calculation so the unit is sized correctly for your home. From there we set the concrete or composite pad, run the gas line (natural gas if the street is served, otherwise a buried propane line to a tank), and tie the automatic transfer switch into the main panel. Most homes also need a sub-panel for critical circuits if you want to power select loads instead of the whole house. We pull permits with the county, schedule the inspection, configure the weekly self-test, and walk you through the maintenance schedule before we leave.
A typical residential install runs 1 to 3 days on site once the unit and pad are ready. Larger homes with a separate sub-panel or a long gas line run can push to 4 days. Permitting and inspection scheduling adds 1 to 3 weeks on the front end depending on which county you are in.
A 14 kW unit covering essentials starts around $6,500 installed. A 20 to 26 kW whole-home unit runs $10,000 to $16,000 depending on gas line distance, panel work, and pad location. Larger homes with 200 amp service or dual panels can reach $18,000 to $22,000. Propane tank rental or purchase is separate if natural gas service is not available at the street.
Generac and Kohler both run seasonal promotions worth a few hundred dollars on qualifying units. Financing through our partners is available with approved credit, including zero percent intro options on some plans. Whole-home generators do not qualify for the federal 25C residential energy credit, but they often pay for themselves the first time a multi-day outage rolls through.
Fresh Air has served the Richmond market since 2011. We carry Virginia license 2710051155 (HVAC) and 2705143403 (electrical, gas, and plumbing), which means one crew handles the panel work, the gas piping, and the start-up under one roof. Our technicians are NATE-certified and our electricians are familiar with Dominion Energy meter pan requirements and county inspector expectations from Henrico to New Kent.
Call Fresh Air at 804-730-1999 or book a free in-home assessment online. We will measure your panel, walk the gas line route, and have a written proposal back to you the same week.