Whole-Home Generator Installation in Houston

Whole-home generator installation in Houston keeps your AC, fridge, lights and Wi-Fi running when the grid goes down. The unit starts by itself within seconds. We size it, pull the permits, run the gas and wire it to a transfer switch.

Signs a whole-home generator makes sense

  • You lost power for days after Hurricane Beryl in 2024
  • You sat through rolling outages in Winter Storm Uri in 2021
  • Someone at home relies on medical equipment or a CPAP
  • You work from home and can’t lose internet
  • A hot house is unsafe for kids, older family or pets
  • You already have natural gas at the house
  • You are tired of hauling a portable generator and gas cans
  • You want power that switches over with no one home

How a whole-home install works

  1. 1Site survey and load checkWe list your AC units, appliances and panel size, then size the generator in kW.
  2. 2Written priceOne price covers the unit, transfer switch, pad, gas line, wiring and permits.
  3. 3Permits and approvalsWe pull the electrical and plumbing permits and prepare your HOA drawing if needed.
  4. 4Install dayWe set the pad and unit, wire the transfer switch and connect the gas. Most installs take one to two days.
  5. 5Inspection, meter and start-upThe city inspects, CenterPoint upgrades the gas meter if needed, and we run a full load test with you.

Whole-home generator options and costs in Houston

18 to 22 kW whole-home$12,000–$17,000 installed (typical)

Fits many 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft homes with one or two AC units, often with load management.

24 to 26 kW whole-home$14,000–$20,000 installed (typical)

For larger homes, two or three AC units or electric cooking.

Load management add-on$350 per module (our price)

Lets a smaller unit run big loads one at a time, like a second AC or a pool pump.

Brands we installQuoted per home

Generac, Kohler and Briggs & Stratton units. We help you compare noise, warranty and price.

Typical Houston ranges for planning. Your written price comes after we see the job.

What changes the price

  • Generator size in kW
  • Number and size of AC units
  • Distance from the pad to the gas meter and the panel
  • Whether CenterPoint must upgrade the gas meter
  • Permits, HOA rules and pad prep

See the full cost guide →

Good to know in Houston

Houston outages often come from hurricanes, derechos and storm lines that drop trees on power lines. After Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, many homes went a week or more without power in the summer heat. Houston clay soil shifts, so the unit needs a level, solid pad. In flood-prone areas, we set it as high as the site allows.

In the City of Houston, a standby generator needs a separate electrical permit and plumbing permit, plus pad, site and gas inspections. The city guide sets a 5 foot minimum from openings and combustible walls and 2 feet from the property line.

Questions about whole-home generators

How long can a whole-home generator run?

On natural gas, it can run as long as gas keeps flowing. It needs oil checks during a long outage, often every few days of nonstop use.

Will it run my central AC?

Yes, if it is sized for it. Many Houston homes need 22 kW or more, or load management, to run two AC units.

Is it loud?

It sounds like a running lawn mower from a short distance. Newer units are quieter, and the city noise rules still apply.

Can I finance it?

Many owners do. We can show options, but read the terms closely before you sign.

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