Generator Installation · Saint Louis, MO
Generator Installation in Saint Louis, MO
The July 2006 storms that cut power to hundreds of thousands of Ameren customers in the St. Louis region during a heat wave made backup power a priority for many families, particularly those with older relatives or medical equipment. In the city's dense neighborhoods, generators have to sit outdoors with clearance from windows, which on narrow lots often means the back yard or an alley-side pad.
- Call now to check electrician availability in your area
- Independent, licensed electricians
- Serving Soulard, Lafayette Square, Tower Grove and more
What's different about generator installation in Saint Louis
A portable unit through an inlet and interlock is the common choice; standby units suit homes with space and a gas line. Permits come from the City of St. Louis Building Division.
Many of these brick homes still have knob-and-tube or cloth wiring behind plaster, small services and few outlets. Renovations of older homes and vacant buildings often mean a full rewire and a new service.
Weather and the utility in Saint Louis
St. Louis summers are hot and humid, and severe thunderstorms with damaging wind are common from spring into summer. In July 2006, back-to-back storms left hundreds of thousands of Ameren customers in the region without power during a heat wave, some for more than a week. Winters bring ice and cold snaps. Ameren Missouri serves the city and handles meters, service drops and reconnection. Older brick homes often have overhead service drops in back alleys, which is where storm damage tends to show up first.
- Permits in Saint Louis
- Inside the city, electrical permits come from the City of St. Louis Building Division; St. Louis County and its municipalities issue their own. Electrical work must be done by electricians licensed for the jurisdiction.
- Electric utility
- Ameren Missouri
- Where we connect you
- 33 ZIP codes in Saint Louis, including Soulard, Lafayette Square, Tower Grove, The Hill, Central West End, Dogtown
Signs it's time to call
- Frequent outages from storms, ice or heat
- Medical equipment, sump pumps or freezers that cannot lose power
- A portable generator with no safe way to connect
- Planning a whole-home standby unit
How the job usually goes
1. Size the load
Circuits that must stay powered are listed and the generator sized.
2. Choose the connection
Inlet and interlock, manual transfer switch or automatic transfer switch.
3. Install and inspect
Permitted installation, gas connection by a licensed fitter where needed, and inspection.
Full details on generator installation, including what you can safely check yourself.
What moves the price in Saint Louis
Electricians set their own prices. Local permit fees, utility coordination and the age of the home all play a part, along with:
- Portable inlet versus standby system
- Generator size
- Transfer switch type
- Distance from panel and gas source
- Pad, permits and inspection
Stop and call an electrician if
- ✕ Never backfeed through an outlet
- ✕ Never run a generator in a garage
Generator Installation in Saint Louis: questions
Do I need a permit for generator installation in Saint Louis?
In most cases, yes. Inside the city, electrical permits come from the City of St. Louis Building Division; St. Louis County and its municipalities issue their own. Electrical work must be done by electricians licensed for the jurisdiction. The electrician normally pulls the permit and arranges the inspection.
Is an interlock kit legal?
Listed interlock kits are accepted in many jurisdictions when installed with a permit. Your electrician will know the local rule.
What electrical issues are common in Saint Louis homes?
Electricians in Saint Louis most often see: knob-and-tube and cloth wiring in brick homes; small services in pre-1940 houses; summer storm outages and heat.
More electrical help in Saint Louis
Generator Installation in nearby cities
Guides
Need generator installation in Saint Louis?
Call now and we connect you with a licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code.