Generator installation in Hollidaysburg, PA gives your home automatic backup power the moment the grid drops. For most homeowners in Blair County that means a permanently installed standby generator, wired to a transfer switch and sized to run your furnace, well pump, refrigerator, and lights without anyone flipping a switch. Adams Electric has wired homes across Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, and Altoona since 1919, and this guide walks through how the process works, what it costs, and how to pick the right unit.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. homes averaged 11 hours without power in 2024, the most in a decade, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- A home standby generator starts automatically within seconds of an outage and runs on natural gas or propane.
- Portable generators must be run outdoors only. Carbon monoxide is the main danger, and the National Weather Service is clear about it.
- A safe, code-compliant install needs correct sizing, an automatic transfer switch, a permit, and a final inspection.
- Adams Electric installs and services home generators across Hollidaysburg and the surrounding Blair County communities.
How often do Hollidaysburg homeowners lose power?
U.S. electricity customers went without power for an average of 11 hours in 2024, the most in a decade, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Roughly nine of those hours came from major weather events, and hurricanes alone accounted for 80 percent of the total hours without electricity that year.
Central Pennsylvania has its own version of that pattern. Winter ice loads snap limbs onto distribution lines, summer thunderstorms roll across the ridges, and older rural circuits around Blair County can take longer to restore than lines in a dense city grid. The bigger picture backs this up: NOAA counted 27 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters across the country in 2024, part of 403 such disasters logged since 1980. When a Hollidaysburg home loses power for even a few hours in January, a frozen pipe or a flooded basement from a dead sump pump can cost far more than the outage itself.
What does generator installation actually involve?
Generator installation is the process of placing a permanent standby unit outside your home and connecting it to both your fuel supply and your electrical panel through an automatic transfer switch. The generator sits on a pad near the house, much like a central air conditioner. When it senses that utility power is gone, it starts on its own, the transfer switch safely disconnects your home from the grid, and your circuits run on generator power until the utility returns.
A typical install has a few clear stages. An electrician surveys your panel and the loads you want to protect, sizes the unit, and picks a location that meets clearance and code rules. The pad and fuel line go in, the transfer switch is added at or beside your electrical panel, and the unit is wired, tested, and inspected. Because the work ties directly into your gas line and your service panel, this is a job for a licensed electrician rather than a weekend project.
When the lights go out
US outage hours hit a ten-year high in 2024
Average time the typical electricity customer spent without power, and what drove it.
U.S. Energy Information Administration; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Standby vs. portable generators: which should you install?
For whole-home, hands-off backup, a permanently installed standby generator is the better choice, and the safety math is a big reason why. The National Weather Service states that portable generators “should only be operated outdoors in a dry and well ventilated area”, because the carbon monoxide they produce is invisible, odorless, and can build up fast in a garage or near an open window. A standby unit removes that daily risk by living permanently outside and venting away from the house.
The table below compares the two options for a Hollidaysburg home.
| Feature | Home standby generator | Portable generator |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | Automatic, within seconds | Manual, you start it and run cords |
| Fuel | Natural gas or propane, no refueling | Gasoline, refilled by hand |
| Runtime | Continuous during an outage | Limited by the fuel tank |
| Coverage | Whole home or selected circuits | A few appliances at a time |
| Connection | Hardwired transfer switch | Extension cords or a manual inlet |
| Safety | Fixed, vented outside | Must stay outdoors, carbon monoxide risk |
A portable unit can be a fine stopgap for a camper or a single appliance. For a family home that needs heat, water, and refrigeration through a multi-day outage, a standby system installed by a professional is the safer and simpler answer.
How is the right generator size determined?
The correct size depends on which circuits you want to keep running, not on the square footage of your house. An electrician adds up the loads you care about, your furnace blower, well pump, sump pump, refrigerator, and a lighting circuit or two, then chooses a generator rated to carry that demand plus the surge when motors start.
Homeowners generally pick one of two paths. A whole-home system powers nearly everything, including central air and electric cooking. An essential-circuit system covers a smaller list of must-have loads at a lower price. Older homes sometimes need electrical work before a generator goes in, and an outdated service panel is a common upgrade. If your panel is near capacity or still has a fuse box, our guide to an electrical panel upgrade in Hollidaysburg, PA explains when that step is worth doing first.
Do you need a permit for generator installation in Hollidaysburg?
Yes. A standby generator install in Pennsylvania normally requires an electrical permit, and because the unit ties into a gas line, a mechanical or gas permit is often needed as well, followed by a final inspection. Permitting protects you: it confirms the transfer switch, wiring, and fuel connections meet current code, which matters for insurance and for a future home sale.
Adams Electric pulls the required permits and coordinates the inspection as part of the job, so you are not left sorting out paperwork with the township. For a broader look at what triggers a permit on electrical projects, see our overview of electrical permits in Pennsylvania. Skipping this step to save a few days can leave an unpermitted install that a home inspector will flag later.
How much does generator installation cost in Hollidaysburg, PA?
Total cost depends on three things: the size and fuel type of the generator, the electrical work your panel needs, and the length of the gas and wiring runs. An essential-circuit setup on a modern panel sits at the lower end, while a large whole-home unit with a panel upgrade and a long fuel line lands higher. Labor, the transfer switch, the pad, and permits all factor in alongside the generator itself.
Rather than quote a single number that will not match your home, we published a detailed whole-house generator cost guide for Central PA that breaks down the pieces. The most reliable figure comes from an on-site estimate, where an electrician can see your panel, measure the runs, and confirm the fuel source before pricing the work.
Why choose Adams Electric for generator installation?
Adams Electric has been the electrical backbone for homes and businesses across Blair County since 1919, and the company has stayed family owned across four generations. Our electricians are licensed and insured, we work to current code, and we install and service backup power as part of a full range of residential electrical services, from panel upgrades to whole-home rewiring.
Being local matters during storm season. Our teams are dispatched daily throughout Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, and the surrounding communities, so a generator we install is one we can come back and service. You get a single licensed contractor for the sizing, the permit, the wiring, and the follow-up, instead of juggling separate trades.
Ready to plan your project? Call Adams Electric at 814-944-4621 or request a quote through our contact page, and we will schedule an on-site assessment for your Hollidaysburg home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does generator installation take?
Most home standby installs are completed in one to two days of on-site work once the unit is on hand and the permit is approved. Larger jobs that include a panel upgrade or a long gas line can run longer. The planning and permitting steps happen before that, so the visible install is usually quick.
Will a standby generator power my whole house?
It can, if the unit is sized for whole-home coverage. Many Hollidaysburg homeowners choose an essential-circuit system that runs heat, water, refrigeration, and lighting at a lower cost, then add more capacity later. An electrician sizes the generator to the loads you choose during the assessment.
What fuel do home generators use in Central PA?
Home standby generators run on natural gas where a gas line is available, and on liquid propane where it is not. Both start automatically and do not need hand refueling during an outage, which is a key advantage over a gasoline portable unit.
Do I need to upgrade my electrical panel for a generator?
Sometimes. If your panel is full, undersized, or still a fuse box, it may need work before a transfer switch and generator can be added safely. Our Hollidaysburg panel upgrade guide covers the signs that an upgrade should come first.
Does Adams Electric install generators in Duncansville too?
Yes. Along with Hollidaysburg, we handle generator installation in Duncansville, Altoona, and the surrounding Blair County communities. Our office is in Altoona, and crews cover the wider Central Pennsylvania area every day.