Standby Generators • Portable Generators • Battery Backup Options
Request ConsultationPower outages can disrupt your home, damage equipment and create safety risks. A properly sized and professionally installed generator system ensures:
Smartlink Solutions is a licensed electrical contractor specializing in backup power systems and transfer switch installations across North Georgia.
Best for: Homeowners who want full‑home protection with zero effort.
Benefits of Standby Generators
Best for: Cost‑conscious homeowners who want safe, essential‑circuit backup.
How It Works
Advantages
Best for: Homes that want silent, maintenance‑free backup power or plan to pair storage with future solar.
Why Choose a Battery System?
Whether automatic or manual, every generator requires a transfer switch. Smartlink Solutions installs:
These switches prevent backfeeding into utility lines, protect equipment and ensure your system meets NEC code requirements.
Not sure which generator or backup system you need? Use our interactive tool to size your solution and get a personalized plan.
Backup Power System DesignerA typical 18–22kW whole‑home standby generator installed in Blue Ridge and surrounding North Georgia areas runs roughly $9,000–$15,000 turn‑key, including the generator, automatic transfer switch, concrete pad, fuel line tie‑in (propane or natural gas), permits, and commissioning. Larger 26–32kW units, complicated fuel runs, and remote‑monitoring add‑ons push the price higher. We provide an itemized estimate so each line item is clear.
It depends on what you want to keep running. A 14kW unit covers a small home or essential circuits (lights, fridge, well pump, a few outlets). 18–22kW covers most 2,500–3,500 sq ft homes with central AC. Homes with multiple HVAC systems, large well pumps, EV charging during outages, or workshops typically need 26kW or more. We run a formal load calculation during the consultation so the unit is sized to your home — not to a brochure. Or use our Backup Power System Designer to start a sizing estimate now.
In most of Fannin, Gilmer, Union, and the surrounding rural counties, natural gas service isn’t available, so propane is the practical choice — and it works extremely well. Propane stores easily, tanks can be sized for multi‑day runtime, and modern generators sip fuel at partial load. If you do have natural gas service in town, NG eliminates fuel storage and never needs refilling, but you become dependent on the gas utility staying up during a regional event.
Most residential standby installations take 1–2 days of on‑site work once permits are issued and the generator and transfer switch are on hand. Lead time on the equipment itself can be the longer variable — anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks depending on the brand and unit size. We give you a realistic schedule once we know which model you’re choosing.
Yes — every generator that ties into your home wiring needs a transfer switch, with no exceptions. The transfer switch isolates your home from the utility grid during an outage so the generator can’t back‑feed power onto the lines and injure utility workers. Standby generators use an automatic transfer switch that operates without intervention; portable generators use a manual transfer switch with an exterior inlet.
Annually at minimum. A standard service visit includes oil and filter change, spark plug replacement on the recommended interval, battery check, transfer switch inspection, and a load test. Most manufacturers also require periodic service to maintain the warranty. Generators that run frequently (multiple outage events per year, or extended runtime) may need service every 6 months.
Yes — modern standby generators are rated for prime‑power operation and will run continuously as long as fuel is available. Most propane installations are paired with a 500‑gallon (or larger) tank that supports 5–10 days of continuous run depending on load. We can size the tank to your desired runtime and arrange refill priority with regional propane suppliers.
All three are excellent and we install all three. Generac has the largest installed base, the widest dealer network, and the strongest residential lineup at most price points. Kohler is built around heavier‑duty engines that tend to run quieter and longer between service intervals. Cummins (Onan) leverages a strong commercial heritage and is often preferred for larger residential and light‑commercial installations. We help you choose based on your runtime expectations, noise tolerance, and budget.
A standby generator and automatic transfer switch typically slot in at the panel — pairing a panel upgrade with the generator install often saves money and avoids a future second mobilization.
Learn MoreIf you’re backing up your home with a generator, you’ll want your EV charger on a managed circuit so it ramps to 16A or pauses when the generator is online. We design installations that handle this automatically.
Learn MoreA side‑by‑side look at standby generators and home battery systems for Georgia homeowners — cost, runtime, maintenance, and which makes sense for your home.
Read ArticleProtect your home with a reliable backup power system designed and installed by experts. Smartlink Solutions serves Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Jasper, Talking Rock, Cherry Log, Gilmer County, Fannin County and surrounding North Georgia areas.
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