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Generator Installation
Austin Learned What a Long Outage Costs
February 2021 settled the question for a lot of Central Texas homeowners. Days without power in freezing weather meant burst pipes, spoiled food, no heat and, for anyone on medical equipment or with a newborn in the house, real danger. Summer outages are shorter but not gentler: a house with no air conditioning in August climbs past 90 degrees inside within hours. A standby generator turns those events into a few seconds of dark and then normal life.
A standby unit sits outside on a pad like an AC condenser, runs on natural gas or propane, and is tied into your panel through an automatic transfer switch. When utility power drops, the transfer switch disconnects the house from the grid, the generator starts itself, and power is back in seconds. When the grid returns, it hands control back and shuts down. Nobody has to go outside, pull a cord or run an extension lead through a window.
Radiant installs Generac standby generators for homes across Austin and the surrounding cities. Our licensed electricians size the unit to the loads you want covered, whether that is the essentials or the whole house including the AC, handle the transfer switch and panel work, coordinate the fuel connection and permitting, and run a full start-up test with you watching. Because Radiant also does gas line work, the fuel side and the electrical side can be handled by one company. Financing is available, and the work is backed by the Home Comfort Guarantee. If your panel needs an upgrade to accept the transfer switch, we tell you in the quote, not on install day.
- Sized from your loads We list what you want running during an outage, add up the numbers, and recommend a size. Not the biggest unit; the right one.
- One company for the whole job Electrical, transfer switch, gas line and permitting coordinated by Radiant, so nothing falls between two contractors.
- Home Comfort Guarantee An accurate quote before work begins, honored for 72 hours, with no hidden fees.
Is It Time?
Why Austin Homeowners Call About a Generator
Usually one of these, and usually right after the last outage.
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You remember February 2021
Multi-day outages in a hard freeze. Heat, a refrigerator and a few lights would have changed that week entirely.
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Someone depends on medical equipment
Oxygen, CPAP, refrigerated medication or a home dialysis setup. An outage is not an inconvenience; it is a clock.
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You work from home
Internet, computers and a cool office. A few hours of dark costs more than it used to.
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Summer outages with kids or older parents at home
A house without AC in a Central Texas summer gets unsafe quickly for the very young and the very old.
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You are at the end of a long line
Outlying areas around Spicewood, Driftwood, Coupland or Elgin can wait longer for crews after a storm than downtown does.
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You are tired of the portable
Gas cans, extension cords through a cracked window and a carbon monoxide risk every time. A standby unit ends that routine.
What We Do
Generator Services
From sizing to start-up, and the annual service that keeps the unit ready.
- Standby generator installation Generac air-cooled units on a pad outside, tied into the panel through an automatic transfer switch, with permitting and inspection handled.
- Load sizing and planning Essential circuits only, or whole-home with the AC. We show you what each option covers and what it costs.
- Automatic transfer switches Whole-house switches or managed-load switches that let a smaller generator carry more of the home safely.
- Fuel connection coordination Natural gas or propane, with Radiant’s gas line team handling the run and the utility meter capacity checked up front.
- Panel upgrades for generators When an older panel cannot accept the transfer switch, we upgrade it in the same project rather than working around it.
- Generator maintenance Oil, filters, battery, spark plugs and a load test on a schedule, so the unit that has not run in months starts when it has to.
How It Works
From First Call to First Outage
A generator is a project, not a service call. Here is the order things happen in.
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Site visit and load list
The electrician walks the house, checks the panel and the gas meter, and builds the list of what you want covered.
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Sized options, written price
Two or three configurations with the unit, the transfer switch, the gas work and permitting in one number each. Honored for 72 hours.
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Pad, unit, switch, fuel
The generator is set, the transfer switch and panel work are done, the gas line is run and pressure-tested, and the job is inspected.
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Start-up test and walkthrough
We simulate an outage with you there, confirm the transfer, and show you the controls and the weekly self-test.
Current Specials
Save on the work your home needs most.
Thinking About Backup Power?
A licensed electrician can size it, price it in writing and explain the financing, with no pressure.
What Our Customers Say
Don't just take our word for it — hear from our satisfied customers
★★★★★
Had a massive undetectable leak in a new home I just moved into... I was losing 1000+ gallons a day and was so worried about what was going to be the outcome. Then Radiant/ DAVID FARMER my saving grace, best plumber I've ever had, came to my rescue. It was a large job with doing all the leak detection and solving each problem but David was kind enough to teach me everything he was doing/what to look out for in the future to avoid issues later. It was an awful stressful situation that he made easy and fixed quickly. I think they are fairly priced and will work with budget constraints if needed. All I know is I know who my plumber is for life and I really appreciated all that Radiant and David did! UPDATE: used radiant for a AC repair and again they didn’t disappoint! April was my technician and she was AWESOME! So patient and kind and I learned a lot about my system that she showed me! Kudos again Radiant!!
★★★★★
We had another incredible experience with Radiant Plumbing & Air Conditioning that left us very impressed. Back in 2013, we hired this exact company to replace our old water heater, and the entire experience was absolutely outstanding. So, as soon as we realised it was time to replace our 2013 water heater, we didn’t hesitate to contact Radiant once more. Once more, Radiant and Christian, the technician, exceeded all expectations with their efforts. Christian is a true professional. We appreciated how Christian clearly explained all the different choices and worked hard to keep us near our budget limits. Our sincere thanks go to Christian and Radiant for their genuine support in helping us remain as close as possible within our financial limits. Christian was not only kind but also very respectful during his time at our house, and he did an outstanding job. Christian and the gentlemen who accompanied him performed their tasks excellently, demonstrating friendliness, kindness, and deep knowledge of their craft, which clearly marks them as true professionals. I want to express my gratitude to Radiant and also to Christian, thank you both!!
★★★★★
If you're in need of a new HVAC system because the one you got from the new home builder has broken down or is not working right, especially in this heat wave, Radiant can get you setup with a new and energy efficient system that keeps you cool and comfortable no matter the extreme temperature outside.
I highly recommend Radiant for cooling and heating. They are very friendly, knowledgeable and professional.
Their technician (Nathan B.) was outstanding and Breana the customer support manager provided stellar service and support.
They even have an annual warranty service program where they come out twice a year ahead of the winter months for heating system checkup along with system maintenance and then again in springtime to check the cooling ahead of the summer months for cooling system check and and any necessary maintenance to keep your system running efficiently and smoothly.
There warranty service is much cheaper than American HomeShield and does not require a copay or deductible. It's quite a bargain and it provides peace of mind.
Give Radiant a try and your heating and cooling worries will disappear. I absolutely recommend them with the highest rating available.
I highly recommend Radiant for cooling and heating. They are very friendly, knowledgeable and professional.
Their technician (Nathan B.) was outstanding and Breana the customer support manager provided stellar service and support.
They even have an annual warranty service program where they come out twice a year ahead of the winter months for heating system checkup along with system maintenance and then again in springtime to check the cooling ahead of the summer months for cooling system check and and any necessary maintenance to keep your system running efficiently and smoothly.
There warranty service is much cheaper than American HomeShield and does not require a copay or deductible. It's quite a bargain and it provides peace of mind.
Give Radiant a try and your heating and cooling worries will disappear. I absolutely recommend them with the highest rating available.
Maintenance Membership
Join the Care Club
Home maintenance for $9.99 a month.
Care Club members get two HVAC tune-ups and a plumbing safety inspection every year, priority scheduling, no dispatch fees — ever — and 5% off every repair.
- Priority scheduling
- Seasonal HVAC tune-ups
- Annual safety inspection
- Exclusive member discounts
- Free dispatch on repairs
- No long-term contracts
Standby Generator Questions
What size standby generator does an Austin home need?
It depends entirely on what you want running. A refrigerator, some lights, the internet, a gas furnace blower and a few outlets is a modest load. Add central air conditioning and the number jumps, because the AC compressor is usually the largest single load in a Central Texas home and it needs extra capacity just to start. A well pump, an electric water heater or an electric range each add more. We build the list with you, add up the running and starting loads, and recommend a size. Managed-load transfer switches can let a mid-size unit carry the AC by holding off other loads while the compressor starts.
Does a standby generator run on natural gas or propane?
Either. If your home has natural gas service, that is the simplest choice: the fuel supply is effectively unlimited, there is no tank to fill and the unit can run for days. Homes outside gas service areas, which includes plenty of properties around Dripping Springs, Spicewood and the eastern edge of the county, use a propane tank. Propane works just as well; you simply need a tank sized for the run time you want and a plan to keep it filled. In both cases the gas meter or regulator has to deliver enough volume for the generator plus everything else in the house, which we check before quoting.
How does the generator know when to turn on?
The automatic transfer switch watches utility voltage constantly. When power fails or drops outside a safe range, it signals the generator to start, waits a few seconds for the engine to stabilize, then switches the house over. You may notice the lights blink once. When utility power has been back and steady for a set period, it transfers the house back and lets the generator cool down and shut off. The unit also runs a brief self-test on a weekly schedule so you know it is ready. None of this needs you to be home, awake or even in town.
Should I just buy a portable generator instead?
A portable is cheaper and fine for occasional use, but it comes with real limits. Someone has to be home to roll it out, fuel it and start it. Gasoline has to be stored and kept fresh. Cords run through doors or windows. And every year people are hurt by running one too close to the house, because the exhaust carries carbon monoxide. A portable should never be connected to house wiring without a proper transfer switch or interlock, which we can install. A standby unit costs more up front and does all of it automatically, safely and without you. For a household that cannot afford to be without power, that difference is the whole point.
How much maintenance does a home generator need?
Less than a car, but not none. A standby generator wants an annual service: oil and filter change, air filter, spark plugs on schedule, a battery check, and a run under load to confirm it actually carries the house. Between services, the weekly self-test exercises the engine and the controller, and you should keep the area around the unit clear of leaves and debris. The battery is the most common reason a generator fails to start when it is needed, so we test it every visit. Radiant can put your unit on a maintenance schedule so you are not the one remembering.
*Offers cannot be combined with other promotions or applied to dispatch fees. No cash value. Must present offer at time of service. Call for details.
