Generator Installation in Plaistow, NH
Moore Electric installs whole-home and essential-circuit standby generators for Plaistow homes, from the load assessment and transfer switch to the Town of Plaistow permit and final inspection. We are based on Wentworth Ave, so this is our own town. For how standby systems work in general, see our standby generator installation page.
Brenden Moore, Master Electrician, NH #14511 | 25+ years | 5.0 from 24 Google reviews
Why Do Plaistow Homes Lose Power for Days?
Plaistow homes get their electricity from Unitil, and much of the local distribution runs overhead along tree-lined roads. When ice, heavy wet snow or high wind brings trees down across a wide area, restoration is measured in days. Here is what drives generator demand in Plaistow, season by season.
Winter: Nor'easters & Ice Storms
The December 2008 ice storm is the one most Plaistow homeowners remember. Statewide, more than 300,000 customers of New Hampshire's largest utility lost power, and restoring all of them took 13 days. Unitil, which serves Plaistow, had close to 40,000 New Hampshire customers out.
Spring: Wet Snow & Wind Events
Heavy wet snow and late-winter wind storms do the same damage without any ice. In late February 2010, a windstorm left more than 250,000 customers of the state's largest utility in the dark, with damage in some areas worse than in 2008. Wet snow on trees that have already leafed out in spring is another common cause of downed lines.
Summer: Thunderstorm & Tropical Season
Thunderstorms and the remnants of tropical systems usually bring shorter outages, often hours rather than days. Those are the ones that catch a sump pump during a heavy rain or a full freezer in July, in older and newer Plaistow homes alike.
Outages here follow the seasons. With a standby generator, the next one is a short pause before the lights come back on.
Get a Free Generator Sizing Assessment, No Commitment Required
The on-site assessment takes about an hour. Brenden evaluates your home's load, walks you through sizing options and fuel choices, and gives you a written estimate. You decide from there, with no pressure and no upsell.
What a Whole-Home Generator Installation Includes in Plaistow
A standby generator installation in Plaistow is a multi-trade project. Moore Electric manages the electrical scope (load assessment, transfer switch and wiring) and coordinates with your gas or propane supplier and the Town of Plaistow Building Department. For the general overview of sizing, fuel and brands, read how standby generator installation works.
What Size Generator Do You Need for Your Plaistow Home?
Generator sizing depends on the circuits and appliances you want protected. Here are the common sizing tiers Moore Electric installs for Plaistow homes.
Essential Circuits
Covers heat, refrigerator, sump pump, lights, and select outlets. A solid choice for homeowners who want critical systems protected without the cost of whole-home coverage.
Whole-Home Protection
Covers most Plaistow residences up to roughly 2,500 square feet. Keeps everything running during an outage: heat, AC, kitchen, laundry and all outlets.
Large Home / High Load
For larger homes, homes with EV chargers, home offices, or whole-home AC systems that need full capacity under any conditions.
Standby or Portable Generator for a Plaistow Home?
Both can keep the essentials running. They differ in how much they power, who has to be home, and what your electrical system needs.
Standby Generator
Mounted on a pad outside, wired through an automatic transfer switch and fed by Unitil gas or propane. It starts on its own within seconds of an outage, runs a scheduled self-test, and can be sized for a few essential circuits or the whole house. Nobody has to be home.
Portable Generator With a Transfer Switch
A portable unit has to be rolled out, started and refueled with gasoline by someone at home, and it powers only a handful of circuits. If you already own one, the safe way to connect it is a properly installed manual transfer switch. Never plug it into a dryer outlet or a wall receptacle: that can send power back onto Unitil's lines and endanger line workers.
Your Panel and Transfer Switch
Either option has to connect through your main panel. Older Plaistow homes with a 100-amp panel, a crowded breaker layout or a fuse box often need work there first, and a whole-home transfer switch may need more room than the existing service has. Moore Electric checks this during the assessment, and any panel upgrade in Plaistow goes on the same written quote.
Generac vs. Kohler: Which Standby Generator Is Right for Your Plaistow Home?
Generac and Kohler are the two standby brands Plaistow homeowners ask about most. Moore Electric recommends a brand and model after the load assessment, based on your home's load, fuel type and budget.
| Feature | Generac | Kohler |
|---|---|---|
| Market Share | Dominant (widest dealer network) | Premium (established brand) |
| Entry Price Point | Lower | Higher |
| Warranty | 5-year residential | 5-year residential |
| Fuel Options | Natural gas / propane | Natural gas / propane |
| Service Availability in NH | Widespread | More limited |
| Best For | Value-focused, broad coverage | Premium build quality |
The recommendation comes from your load and fuel situation, not brand preference. Both brands perform reliably when properly sized and installed.
Can You Finance a Generator in Plaistow?
Every generator is quoted in writing after the on-site assessment. Here is what helps with the cost, and what no longer applies.
Financing Available
Financing is available for qualifying customers. After Brenden gives you a written quote, ask about payment options. We send the application link by email or text, you apply on your own time, and once you are approved the installation goes on the calendar. See how financing works.
Panel Work on the Same Quote
If your panel needs an upgrade before the generator can be connected, it is priced on the same written quote, so you see the whole project at once and it can be financed together.
Federal Tax Credits
Don't plan on one. The federal home energy credits ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025, and standby generators were not on the eligible list in the first place.
Check With Your Insurance Carrier
Ask your homeowners insurance carrier whether a permanently installed generator changes your premium or coverage. Policies differ, so it is worth a call before or after the install.
What Plaistow-Area Homeowners Say About Moore Electric
"Brendon and his team are superb professionals that make you feel comfortable knowing they will do a great job. We had a fantastic experience with Moore Electrical. I highly recommend them for all your electrical needs."
"Top notch service from Moore Electric. Brenden was professional, knowledgeable and efficient. I use him for both my home and business. Whenever a friend or family member needs electrical work done I always recommend Brenden."
"I've been in the trades most of my life. I've worked with, for and have employed many trades guys. Brenden and his crew are among the best I've done business with. Reliable, communicative, fair, honest, and the list goes on. Highly recommend."
Generator Installation in Plaistow, NH: Common Questions
There is no single price, because the generator size, the fuel (Unitil gas or propane), the transfer switch and the condition of your panel all change the job. Essential-circuit systems cost less than whole-home systems, and a propane tank or a panel upgrade adds to the total. Moore Electric gives you a written quote after a free on-site sizing estimate, and financing is available for qualifying customers. Schedule your estimate here.
It depends on the circuits and appliances you want protected. A 10-16 kW unit handles essential circuits (heat, refrigerator, sump pump). An 18-22 kW unit provides whole-home coverage for most Plaistow homes up to about 2,500 square feet. Larger homes or those with EV chargers and central AC may need 22-26 kW+. Moore Electric performs an on-site load assessment to size the generator correctly before any equipment is ordered.
From signed contract to final inspection, most Plaistow generator installations take a few weeks. The timeline depends on equipment availability, gas or propane coordination, and the Plaistow Building Department inspection schedule. The actual on-site installation typically takes 1 to 2 days once the pad is set and the gas line is run.
Yes. Generator installations in Plaistow require an electrical permit filed with the Town of Plaistow Building Department, and in most cases a gas permit coordinated with your supplier. Moore Electric handles the electrical permit and inspection scheduling as part of the project, so you don't need to visit Town Hall or manage the paperwork yourself.
Both are reliable when properly sized and installed. Generac has a larger dealer and service network in NH and typically offers a lower entry price. Kohler is known for premium build quality. Moore Electric recommends a brand based on your specific load, fuel type and budget, not brand preference.
For many Plaistow homeowners it is, especially if you rely on a well pump, a sump pump, medical equipment or a heating system that needs power to run. The 2008 ice storm and the 2010 windstorm both left New Hampshire homes without power for days. Schedule a free assessment to get a written number for your home, so you can decide with real figures.
Both. Standby generators in Plaistow run on natural gas (from Unitil, where its gas lines reach your street) or propane (for homes without a gas line). Moore Electric coordinates with your gas or propane supplier for the fuel connection as part of the installation.
Most manufacturers recommend yearly maintenance: an oil change, filter replacement and a system check. The generator also runs a short self-test on a set schedule, usually weekly, which keeps the engine ready. Ask about the maintenance schedule for your model during the assessment.
Generator Installation Serving Plaistow & Southern NH
Moore Electric installs standby generators in Plaistow and the surrounding southern NH towns. The assessment, permit and inspection process is the same in each one; only the permitting office changes.
Primary Service Area
Also Serving
Moore Electric also provides electrical repairs, panel upgrades, rewiring, EV charger installation, kitchen and bath electrical, new construction wiring, home addition electrical, and commercial electrical services in Plaistow.
Ready to Get Your Generator Installed?
Most Plaistow generator projects go from signed contract to final inspection in a few weeks. Equipment, fuel coordination and permit scheduling all move more smoothly when you start before the first winter storm. Call or request online to get your assessment on the calendar.