In Charge Home Electric
Electrician fitting a generator interlock kit to an electrical panel

Generator Installation in Seattle

Interlock kits, transfer switches, and smart home panels installed by licensed electricians. We handle everything from portable generators to home battery systems to whole-home standby generators such as Generac.

Licensed, Bonded, & Insured
Over 100 Five-Star Reviews
Free Estimates
Upfront Pricing
Permits and Inspection Included
2-Year Warranty
Call(425) 202-5529

WA Lic #CHARGCH761KL · Most jobs scheduled the same week

Why Back Up Your Home

Why Install a Generator?

Peace of Mind

Keep your furnace, fridge, and well or sump pump running even through extended outages

Comfort

Your internet, lights, and hot water stay on, so an outage doesn't impact your day

Home Value

A permitted whole-home system is a lasting improvement to the property

Power Back On in 30 Seconds

Whether you provide your own portable generator or go with a full standby generator system, we will make sure you have a solution that meets your needs when the power goes out.

Choose Your Power Source

Three Ways to Back Up Your Home

Portable Generator Installation

The cheapest way onto backup power. Bring your own gas, propane, or portable battery generator and we will install the inlet box, set up the interlock kit or manual transfer switch, and hook it up to power your most important circuits.

  • Fuel

    Gasoline or propane

  • Connection

    Interlock or transfer switch

  • Startup

    Manual

  • Best For

    Essential circuits

Brands we hook up: Honda, Generac, Champion, Westinghouse, DuroMax, Predator, EGO, and more.

Home Battery System Installation

Silent, automatic backup with no engine to house, nothing to refuel, and nothing to start. Pair with a home solar system to recharge for free during daylight hours. Pair with a smart panel to control active circuits and remaining charge in real time.

  • Fuel

    Grid or solar charge

  • Connection

    Transfer switch or smart panel

  • Startup

    Automatic

  • Best For

    Essential circuits

Brands we install: EcoFlow DELTA Pro, Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery, FranklinWH, Generac PWRcell, SolarEdge, Anker SOLIX, and more.

Standby Generator Installation

Whole-home backup power that starts itself when an outage is detected and keeps running for days on end.

  • Fuel

    Natural gas or propane

  • Connection

    Automatic transfer switch

  • Startup

    Automatic

  • Best For

    Whole home power

Brands we install: Generac, Kohler, Cummins, Briggs & Stratton, Champion, Westinghouse, and more.

What Size Generator Do I Need?

It depends on what you want running during an outage:

Essentials Only

  • Generator Size

    5,000–10,000 watts

  • Keeps On

    Fridge, furnace, pump

  • Air Conditioning

    Usually not

  • Usual Route

    Portable + interlock

Whole Home

  • Generator Size

    16,000–22,000 watts

  • Keeps On

    The whole panel

  • Air Conditioning

    Yes

  • Usual Route

    Standby + ATS

Not sure which option suits your needs best? Give us a call at (425) 202-5529 and we are always happy to answer any questions before anyone ever comes out.

What It Costs

What Determines a Generator Installation Cost?

The cost will vary depending on which option you go with and whether your existing system meets the requirements. The most important factors are:

Connection Type

An interlock kit will cost less than a manual transfer switch, while an automatic transfer switch is the highest-end option

Distance From the Panel

We charge by the foot for the run between your panel and the inlet box, the battery, or the generator pad (first 5 feet are included)

Meeting Requirements

If your panel does not support an interlock kit for a portable generator, or you do not have natural gas lines or a propane tank for a standby generator, it can increase the scope required

Every quote we write is upfront, itemized, and carries no obligation, so you can see exactly what is driving the cost before you agree to anything. It also includes all required permits, utility company fees, and any city coordination so you have full peace of mind throughout.

Can I Install an Interlock Kit on My Panel?

There are two requirements for an interlock kit installation:

Compatible Interlock Kit

Interlock kit compatibility is often tied to specific panels. The label inside your panel door tells us which one yours is suited for.

Room for the Generator Breaker

The kit needs a two-pole slot in a particular position, usually the top of the panel. Existing circuits can often be moved to make space.

Still not sure? Call (425) 202-5529 or submit the form with a picture of your panel and we will tell you which route it can take, free and with no obligation.

How Do I Power a Standby Generator?

The most common fuel sources are natural gas and propane. If you already have natural gas lines, those are almost always the right choice. If not, propane can be a lower-cost alternative to running new natural gas lines:

Propane Tank

  • Supply

    Tank on your property

  • Runtime

    Until the tank empties

  • Refills

    Scheduled deliveries

  • Best For

    Homes with no gas service

Natural Gas Line

  • Supply

    Fed from your meter

  • Runtime

    Runs indefinitely

  • Refills

    None to schedule

  • Best For

    Homes already on gas

While running new natural gas lines requires the involvement of your local utility provider and a licensed plumber, we do offer complimentary help coordinating that process for you if you choose us as your electrician. Whichever option you choose, we will let you know up front what is required and what it will cost with no obligation.

Electrical panel with the door open, showing an installed generator interlock kit
Generac emergency disconnect installed next to the meter and service entrance
Completed Generac standby generator installation with the meter and transfer switch on the exterior wall

Customer Reviews

Real Reviews From Recent Backup Power Installs

James W.

Sammamish

“Troy and Kadin installed a manual transfer switch with a mechanical interlock to safely attach a portable generator to my home electrical panel during power outages. They arrived at the appointed time, worked quickly and professionally, and completed the installation at the cost promised, which was very reasonable. They then taught me how to properly and safely use the plug and switches they had installed. When the generator I had ordered arrived, I discovered it needed a different type of plug than the one they had installed. I called Troy and he and Kayden came the next day and changed the receptacle for me at no additional cost. I couldn’t be more satisfied with their services.”
View on Google

Kieron S.

Kirkland

“Awesome Company!!! Reach out to In Charge Home Electric via email about some work I needed doing. They responded very quickly asking for some photos of my power panel. After a few emails back and forth about the scope of work. In Charge Home Electric provided a flat fee to replace my power panel, add a generator interlock, generator outlet and EV outlet. Price was very competitive. Once I signed the work order (online). They scheduled me in for the work. Fast and efficient. Day of work. I received text messages that the Kadin, Troy and another guy (sorry I forgot his name) were on their way and when they arrived. We had a quick chat about what was involved and if I had any questions. When talking to Kadin and Troy throughout the day. Very professional and down to earth guys. All the work was completed to a very high standard. Highly recommended and any electrical work I need going forward will be to this company. I've already recommended them to a work colleague.”
View on Google

Mike A.

Renton

“We hired In Charge Home Electric to install an EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 3 and DELTA Pro Ultra X battery backup system. Troy handled the install consult and kept us informed throughout the scheduling and final inspection timeline. The installation team — Edwin, Jarrod, Kadin, and Noah — exceeded our expectations. They flawlessly installed the Smart Home Panel 3, the DELTA Pro Ultra X, and the Smart Inlet Box at the locations of our choosing, along with an EV charger. They stayed with us through system commissioning and patiently answered every technical question that came up along the way. The system worked flawlessly right out of the gate: we simulated a power failure to test it, and the equipment transitioned to battery backup power on the very first try. Everything was installed exactly per equipment specifications — no faults to troubleshoot, no issues flagged by the panel app, and inspection passed with no issues. There aren't any "official" EcoFlow installers in our area, so finding a team this knowledgeable and professional was a huge relief. Pricing was also competitive — we got five quotes total, and In Charge Home Electric stood out on both value and expertise. Highly recommend — we're very pleased with their service and communication.”
View on Google

Over 100 five-star reviews across Google, Yelp, and more. See all reviews

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

In most jurisdictions around Seattle, yes. Interlock kits, transfer switches, and standby generators all tie into your panel, so all three count as permitted electrical work. We pull the permit and meet the inspector ourselves, and the cost sits inside the quote you approve rather than showing up as a line item on the final invoice.

Usually, yes. We fit an exterior inlet box and an interlock kit on your panel, and your generator plugs into the box with a single cord. Tell us the model before we order parts. The receptacle we install has to match the outlet on your generator, which is most often an L14-30 but not always.

An interlock kit with a power inlet box is typically half a day. A manual transfer switch takes about a full day. A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch is usually one to two days of electrical work, once the pad is set and the gas side is in place. You will know which one applies before we start.

Yes. A Generac standby generator sits on a pad outside the house and connects to your panel through an automatic transfer switch, which watches the utility feed and starts the generator when it drops. We set the pad, run the electrical, install the transfer switch, and load-test the finished system before we leave.

Outside, on a level pad, with clearance from the house and from anything that opens or vents. In practice that means about 18 inches off the wall and 5 feet from doors, windows, and dryer or furnace vents. The manufacturer's spec and your local code set the final distances. We confirm the spot with you at the estimate rather than on install day.

Bigger than most people expect. A 22 kW unit can ask for more gas than an existing meter and service line were sized to deliver, so the load has to be added up against everything else on the meter, including the furnace, water heater, and range. Where it does not add up, the utility upsizes the meter and its own service line. We do not run gas lines ourselves. That side is the utility's work, with a licensed gas fitter where one is needed, and it is arranged separately from our electrical quote.

It depends on the battery's capacity and on what you leave running. Sized for the essentials like the fridge, furnace, Wi-Fi, and lights, a typical home battery covers a night comfortably. Running the whole panel including heat and cooking drains it much faster. We size it against your actual load rather than a headline number, and it recharges from the grid or your solar as soon as either is available.

No. A double-male cord into an existing outlet energizes your whole panel with nothing stopping the power from pushing back out to the street, which is how utility linemen get hurt. It also fails inspection and can void your insurance. An interlock or transfer switch makes it mechanically impossible for both sources to be connected at once, and neither one is an expensive part.

Free Estimate

Get Your Free Estimate

We respond to most requests within the hour, but will get back to you within a day at the latest.

Preferred Contact Method

Photos (optional)

Add details (optional)

What's Included in the Quote

  • Load calculation and panel assessment
  • Interlock kit or transfer switch
  • Exterior generator inlet box
  • Correct breaker and wire gauge
  • Electrical permit and inspection
  • Full system test under load
  • Full warranty on all work
  • Workmanship and quality guarantee

Prefer to talk it through?

Call(425) 202-5529

How It Works

From First Call to Final Inspection

1

Send Us Your Panel

Call, email, or use the form. A photo of your open panel, the label inside its door, and the generator you own or are considering tell us most of what we need. For portable generator installations, most quotes can be done virtually.

2

Free Load Assessment

A licensed electrician checks your panel, confirms which transfer route it can take, agrees where the inlet box or generator will sit, and prices the whole job upfront, permit included. No obligation.

3

Installed and Tested

An interlock kit and inlet box are usually half a day, a manual transfer switch about a full day, and a standby generator with an ATS one to two. We pull the permit, test the system under load, and meet the inspector ourselves.

In Charge Home Electric serving the Greater Seattle area

Our Service Area

Backup Power Installation Across Greater Seattle

We install interlock kits, transfer switches, standby generators, and home battery backup from Seattle to Mount Vernon, and handle all of the required permits and inspections for whichever city you are in. Free estimates, up front pricing, and a full warranty are the In Charge Home Electric standard for all projects.

Our service area includes

SeattleBellevueRentonKirklandRedmondBothellShorelineBurienTukwilaEverettArlingtonMount VernonLynnwoodMarysvilleEdmondsKenmoreMercer IslandSnohomishSammamishMedina

and surrounding communities

You Might Also Need

Related Services

Panel Changes & Service Upgrades

Panel Changes & Service Upgrades

Upgrade your electrical panel to safely handle modern power demands. 100A to 200A upgrades and subpanel installations.

EV Charger Installation

EV Charger Installation

Level 2 home EV charger installation by licensed electricians. Charge your electric vehicle safely and efficiently.

Electrical Inspection

Electrical Inspection

Pre-purchase assessments, insurance and lender reports, and older-home safety checks, with a written report.