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Generator Installation Ann Arbor, MI
Home standby generators planned for hilly, tree-lined lots in Ann Arbor, Pittsfield and Scio. Licensed and insured, with free written quotes.
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Licensed and insured | Family owned | Free quotes | Office Mon to Fri, 7 am to 5 pm
Homeowners in Tree Town call 3D Electric for Generator Installation Ann Arbor, MI when they want backup power that starts on its own. We plan, permit, wire and start up Generac, Honeywell and Kohler home standby generators in the city, Pittsfield Township and Scio Township. Use this page on Generator Installation Ann Arbor, MI to compare options, see how the job goes and reach each service below.
Our family-owned crew drives in from Belleville, about 18 to 22 miles down I-94, and we have already completed a generator install in Ann Arbor. For the area at a glance, including our other local pages, visit the 3D Electric Ann Arbor overview.
Lectro's tip
Snap a photo of your open breaker panel and your gas meter before the quote visit, so the crew shows up with the right parts.
Ann Arbor generator services
Why Ann Arbor homes add standby power
A canopy that brings lines down
The trees that earned the Tree Town nickname are also why many local outages run long. After the February 2023 ice storm, about 38 percent of DTE customers in Washtenaw County were still dark two days later. In August 2023, storms and tornadoes cut power to about 243,000 customers across southeast Michigan, and more than 29,000 in Washtenaw were still waiting the next day.
What a long outage costs you
In a finished basement, the sump pump stops right when the ground is soaked. In January, the furnace blower quits. Medicine in the fridge warms up, and a CPAP machine or home office goes silent. A whole house generator starts within moments of losing grid power, even if you are away, and hands the load back when DTE restores service.
What your Ann Arbor installation includes
Your free written estimate lists every part of the system, so nothing shows up later as a surprise:
A load calculation. We add up the furnace, sump pump, fridge, central air, well pump or range you want covered.
The unit. A Generac, Honeywell or Kohler home standby generator. Ask us about other brands.
A level pad. Set to the clearances in the manufacturer's manual, away from windows and vents.
Transfer equipment. An automatic transfer switch rated for your service, plus load management on larger homes.
Wire and fuel runs. The circuit from the generator to the switch, and the gas or propane hookup by the proper trade.
Permits and a live test. We file the electrical permit, meet the inspector and pull utility power so you can watch the unit take over.
For the brand-neutral version of each step across our whole area, see the whole house generator installation guide.
Whole house or essentials for Ann Arbor houses
Full coverage for larger homes
A whole-home setup feeds every circuit in the panel. On a big house in Scio Township, load management lets a mid-size unit carry the place by making central air and an electric range take turns.
A shorter list for older houses
An essentials setup powers only what you name: heat, the sump pump, the fridge, some lights and outlets. It uses a smaller unit and a smaller switch, which often suits a 19th-century house on the Old West Side with a crowded panel. If that panel can't accept a transfer switch, our electrician team for Ann Arbor can plan the upgrade into the same job.
Size follows your loads
Square footage alone doesn't pick the size. We list your must-run equipment at the visit and do the math before we name a unit. The standby generator cost factors show how size, fuel and wire length shape the estimate.
Natural gas, propane and your meter
Inside city limits, DTE Gas supplies natural gas. A home standby generator on that line never needs a refill and keeps running while gas flows. Before the gas run is sized, DTE Gas may need to confirm your meter can carry the generator on top of the furnace, water heater and range.
In Pittsfield and Scio, look at your gas bill to see which company serves you. Homes beyond a gas main can run on propane from a tank on the property, and tank size sets how long you can go between deliveries. Electricity across most of the area comes from DTE, while Consumers Energy serves the far western edge of Washtenaw County.
Ann Arbor generator permits and historic review
Who issues the permit depends on which side of the city line your house sits.
City of Ann Arbor. The Building Department, part of Build, Rent, Inspect at 301 E. Huron St., takes electrical applications through its online STREAM system.
Pittsfield Township. Homes around Haven Lake, Lillie Park and the south side use the township's own office.
Scio Township. Addresses out toward Delhi and Dexter-Huron Metroparks also file with the township.
We pull the electrical permit and schedule the inspections. Gas piping carries its own permit under whoever does that work. The Old West Side has been on the National Register since 1972, so ask the city whether new outdoor equipment there needs historic review. Offices update forms and fees, so confirm current requirements for your address. Our generator permit guide lists what inspectors usually look at.
Placement on hills, roots and narrow lots
Sloped yards
Elevations in Ann Arbor run from about 750 to 1,015 feet, and the ground drops fast near the Huron River and Nichols Arboretum. A generator must sit level and drain well, so on a slope we build up the pad area or choose flatter ground a bit farther from the meter.
Mature trees
Big oaks and maples mean big roots. We walk the trench path with you and steer around root zones where the layout allows. We also keep the unit clear of low branches so leaves don't pack the vents.
Tight lots near downtown
Some older city lots leave little room between houses for the required clearances. When a standby pad won't fit, a portable generator with an inlet and interlock can still carry the basics.
How we run an Ann Arbor generator job
Call or send photos. Tell us what must stay on. Pictures of the panel and gas meter help us plan the drive.
One thorough visit. Since Ann Arbor is a longer trip, we measure the yard, panel and fuel path in a single stop.
Written estimate. It names the unit, switch, pad, permits and fuel work, with no hidden charges. Financing is available.
Permit filing. STREAM for city addresses, or the Pittsfield or Scio office for township homes.
Install day. We cover floors, keep the mess inside the work area and clean up before we leave.
Inspection and startup. After sign-off we cut utility power at the switch, watch the generator carry the house and show you the controller.
Ready to start? Use the form on this page, call (734) 697-8477, or send details on the Ann Arbor generator quote page. The main 3D Electric contact page reaches the same office. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm. 24-hour emergency service available.
Straightforward Pricing Guaranteed
We provide transparent pricing with detailed written estimates provided in advance. Our pricing is clear, consistent, and free of hidden charges.
Outstanding Workmanship Guaranteed
At 3D Electric, we stand behind every project with guaranteed workmanship. Our team works with precision and careful attention to detail on every job. From repairs and upgrades to full installations and generators, we deliver reliable results that are done right and built to last.
Property Protection Guaranteed
We protect your home as if it were our own. Floors covered, work areas contained, and cleanup done before we leave. Property protection, guaranteed.
More generator pages
How a standby system goes in, region wide.
Standby generators next door in Ypsilanti.
Standby generators near our home shop.
The load math behind a size.
Runtime, refills and hookups compared.
Which connection fits your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the unit size, fuel type, transfer switch, wire and gas run length, and any panel work. We don't quote prices online, but your site visit and written estimate are free. Our cost guide explains each factor.
Inside the city, the Building Department in Build, Rent, Inspect handles it through the STREAM system. Pittsfield and Scio townships each run their own offices. Gas piping is permitted separately, so confirm current requirements for your address.
Often it can, but check with the city first. The neighborhood is on the National Register and protected by city ordinances, so new outdoor equipment may need historic review. We plan placement around that answer and the manufacturer's clearances.
Usually not. The unit needs a level, well-drained pad, so we build up the pad area or pick flatter ground nearby. That can lengthen the wire and gas runs, which we measure at the visit.
We install and service Generac, Honeywell and Kohler home standby generators. If you have another brand in mind, ask us about it when you call.
No. It sits near the outer edge of our area, about 18 to 22 miles away, so we book visits ahead and try to cover everything in one trip. 24-hour emergency service available, and the office answers Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm.