Whole-House Generator Installation in Brooklyn: Sizing, Costs, and What to Expect
Brooklyn homeowners — especially those with sump pumps, finished basements, or family members on medical equipment — are installing whole-house standby generators in record numbers. The question is no longer "Should I get one?" but "What size, what fuel, and what does NYC require?"
Standby vs. Portable: Pick the Right Tool
Whole-House Standby Generator
Permanently installed outside, automatically starts within 10 seconds of an outage, runs on natural gas or propane, and powers the entire home (or a chosen subset) until utility power returns.
- Best for: Homeowners, sump pumps, central AC, refrigeration, medical equipment
- Investment: $9,000–$15,000 installed
- Lifespan: 15–20 years with annual maintenance
Portable Generator + Inlet Box
A gas-powered portable generator (4,000–8,000 watts) connected to your panel through a permitted interlock kit or transfer switch. Manual start, manual fueling, runs essential circuits only.
- Best for: Occasional outages, smaller homes, lower budget
- Investment: $1,800–$3,200 installed (excluding the generator itself)
- Lifespan: Generator 7–10 years, inlet box 20+
Sizing the Right Generator
The mistake we see most often is undersizing. A 10kW generator can't run central AC plus a sump pump plus a refrigerator simultaneously. Here's a sane sizing guide for Brooklyn homes:
| Home Size | Loads to Cover | Recommended Generator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 800–1,500 sq ft apartment | Refrigerator, lights, sump | 7–10 kW (portable or compact standby) |
| 1,500–2,500 sq ft brownstone | Above + central AC + microwave | 14 kW standby |
| 2,500–4,000 sq ft single-family | Whole house including dual AC | 22 kW standby |
| 4,000+ sq ft / EV charging during outage | Whole house + EV charging | 24–26 kW standby + load shedding |
A load calculation done by a professional electrician is the only reliable way to size this — guessing usually costs more in the long run.
Permits, Inspections, and Gas Coordination in NYC
NYC requires:
1. Electrical permit filed with the DOB before installation begins
2. Mechanical or fuel-gas permit for natural gas connection (often coordinated through the plumber)
3. National Grid or Con Edison gas service request for new or upsized gas service if existing line is undersized
4. DOB rough and final inspections before commissioning
Total permit-to-commission timeline in Brooklyn is typically 3–6 weeks. The labor itself is only 2–3 days; the rest is permitting and gas coordination.
Installed Cost Breakdown for a 22kW Generac
| Line Item | Typical Cost |
| --- | --- |
| Generac 22kW Guardian unit | $4,800–$5,800 |
| Automatic transfer switch (200A) | $700–$1,000 |
| Concrete pad and site prep | $300–$700 |
| Gas line extension (50 ft typical) | $1,200–$2,000 |
| Electrical labor and conduit | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Permits and inspections | $400–$700 |
| Total | $8,900–$12,700 |
Larger homes or longer gas runs push toward $15,000.
Where to Place the Generator
NYC code requires:
- Minimum 18 inches from the building wall
- Minimum 5 feet from any operable window or door
- Minimum 3 feet from property lines (varies by borough — check with your installer)
- A concrete pad or composite manufacturer-approved pad
In dense Brooklyn lots, this is often the single biggest constraint. We'll walk your property during the consult to confirm a viable location before quoting.
Maintenance and Lifetime Cost
Standby generators need:
- Annual service — oil change, filter swap, battery check ($350–$500/year)
- Weekly self-test — automatic, runs 12 minutes, drinks ~$2 of gas
- Battery replacement — every 4–5 years ($120–$180)
- Spark plug replacement — every 200 run hours
Plan on ~$500/year over the unit's lifetime.
Portable Generator Inlets: The Smart Middle Ground
If a whole-house standby is out of budget, a permitted inlet box with an interlock kit is the next best thing. Cost is $1,800–$3,200, and you can use any 30A or 50A portable generator you already own or borrow during a storm. Crucially, this is the only legal way to back-feed a panel in NYC — never use a "suicide cord" or back-feed through an outlet.
Our Process
1. Free in-home consultation and load calculation
2. Generator sizing and quote within 48 hours
3. Permit filing and gas coordination
4. Installation (2–3 days)
5. Inspection and commissioning with live transfer drill
6. Annual maintenance program optional
Call Jetco at (667) 455-6368 or [contact us](/#contact) for a Brooklyn whole-house generator consultation.