Free homeowner planning guide
Home generator readiness checklist
Reliable backup power starts with the right loads, fuel plan, transfer equipment, placement, and maintenance—not a generator-size guess. Use this checklist to prepare for a useful site assessment before Jacksonville hurricane season.
Never connect a generator directly to building wiring without approved transfer equipment. Backfeeding can injure occupants, technicians, and utility workers.
Define what must stay powered
- List essential loads such as refrigeration, lighting, internet, medical equipment, well or sump pumps, and selected receptacles
- Record the nameplate information for air conditioning, water heating, cooking, pool equipment, and other large loads
- Decide whether you need selected-circuit backup or broader whole-home coverage
- Identify equipment that cannot restart all at once and discuss load management with the installer
- Plan for household needs during a multi-day Northeast Florida outage—not only the first few hours
Verify the property and installation plan
- Document the electrical service size, panel location, available space, and any planned future electrical loads
- Confirm generator placement can satisfy manufacturer instructions, property constraints, and applicable clearance requirements
- Review natural-gas availability or propane storage, routing, ownership, refill access, and fuel-provider coordination
- Identify flood exposure, drainage, salt-air exposure, landscaping, noise, and service access before choosing a location
- Confirm who handles electrical, fuel, concrete or mounting work, permits, inspections, and utility coordination
Prepare for reliable operation
- Use approved transfer equipment so generator power cannot backfeed the utility system
- Keep operating instructions, service contacts, warranties, and maintenance records together
- Schedule exercise cycles and maintenance according to the generator manufacturer
- Test the system under an appropriate load with qualified support and correct problems before hurricane season
- Install and maintain carbon-monoxide alarms; never operate a portable generator indoors, in a garage, or near openings
Planning backup power for your home?
Bolt Electric provides generator load planning, transfer-equipment installation, electrical connections, and permitted backup-power projects across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
Request a generator assessment