Questions Houston homeowners ask us

It depends on the size of the unit, your fuel, the transfer switch and the electrical work at your panel, so a real number comes from a site visit, not a chart. We give a free estimate and can walk you through financing.

It depends on what runs at the same time, mostly your air conditioning, not just square footage. We count your circuits and check your gas meter on a free visit, then recommend the smallest unit that does the job.

For homes that lose power in storms and freezes, most owners say yes. It keeps the AC, refrigerator, lights and medical equipment running by itself, and Houston has had multi-day outages after hurricanes and the 2021 freeze.

Either works. Natural gas is common where the street has a line and you never refill it. Propane is used where there is no gas service, and it needs a tank on your property. We set the unit up for your fuel.

Often yes, if it is sized for it. A larger home, or one with more than one AC unit, may need a bigger unit or a plan for which circuits run together. That is why we measure the load first.

A standby generator is permanently installed, runs on your gas line and starts by itself within seconds of an outage. A portable one has to be wheeled out, fueled and plugged in, and it runs far less of the house.

Generac is the most widely installed home standby brand, with strong parts and service support in the Houston area. Wired is a Generac Prestige Dealer, the highest dealer tier, and we install and service them.

Permit timing depends on your city or county. The install itself is usually one day. If you have an HOA, its approval comes first.

Almost always. A permanently installed generator involves electrical work and a gas line, which are normally permitted and inspected, and rules differ between the City of Houston, Harris County and Montgomery County. We pull the permits and schedule the inspections for you.

It is the switch that detects the power loss, starts the generator, and moves your house from the grid to the generator. When the grid comes back, it moves your house back and the generator shuts down. It also keeps power from flowing back out to the lines.

On a pad outside, with set distances from the house, windows, doors and property lines. We confirm the spot, check any HOA rules, and plan the gas and electrical runs before we start.

Sometimes the existing line is too small and has to be upsized. We check the line and the meter during the free visit so there is no surprise on install day.

We do not recommend it. It involves electrical work, a gas connection, a transfer switch, permits and inspections, and mistakes are a fire, carbon monoxide and back-feed hazard. Our licensed crews do the whole job.

Yes. The whole sequence is automatic, which is the point of a standby unit. Generac Mobile Link also lets you check its status from your phone.

About once a year, or on the manufacturer schedule for your model. A service visit covers oil, filters, the battery, a full inspection and a test under load.

The battery or an old filter can keep it from starting in the one outage you needed it. Some warranties also expect a record of service.

Yes, we service all brands. Call us and tell us the make and model.

Wired includes a free 10-year warranty on new air-cooled Generac installs. Generac’s own standard warranty is a 5-year limited warranty. Call for the current terms and what each one covers.

Shield Protection is Wired's membership plan: remote monitoring, scheduled maintenance, load tests and storm priority, by generator size. Call for the plans that fit your unit.

Common signs are breakers that trip often, a panel that is full, a 100-amp service in a house that has added AC, a pool or a charger, or an older panel brand with a known problem. A licensed electrician does a load check to tell you for sure.

The work in your house is often one day, with the power off for part of it. The full project takes longer because of the permit, the utility disconnect and reconnect, and the inspection.

In the Houston area, yes in nearly every case. Panel work is normally permitted and inspected, and the utility has to disconnect and reconnect power around the work. Rules differ by city and county, so we pull the permit and schedule the inspection for you.

We strongly advise against it. The service wires coming into the panel stay live even with the main breaker off, and mistakes can mean shock, fire or a failed inspection. A licensed electrician works with the utility and the inspector, and that is the safe way to do it.

A safe place to look is the label on the main breaker, which is usually the large breaker at the top of the panel, or the rating printed on the panel door or label. Do not remove the panel cover to check. If you cannot find it or the label is unclear, we can confirm it on a free visit.

Only if the panel has open spaces and enough capacity for the added load. A full panel, an older panel, or one already close to its limit may need a subpanel or a full upgrade first. We check the load before adding anything so the new circuit is safe.

Programs like that change from year to year and depend on your situation, so we do not make promises about them. Ask your electric utility and a tax professional what applies to you now. We can give you a clear written scope of the work to take to them.

Not always. Many homes can carry a Level 2 charger on a dedicated circuit. A 100-amp service, a full panel or a second charger often needs an upgrade first, so we check your load before we quote.

A 240-volt charger that charges a car much faster than a regular wall outlet. It needs its own dedicated circuit, installed by a licensed electrician with a permit where required.

Sometimes. Tesla has opened a growing number of its charging sites to other brands, but access depends on the specific site, your vehicle and whether you need an adapter. Check your car maker's app and the Tesla app for what works with your car, and that is separate from what you plug into at home.

It is the charging cord that comes with many electric cars and plugs into a regular 120-volt household outlet. It is the slowest way to charge, which is fine for light daily driving but too slow for many drivers. Most owners who drive regularly choose a 240-volt Level 2 charger at home.

Most home Level 2 chargers work with most electric vehicles, though plug types differ between car brands and some need an adapter. We install the charger on a dedicated circuit, and you choose a unit that matches your car's connector. If you are not sure, tell us your make and model and we will help you pick.

Usually yes, because a Level 2 charger needs a new 240-volt circuit and that is permitted electrical work in most Houston area cities. Requirements vary by city and county. We pull the permit and handle the inspection as part of the job.

The main factors are the distance from your panel to the charger location, how much capacity your panel has left, the charger you choose, and whether the wiring has to go through walls, trenches or a detached garage. Some homes also need a panel upgrade first. Incentives change, so ask your utility and a tax professional about those. We quote after a free visit.

Storm season in Houston makes it a smart protection for electronics and appliances. A whole-home surge protector at the panel catches what a plug-in strip cannot.

Yes. The phone is answered 24/7. Call (713) 467-1125.

Burning smells, smoke, sparks, a hot or melted outlet or panel, exposed or downed wires, water in the panel and shocks are all emergencies. A total power loss in just your house, while neighbors have power, is urgent too. If there is fire, smoke or an injury, call 911 first, then call us.

Stay away from anything that looks damaged, keep people and pets out of the area and do not touch wet equipment or exposed wires. Unplug or turn off what you safely can and leave the panel cover on. If you smell burning or see smoke or flames, leave the home and call 911.

Small things like swapping a light bulb are fine, but wiring, panels, circuits and outlets are permitted work with safety and inspection requirements, and mistakes can cause fires and shocks. Unpermitted or incorrect work can also cause problems with insurance and when you sell. We recommend letting a licensed electrician handle it.

An inspector looks at the completed work to make sure it is safe and meets code, such as the wiring, the panel, grounding and protection devices. Wired is a licensed contractor that pulls its own permits, so we schedule the inspection and handle it. You only need to give access to the work.

By the scope of the work: what needs to be done, the materials, the access, the permit and the time it takes. We do not guess over the phone. We give a free estimate after we see the job, and a specialist confirms the details at the visit.

Greater Houston and about 100 miles around our shop on Alice Road in Tomball, including Cypress, Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, Katy, Magnolia and Houston.

Yes. Wired is a licensed and insured electrical contractor, family owned since 2005.

Yes. Estimates are free, and a specialist confirms everything at the visit.

Yes. We offer financing on generators and electrical work, subject to credit approval. See the financing page for the options.

Call (713) 467-1125, use the free estimate form, or try the instant generator estimate. We will confirm the details and set a visit.

Yes, when it is installed correctly. A transformer steps the power down to a low voltage for the fixtures, which greatly lowers shock risk compared with standard household wiring. The part that still carries full house voltage, the outlet or circuit feeding the transformer, should be on a protected outdoor circuit, and that is where a licensed electrician matters.

Usually not. Modern LED fixtures draw very little power, so a typical yard system adds only a small amount to your bill. Total use depends on how many fixtures you have and how many hours they run, and a timer or photocell keeps that in check.

The number of fixtures, the type of fixtures, how far the cable has to run, how much trenching or obstacles are in the way, and whether you need a new outdoor circuit or transformer location. Controls such as timers and smart dimming also change the scope. We give a free estimate after we walk your yard and see where the power will come from.

Moisture is the most common cause: water getting into a fixture, a connection or an outdoor outlet can trip a GFCI or breaker, especially after rain or sprinklers run. Overloaded circuits and damaged cable are other causes. Do not keep resetting it over and over; turn the lights off and call us to find the fault.

Low voltage kits are sold for homeowners, but the power source is the part that needs a professional. A new outdoor outlet, a dedicated circuit or a spot to mount a transformer should be done by a licensed electrician with proper GFCI protection. We can handle that part, or design and install the whole system so it lasts.

Standby generators come in a range of sizes, and the smallest ones are meant to cover essentials such as lights, the refrigerator and some outlets, not a whole house with central air. The right size depends on what you want to keep running together. We add up your loads on a free visit and recommend the smallest unit that does the job.

A standby generator is louder than an idle house but designed for residential use, and models differ in how loud they run. Each one also runs a short self-test on a schedule, which you will hear. Where we place it on your lot makes a real difference to the noise you notice.

Because homes differ. The size of the unit, the distance to your gas line or propane tank, the transfer switch type, the pad, the panel work and the permit all change the scope. Two quotes are only comparable if they cover the same equipment and work, so we write ours out clearly after a free visit.

It uses more fuel the more load it carries, and a unit running a large house with central air will use much more than one running a few circuits. On natural gas you never refill, and on propane you plan your tank size around how long you want to run. We talk through run time with you when we size the system.

They solve different problems. A standby generator can run for as long as it has fuel and can carry a large load, such as central air, through a multi-day outage. Battery systems are quiet and instant but can be limited in how long they run a big load without recharging. We install generators, so we are happy to talk through what fits how you use your home.

Often yes. Many homeowners start with the circuits that are the biggest safety concern, such as the panel, the kitchen or old wiring, and move on room by room as budget and schedule allow. A plan up front keeps the stages from conflicting with each other. We look at the whole house first and lay out a sensible order.

Sometimes. Electricians can often fish new wire through walls and attics with small access holes, which are then patched. How much patching you need depends on the framing, insulation and how the house was built. We can tell you what to expect on a free visit.

A breaker trips to protect the wiring, usually because the circuit is overloaded, a device has a fault, or there is a short or ground fault. An old or worn breaker can also trip too easily. A safe check is to unplug what is on that circuit and notice what was running when it tripped, but do not keep resetting it and do not open the panel. Call us to find the cause.

Common causes are a tripped GFCI outlet elsewhere on the same circuit, a tripped breaker, or a loose or worn connection. A safe check is to press the reset button on any nearby GFCI outlet, such as in a kitchen, bathroom, garage or outdoors, and check the breaker panel for a tripped one. If it still does not work, call us rather than opening the outlet.

Warm to the touch is a warning sign, often from a loose connection, overload or worn device, and it can lead to a fire. Stop using that outlet, unplug what is in it and call us the same day. If you smell burning or see smoke, scorch marks or sparks, call 911.