Because a standby generator is only an asset if it’s sized correctly, switched safely, and actually maintained — and a standard home inspection won’t tell you any of that. If you’re buying a Puget Sound home with backup power, a licensed electrical inspection before you close confirms whether the generator is a feature you can rely on or a liability you’ll inherit. And if the home doesn’t have one, the same visit tells you what adding standby power would take — useful given how often our winter windstorms take the grid down.
What a standard home inspection checks on a generator
Usually just its presence. A general home inspection might note that a standby generator is installed, but it isn’t designed to evaluate the sizing, the transfer switch, the permit history, or the maintenance condition. Those determine whether the unit will actually carry your home when the power goes out.
What a general home inspection misses
A “there’s a generator” note doesn’t cover:
- Sizing vs. load. Whether the unit matches the home’s real load — whole-home or just essential circuits — without overloading.
- Fuel type and supply. Natural gas vs. propane, and whether the supply is adequate and correctly connected.
- The transfer switch. Whether an automatic or manual switch is properly installed — a generator backfeeding a panel without one is a serious, even deadly, hazard.
- Permits & inspection. Whether the installation was permitted and passed electrical and gas inspection.
- Placement & clearances. Safe distance from windows, doors, and the gas meter, for both code and carbon-monoxide safety.
- Maintenance & reliability. Service history, last load test, and battery condition — a generator that never starts is just expensive lawn art.
A pre-purchase generator inspection from Allred Heating Cooling Electric evaluates all of the above, so you know whether the backup power you’re paying for will be there when you need it.
Why this matters here
Power reliability is a real consideration in the Puget Sound area — winter windstorms regularly cause outages, sometimes for days. A dependable standby generator protects heat, refrigeration, and the circuits that matter most. Because the generator ties directly into your electrical system, this inspection pairs naturally with our electrical inspection guide; for whole-home comfort, see the HVAC inspection guide too. You can explore the full range of our work on our electrical and HVAC services page.
What a pre-purchase generator inspection covers — and how it works
Our licensed electrician evaluates the unit’s size against the home’s load, the fuel connection, the transfer switch, permits, clearances, and maintenance condition — then gives you a clear, written summary of what works, what doesn’t, and what it would cost to fix or add.
Why we publish this: backup power is supposed to be peace of mind. We’d rather you know before you buy whether the generator on the property actually delivers it — or what it would take to get there — than find out during the next outage.
The smart move before closing day
If the home you’re buying has a standby generator — or you want to add one — schedule a pre-purchase generator inspection before you close, while any findings are still negotiable. A licensed local electrician will tell you exactly what you’re getting.
Inspection scope described reflects how Allred Heating Cooling Electric evaluates a standby generator — sizing, fuel, transfer switch, permits, clearances, and maintenance condition. Verify any Washington electrical contractor license at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (lni.wa.gov). For related pre-purchase guidance, see our electrical inspection guide and the full homebuyer’s inspection checklist.
Quick answers
Does a home inspection check a standby generator?
Rarely in any depth. A general home inspection may note that a generator is present, but it typically won't verify whether it's correctly sized for the home, whether the transfer switch is properly installed, whether the installation was permitted, or whether it has been maintained. Those are the things a licensed electrician evaluates.
Why does a standby generator matter in the Puget Sound area?
Winter windstorms regularly knock out power across the region, sometimes for days. A correctly sized, well-installed standby generator keeps heat, refrigeration, and key circuits running. If the home you're buying already has one, it's worth confirming it actually works and was installed safely — and if it doesn't, it's worth knowing what adding one would take.
What's the difference between an automatic and a manual transfer switch?
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) senses an outage and starts the generator and switches the home over on its own; a manual switch requires you to start and switch it yourself. Both must be properly installed and permitted. A generator wired in without a proper transfer switch is a serious safety hazard — including deadly backfeed risk to utility crews — and is exactly the kind of thing a specialist inspection catches.
What size generator does a home actually need?
It depends on whether you want whole-home backup or just essential circuits (heat, fridge, well pump, a few outlets), and on the home's real electrical load. An undersized generator overloads and underperforms; an oversized one wastes money. A licensed electrician runs the load and tells you what the existing unit covers — or what a new one should.
Should I inspect the generator before closing?
Yes. Before closing, an existing generator's condition and any installation problems are still negotiable, and you learn whether it's an asset or a liability. For homes without one, a quick capacity check tells you whether adding standby power later is straightforward or will require a panel upgrade.