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Whole HouseGenerator

Whole House Generator

If blackouts are common in your area, you can buy a whole house generator (whole house standby generator) to tackle the problem. Generally, there are two type of generators used in homes, one that is run by gas, other by liquid fuel (propane or natural gas). These can be classified based on their power level, some can run limited electrical items, while powerful ones can run whole house. A good standby generator can power the house for as long as 12 to 24 hours without stopping, but the question is why you should buy one?

Whole House Standby Generator Advantages
• They are automatic, fast, and great to have when power lines aren’t working in your area
• You will have comfort level at home in stormy or emergency situations
• Your food supplies will be fresh in refrigerator during extended power failures
• There are some units that conduct self-diagnosis and alert you of problems
• Fuel can last many days or for weeks
• It allow normal operation of your business, home, or air conditioning when there is no electricity
• There are standby generators which disconnect from power line during failures. Isolating the utilities from possible danger.

Before Buying a Whole House Generator
• Before buying you should decide some critical elements that will help you choose the best option for your home. There are electrical items such as freezers, furnaces, and refrigerators, based on these make sure to determine what will suite you.
• Most generators that are above 5000 wat power use pull cord, so if it seems hard then you should consider electrical start.
• If you want to use it for whole house for long time, buy a generator that uses natural gas and petroleum as source of power.
• Some people prefer generators that come with built in transfer switch, you can turn it on when power turns off.
• Installation may require a lot of space for the unit, it will be near electrical switches so make sure there is space for your generator.

What more to look for?
A good whole house generator will cost from $1,200.00 to upwards of $5,000.00. It can be connected with your home circuits to eliminate risk and hassle of cords. You will need to setup a system so that when power returns, it doesn’t cause damage to your internal wiring. This setup can be integrated with the help of a technician, so before buying make sure to consult with an expert.
If there is too much electrical breakdown then you need more than one source of power for the generators. A portable generator will take 8 to 22 Gallons per day so buying one with gas is a good option. Running it on gas may reduce its lifespan, but the cost of fuel will be reduced.
There are some standby generators with smart features such as automatic switching and oil change detectors. These features can come handy, you can choose one that has digital screen with LED indicators.

If you would like to read more about the benefit of a Generator for storm season.

Stephen M, Lead Technician – Lighting Specialist

Steve brings many years of electrical experience and lighting experience. Steve is well versed in all facets of lighting including HID Lighting, LED Lghting, Energy Conservation, Bucket Trucks, Sign lighting.

Perry W, Lead Technician

Patrick B, Lead Technician

Lance N., Apprentice Electrician

Justin S, Lead Technician

Jason T, Lead Technician

Ernest Render, Journeyman Electrician

On any given day you will never see Ernest with a smile. From his infectious laugh to his ability to mold aspiring electricians Ernest has left many lasting impressions on our future generation. His patience and teaching ability are second to none.

Gary S., Lead Technician – Journeyman Electrician

We are proud to have Gary as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team.

Daniel L, Apprentice

We are proud to have Daniel as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team.

Evelin M, Administrative Assistant

We are proud to have Evelin as our Administrative Assistant for Empire Electric.

Michele S, Accounting

Michele has been working in the electrical trade for the last 20 years, with that it has brought her a vast range of experience in the electrical industry. In her early years she worked in the warehouse which allowed her to learn the parts and basics behind electrical work. When she transferred into the office it allowed her to be able to talk to the customers and answers their questions over the phone. She has handled everything from dispatching, accounting and management of employees. Providing top notch customer service to our customers is her number one goal. It makes her feel good to be able to be the first point of contact to our customers to help assist them over the phone then to schedule for the technicians to resolve their electrical needs. The end result is making sure our customers are completely satisfied from start to finish. On her days off, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters doing outdoor activities such as kayaking, camping and water sports. In her spare time she enjoys scrapbooking and reading. We are pleased to have Michele as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team

Kitty JonJock, Permit Coordinator

With permitting being an integral part of construction combined with the sheer volume of permits Empire Electric Inc. pulls with the different locale’s we are pleased to have someone with the experience and expertise dedicated to handling our very important and critical permitting indenture. From coordination to scheduling Kitty can handle the most critical or sensitive permitting with ease. Kitty brings over 20 years of combined Electrical and Mechanical experience in the construction / contracting field.

Jon Brockel, Project Manager

Dave Thompson, Service Manager

Dave is a native of Jacksonville. With over 25 years of electrical experience Dave performs the daily duty of smooth running fleet of technicians. From his combined electrical experience with impeccable customer service skills and techno0logy, Dave is able to maintain a smooth running service department and handle customers hand in hand.

Jim Sullivan, Owner – Vice President

Jim Sullivan is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, he attended Englewood High School and went right into the Electrical trade out of high school in 1983. He worked in the field as an electrician’s helper and then a Lead man then obtained his electrical license in the trade in 1990. Ove the course of 32 years in the trade he has gained a vast range of electrical knowledge by working on many different projects. He transferred into the office in 1999 to become a project manager, where he took off sets of plans for commercial and military jobs. He followed each job thru that he was awarded where he managed crews and over saw the job sites. He is eager and excited to be on a new adventure with his own company to be able to build on his customer basis and continue to provide outstanding customer service. During his off time, Jim enjoys spending time with his two sons boating and camping. He received his private pilot’s license in 2001 and enjoys flying in his spare time as well. We are proud to have Jim as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team.

Rich Speaker, Owner – President

Rich is President of Empire Electric Inc. Rich was born and raised in Buffalo, New York in where he graduated Lafayette High School and joined the United States Navy. While in the Navy, Rich began his path in the electrical trade as a Electricians Mate stationed in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and subsequently upon the Conventional Aircraft Carrier, John F. Kennedy CV67, ultimately ending in Jacksonville, FL with an Honorable Discharge.Still young and eager to fulfill his thirst for knowledge in the electrical trade, R applied as an Electricians Helper. While progressing through the ranks as Electrician Helper, Rich decided it was time to utilize his G.I. Bill that was given for his military service. Wanting to integrate Electrical and Computer networking, Rich decided to attend night school to obtain his Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer MCSE certification in 2006. After the birth of his two children, Rich decided it was time to once again further his education and knowledge of the electrical trade. In December 2010 Rich obtained his Florida State Certified Master Electrician License EC13004667 and subsequently being accepted in to the Jacksonville Master Electricians Association J.M.E.A.