Generac & Kohler Generator Installation in Virginia Beach, VA

Generac Authorized Dealer

Factory-authorized to install and warranty Generac whole-home standby generators, with ongoing training kept current.

Kohler Certified

Certified to install Kohler standby generators for customers who prefer the quieter Kohler line.

Whole-Home Standby Focus

We install automatic standby systems that back up your whole electrical panel, not just a few circuits.

Right-Sized to Your Home

We run a load calculation and recommend the correct kilowatt size, commonly a 24kW for a home in this area.

Permitted & Coordinated

We pull the permit, handle the gas or propane connection, and coordinate with Dominion Energy when the job requires it.

Free Written Estimate

A firm written estimate after we see your home, honored for 30 days, with no hidden fees.

Standby generator installation

We install whole-home standby systems from the brands local homeowners trust.

• Generac whole-home standby generator installation (Authorized Dealer)
• Kohler whole-home standby generator installation (certified)
• Right-sizing by load calculation, commonly 22kW to 26kW for a typical home
• Larger and commercial standby up to 75kW and beyond
• Natural gas installation in the city, propane outside the gas service area
• Concrete or composite generator pad and set

Transfer switches and electrical integration

The transfer switch is what makes a standby generator automatic and safe.

• Automatic transfer switch (ATS) installation, whole-home
• Whole-home ATS with smart load management to prioritize circuits
• Essential-loads subpanel design where a whole-home switch is not needed
• Generator interlock kit installation for use with a portable generator
• Panel upgrades where the service must grow to support the system
• Permitting, and Dominion Energy coordination where required

Portable and interlock solutions

Not every budget needs a full standby unit, and we install safe portable generator solutions, too.

• Generator interlock kit so a portable can safely power essential circuits
• Inlet box and dedicated connection for a portable generator
• Guidance on sizing a portable to the circuits you most need

You reach a real person

Call (757) 765-8222 and you will speak with a real person on our team, not a call center. We ask about your home size, your HVAC and major loads, whether you have natural gas or will need propane, and what prompted the call, so we can plan the right visit.

On-site assessment and sizing

We come to the home to see it in person, because sizing a generator correctly requires understanding your actual loads and where the unit, transfer switch, and fuel line will go. We run a load calculation and recommend the right kilowatt size rather than guessing.

A firm written estimate

You get a written estimate with the unit, the transfer switch, the fuel work, the pad, and the permit spelled out, honored for 30 days, with no surprise charges.

Permit, gas, and utility coordination

We pull the permit, arrange the natural-gas or propane connection, and coordinate the electrical tie-in and inspection. We schedule around your availability, so access is never a problem.

Install and set

Our own licensed electricians set the pad, place and level the generator, install the automatic transfer switch, run clean conduit and the fuel connection, and tie the system into your panel with load management where appropriate.

Commissioning and walkthrough

We start the unit, verify the automatic transfer works by simulating an outage, confirm it carries your loads, and walk you through the operation and the exercise cycle before we leave.

Warranty

Your generator carries the manufacturer's warranty, and our installation workmanship is also warrantied.

What the quote covers

A standby generator installation is quoted per home, and the quote covers the unit, the automatic transfer switch, the pad, the connection, the permit, and commissioning. Because the size of the unit and the gas and electrical work behind it vary so much house to house, we price it after we see the property, and the estimate is free.

What moves the price

The kilowatt size your home needs, whether you are on natural gas or need a propane tank set, the distance from the gas or propane source, the transfer switch type, and any panel upgrade required, all move the number. Larger homes and larger units, including liquid-cooled units for large or commercial loads, cost more, and we quote them based on your specific situation.

Every budget, done correctly

We install generators for every budget, from a full whole-home standby system down to a safe portable-and-interlock solution for essential circuits. What we do not do is cut corners on the parts that keep it safe and code-compliant. We tell you honestly what each option gets you so you can choose. One local customer called us the most affordable option in the area and noted we took care of every detail without tacking on extra cost, which is exactly the balance we aim for.

Belinda had a generator transfer switch and outlet installed by Castles Electrical. She described the team as knowledgeable and informative, with excellent customer service, and the work was completed on time. She has said she would hire Castles Electrical again for any further electrical needs.

Real Customer Example | From a verified Google review (Belinda S.)

Ryan needed a transfer switch installed for his generator and got same-week help at a very reasonable price. He highlighted that Castles Electrical is local, which mattered to him, and recommended them without reservation.

Real Customer Example | From a verified Google review (Ryan G., February 2026)

Mark had a generator issue, and Castles Electrical communicated promptly, even over a weekend, arrived on time, restored power to the house, and took the time to explain exactly what was going on, all at a reasonable cost.

Real Customer Example | From a verified Google review (Mark H., January 2026)

The hurricane belt is the whole reason standby demand exists here

This region has lost power in every major storm since Isabel in 2003, sometimes for a week or more, and that recurring risk is exactly why whole-home standby generators sell here. We size and install for the reality that an outage may last days, not minutes, which means backing up the loads that matter over a long haul, including HVAC and sump pumps.

Natural gas in the city, propane outside it

Fuel choice is one of the first decisions, and geography drives it. In the built-up parts of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk, where natural gas service is available, we install natural gas so there is no tank to refill. In rural Pungo, parts of Suffolk, and other areas outside the gas network, we set up propane. We match the fuel to your address rather than defaulting to one answer.

Storm surge and flooding affect where the generator sits

In low-lying and flood-prone areas of the region, placement matters. A generator set too low can be compromised by storm surge or tidal flooding at exactly the moment you need it. We site the unit and its transfer equipment with local flood risk in mind, so it keeps running when the water rises. In parts of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and the tidal corridors, this placement judgment is the difference between a generator that survives a surge and one that drowns during the storm it was bought for.

Salt air demands corrosion-aware placement and hardware

Coastal salt air corrodes outdoor equipment faster than inland, especially on waterfront property. We thoughtfully place the generator and its electrical connections and use corrosion-resistant practices so the unit and transfer switch hold up in a coastal environment over the long run.

Sump pumps make backup power a flooding-prevention tool

Many homes here rely on a sump pump to stay dry, but if the power is out, a sump pump is useless during the exact storm that fills the pit. Backing up the sump pump is one of the most important loads we plan for here, because a standby generator quietly prevents the basement or crawlspace flooding that an outage would otherwise cause.

Medical and retiree households are a large local segment

The region has a substantial retiree and medical-equipment-dependent population, and for those homes, automatic backup is a safety issue, not a convenience. We size these systems specifically around the equipment that must never lose power, and we ensure the transfer to generator power is fast and hands-free.

City permits and utility coordination are part of every job

A standby generator ties into your electrical service and requires a permit and inspection, and the process varies across Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. We handle the permitting and the gas or propane connection, and we coordinate with Dominion Energy where the job requires it, so the installation is legal, safe, and inspected.

Load calculation for the right kilowatt size

The most common generator mistake is sizing by rule of thumb, which results in a unit that either cannot support the home or costs far more than necessary. We run a real load calculation on your HVAC, water heater, well or sump pump, kitchen, and other major loads, then recommend the correct size, commonly a 22kW to 26kW air-cooled unit for a typical home in this area and larger liquid-cooled units for big or commercial loads. Right-sizing is the difference between a generator that runs your life during an outage and one that trips trying.

Whole-home transfer switch with smart load management

We favor a whole-home automatic transfer switch that backs up your entire panel, then use energy-management devices to prioritize loads so the generator is never overwhelmed. This gives you the flexibility of whole-home backup without oversizing the generator, because the load management automatically sheds lower-priority circuits when demand spikes and restores them as headroom returns. It is a smarter approach than a basic essential-loads switch that permanently limits what you can run.

Fuel sizing and gas-line capacity

A generator starves if the gas line cannot deliver enough volume, a detail that installers focused only on the electrical side miss. We verify the natural-gas meter and line capacity, or size the propane tank and regulator correctly, so the unit gets the fuel it needs at full load. An undersized gas supply causes hard starts and shutdowns at exactly the wrong moment.

Automatic transfer switch wiring and utility isolation

The transfer switch must isolate your home from the grid before the generator connects, both to protect your equipment and to protect utility line workers restoring power. We wire and configure the ATS correctly so the transfer is clean, fast, and safe, with no backfeed onto the grid. This is code-critical work, and one reason a generator should never be a do-it-yourself project.

Concrete or composite pad and level set

A standby generator has to sit level on a stable base that will not settle or flood, or it will develop vibration, alignment, and drainage problems over the years. We set the unit on a proper concrete or composite pad, sited with local flood risk in mind, so it stays level and protected for its full service life. A unit that settles or sits in standing water develops problems years down the road that a proper pad prevents from the start.

Interlock kits done safely for portable generators

For homeowners who want a lower-cost portable solution, a generator interlock kit is the safe, code-compliant way to power essential circuits, and a homemade backfeed is the dangerous way people sometimes attempt it. We install a proper interlock and inlet so a portable can power your panel safely, without the deadly backfeed risk of a suicide cord. Doing this correctly is exactly the kind of budget-conscious job we are glad to do right.

Commissioning and the exercise cycle

An installed generator is not finished until it is proven. We simulate an outage to confirm the automatic transfer works, verify the unit carries the intended loads, and set and confirm the weekly exercise cycle that keeps the engine healthy and ready between outages. We then walk you through what the generator does on its own, so you are never surprised by it, and so you know it will be ready the next time the grid drops.