Whole-Home Generators in Myrtle Beach, SC

We install and service both. For a Grand Strand home, the better choice depends on the calculated load, fuel supply, service access, and how exposed the site is to salt spray. We compare enclosure and transfer-switch protection for the property and use stainless or corrosion-resistant hardware where appropriate, with the unit placed away from prevailing ocean spray when the required clearances allow. Hurricane-season inventory also matters, so choose and order before the season rather than waiting until a named storm stretches unit availability and installation schedules.

Yes. Most residential standby models can be configured for natural gas or propane, but natural gas service is not universal across the Grand Strand. Many beach and barrier-island homes therefore use a 250- or 500-gallon propane tank. We coordinate the fuel plan around tank setbacks and flood-zone conditions. The installation needs an electrical permit and often a gas or propane permit: unincorporated properties go through Horry County Code Enforcement in Conway, while homes inside Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, or Conway go through that city's building department.

We size it from a load calculation, not a one-size-fits-all square-footage rule. On the coast, that calculation should reflect the equipment you need through a multi-day storm outage: HVAC for heat and humidity control, refrigeration, a well pump where municipal water is unavailable, sump or drainage pumps, and any medical or communications equipment. In low-lying areas near the Intracoastal Waterway, we also account for the flood zone and required pad elevation before selecting a unit and location.

Typically about 10 seconds. The automatic transfer switch senses the utility failure, starts the generator, lets its output stabilize, and then transfers the selected loads automatically. That short start sequence matters on the Grand Strand because hurricane and tropical-system outages can last days, not hours; Hurricane Ian alone knocked out power to more than 170,000 South Carolina homes in a single evening in 2022.

Plan on service at least annually and before hurricane season: check the oil and filters, battery, spark plugs, exercise history, fuel system, and automatic transfer switch. Near the ocean, maintenance also includes inspecting the enclosure, hardware, pad, terminals, and transfer-switch components for salt-air corrosion and cleaning or treating them as needed. After a long outage or flooding event, have the unit checked based on its run hours and exposure rather than waiting for the next annual visit.

It works on everything metal near the ocean — meter bases, disconnects, and generator enclosures included. We site the unit to code clearances, use corrosion-resistant enclosures and hardware, and keep the pad and connections clear of standing salt spray. On the Grand Strand we treat annual service as non-negotiable — it's what keeps a coastal generator starting on the first try when a storm takes the grid down.