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Backup power for your home

Four ways to keep the furnace, fridge and sump pump running through an outage, and which of them need an electrician.

Four ways to keep the power on

Start with what must run: usually the furnace blower, the fridge and freezer, the sump pump, a well pump if you have one, and a few lights and chargers. Add up their running watts from the nameplates with our load worksheet, then choose one of four set-ups.

  1. Battery power station

    Runs phones, lights, the router and a fridge for a while. Battery units make no carbon monoxide and can be used indoors (Government of Canada).

    Power station or generator

  2. Portable generator and cords

    Runs the fridge, freezer and a sump pump through heavy-duty outdoor cords. It runs outdoors only, at least 6 m (20 ft) from the house (Health Canada).

    What size generator you need

  3. Generator with a transfer switch or interlock

    Runs the circuits you choose on the panel, including the furnace. A licensed electrician fits it, and most places need a permit or a notice to your utility.

    Interlock or transfer switch

  4. Standby generator

    Runs the whole house and starts on its own, on natural gas or propane. It needs an installer and a licensed electrician.

    Compare standby generators

Safety: Never plug a generator into a wall outlet: power flows back into the lines and can kill line workers. A generator connects to the house wiring only through an approved transfer switch fitted by a qualified electrician (Government of Canada). Run fuel generators outdoors only and fit CO alarms near bedrooms.

What helps

Our pick for each of the four set-ups.

Power stations

Portable generators

Transfer switches

Standby generators

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Guides

Questions about backup power

Can a power station run my whole house?

Not a 1 kWh model. It runs a few chosen appliances for hours. Larger battery systems can back up part of a panel, but they are then a permanent installation, with a transfer switch fitted by a licensed electrician. Our power station vs generator guide compares them.

Can I install a transfer switch or interlock myself?

No. Both mean working inside the panel or at the service entrance, where parts stay live with the main breaker off, so hire a licensed electrician. In most places a permit or a notice to your utility comes first; see rules by province and state.

Is a 22 kW standby generator too big?

For essentials alone, it can be. Ask the installer for a written load calculation, and check how much fuel the bigger unit burns at full load. Our sizing guide shows how to add up what must run.

Do I need a permit to wire in a generator?

Usually. A generator wired into your home needs an approved transfer switch, fitted under a permit, so it can’t feed power back into the lines (BC Hydro). Plan it before you buy; your electrician files it.

What kinds of transfer equipment are there?

The common ones are a manual or automatic transfer switch (certified to CSA C22.2 No. 178.1 or UL 1008), an interlock kit from the panel’s own maker, and a double-throw safety switch (CSA C22.2 No. 4 or UL 98). Automatic switches go with standby generators; manual switches and interlocks suit portables.

Is an interlock kit as safe as a transfer switch?

Both stop backfeeding when they are certified and fitted properly; an interlock should be the panel maker’s own accessory for your panel. Our interlock vs transfer switch guide covers cost and which circuits each can run.

Comes with

  • Power outages

    Keeping the furnace, fridge and sump pump running when the grid goes down, and connecting backup power safely.

  • Ice storms

    Freezing rain, ice on lines, roofs and trees, and the long outages that follow.

  • Wind and storms

    Surge protection, backup power and help with fallen trees after high wind.

  • Snowstorms

    Clearing heavy snow from the drive and the roof, and stopping ice dams.