CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR) – Several cities and counties in Central Virginia are warning folks who may have had whole house generators improperly installed.
Those faulty installations could spark a fire or an explosion, according to Chesterfield officials.
In fact, Chesterfield County has gone to court to stop the company they believe is responsible for the botched installations from performing any more jobs.
Official have also contacted building inspectors in surrounding cities and counties to locate any other residents that may have had dangerous installations.
Chesterfield Building official Rick Witt said whole house generators are safe if installed properly.
However, a half dozen generators installed in Chesterfield were not inspected because proper permits were never obtained by the company that installed the machines.
"When you get your permit, we come out and inspect it," said Witt. "[We] make sure it is a safe installation and meets the code."
Witt said the workmanship on the problem installations did not meet code -- or any of the county's standards.
Tanya Hale, of Hale's Electrical Service, said building code dictates the generator is five-feet, point to point, corner to corner, from all windows, vents and door openings.
Hale said the five-feet helps keep carbon monoxide and heat away from the house since whole house generators run off of natural gas or propane. She also said gas lines must be straight and there should be no twisting in the piping -- and that it must be piped up.
Additionally, Hales said her office is now getting calls for help with the botched installations.
"We've had several that have said there inspection hasn't passed four times or more," said Hale. "What do they need to do to get it installed properly; the company isn't calling them back."
And officials have a warning for folks whose generator installer said they do not need a permit.
"My statement would be, if they think they don't need to pull the permits, I'm going to select another company," said Colonial Heights Fire and EMS Chief A.G. Moore.
Witt is asking folks who had a generator recently installed and it was not inspected, regardless of where they live, to call their office at 804-748-1779.
Chesterfield County is compiling a list and will forward that info on to affected cities and counties.
