MAX Energy Systems - Back-up Generators

Our almost 70 year old community has a blessing and a curse—many aging trees and above ground wiring. Over our 55 years here we experienced multiple outages and anticipate more. After many years of debate we finally decided enough was enough. We consulted generator owner neighbors, Angie’s List and a ton of online research in deciding we wanted a specialist that could handle the whole installation and it’s multiple components/contractors. Max Energy Systems offered just exactly what we were looking for. Our decision proved correct through first estimate to final approval. At the start the gas company was digging up our area to upgrade and repair gas lines. You alerted us to the possibility that work could reduce our pressure below the minimum required for our desired generator. That proved correct and the company installed an entirely new gas line avoiding what could have been a game changing problem. Your coordination with the gas company and their contractor successfully resolved a potential road block . The not so ideal location of our electrical transfer box, our unique architecture and location on the lot created considerations that required creative solutions. Your team did a splendid job of solving those issues and in the process were extremely conscientious and accommodating with our schedule. Theirs and your attention to detail, workmanship and communication with us made the necessary intrusive work smooth and easy. We were greatly impressed with your thorough planning, low-key management of all the contractors, inspectors and components of our successful generator installation. There were quite a few curves during this process and all were handled professionally. Just a few weeks after installation we experienced an outage. Our generator fired up and ran flawlessly relieving us of the anxiety that characterized many periods of threatening weather over the years. Thank you so very much for the outstanding job you and your associates did under the demanding and ever changing conditions required for our generator installation. Max Energy Systems met the challenge and we are most grateful. Best regards, Phil Jordan Holmes Run Acres Falls Church, VA

Of all the contractors I contacted, MAX Energy was the most thorough in specifying the appropriate equipment for the project. Since I am a degreed Marine Engineer, I am particularly knowledgeable about power plant generation and the various options for load shedding. MAX Energy was dead on with the calculations and recommendations. I was particularly impressed with every trade person that was involved. The constant attention to the various stages of the installation certainly contributed to a fast and successful project. We had our first sustained power outage within six months of the installation and everything worked flawlessly. To my delight, not a single load shed module engaged. Thanks for being such a consummate professional.

Our installation was complex as we were at the mercy of the gas company for extending their line to reach our house. Once that was complete, we began converting numerous items to Natural gas and installing the backup generator. Coordination and communications went well with all involved parties. Similarly, startup and inspection went well and we haven't had any issues.

It went great. On time, on budget and with excellent communications. A pleasure to do business with.

Bill Uhr, the owner of Max Energy, came out and discussed our goals, analyzed our power needs, and came up with a generator plan tailored to us.  
Bill is knowledgeable and professional and explained everything to us including the reasons behind his generator plan.  His crew showed up when they were supposed to, conducted themselves in a polite and professional way, were considerate at all times, did excellent work, and cleaned up thoroughly as they went along.
After the job was complete Bill gave us a walk through tutorial and a "cheat sheet" as well as all the manuals for the equipment.  
One of the things we particularly appreciated was that Bill keep us informed of the schedule and any small changes as we went along.  He took care of all inspections and permits.  We did not have to do anything in connection with the installation.
We would recommend Bill to anyone interested in a home generator installation that is smooth, professional and worry free.

Bill Uhr and his MAX Energy Systems team did a great job on the installation of our 20kw Generac generator and demonstrated excellence in customer service.  From the our first meeting with Bill he took the time to thoroughly explain the options we had in choosing a generator and throughout the entire installation process kept us updated on the schedule. At our final meeting he explained in detail how to use our new generator and made the process seamless and easy.  We found Bill?s installation team to be absolute professionals who arrived on time, and did outstanding work.

I also appreciated Bill going above and beyond the requirements of our job with helping my father with his generator project. 
My father had a generator sitting on the pad that was partially installed for a full year. Unfortunately, the generator company he had used had fallen on hard times and was financially unable to finish the job. Upon hearing of my father?s predicament Bill offered to have his gas and electric guys meet with my father in an effort to finally get his generator installed and up and running. Through some investigation Bill learned that the prior contractor had not pulled any permits (something that my father?s contractor said he had done).  I am happy to report that thanks to Bill, my father?s generator installation was completed and passed both gas and electrical final inspections without a hitch.

We would highly recommend MAX Energy Systems to anyone seriously thinking about installing a backup generator.  Bill and his team are the best.

.

MAX Energy Systems did a fantastic job installing my new Onan RS-20000 Generator and RSS-200 Transfer Switch in December 2008. I was amazed that the final product turned out far better than I could have hoped for.  Over the years the generator has performed flawlessly and Bill Uhr, the President of MAX Energy Systems has always been available to address any questions that might arise. The company?s customer care is excellent. 

I had been thinking about a whole house generator for many years and had done a lot of research into the various options out there. My first thought was to go with a battery backup system but after looking into that, I discovered that it would only handle some of my circuits for a limited length of time and any thought of using the range or running the air conditioning would require a huge system costing many times the amount of your installation, as well as taking up vast amounts of room in the basement. Further research into batteries revealed that a multiple day outage such as during the recent hurricane would deplete the battery?s reserve in a relatively short time. The solution?.a generator to charge the batteries! What kind of sense does that make? Other generator systems I considered did not have the Onan reputation or quality.  

From our first meeting, Bill Uhr, the President of MAX Energy Systems had all the answers to my questions and requirements, basically, a generator large enough to power my whole residence including range, central air conditioning, other appliances, lights, home theatre, audio equipment and a home gym, PLUS amateur radio equipment which includes several multi-kilowatt transmitters. Also, a generator which would not disturb my neighbors day or night was most important. Bill?s suggestion to have the generator run off of natural gas relieved me of the worry of having to store volatile fuels, the problem of keeping them fresh and having to replenish supplies in case of an extended power outage.  Since I already had natural gas service, it was the obvious answer.  

I appreciated the fact that Bill was on site during all critical phases of the installation and came by frequently during the non-critical times. The installation team was experienced, cooperative, careful and clean. Many times, they worked in their stocking feet after leaving muddy boots outside the door. They covered carpets at other times and always left the work areas clean. They even hosed off mud that was tracked onto the driveway. I tend to be a critical person when it comes to electrical work MAX Energy Systems? installation team did a much better job than I could have done myself or expected from professionals. The Fairfax County Electrical Inspector was very impressed with the work when he came by to do the final inspection. In short, I am more than pleased with MAX Energy Systems and will be happy to recommend the company to anyone thinking about an alternate power source. The fact that my Cummins-Onan was ready to go gave me a feeling of extreme comfort during the recently forecast ice storm. Although it did not materialize, should it have happened, this would have been the only house in the neighborhood with full lights heat, entertainment, communications and meal cooking facilities and my normal living pattern would not have been disturbed. That feeling is worth every cent of my investment.

When we first began looking for a generator in the late Fall of 2012, several other suppliers were too busy to talk to us or to send anyone to our home.  MAX Energy Systems responded differently, and we were impressed by the prompt and courteous service. All of our questions were answered promptly by phone, e-mail, or in person.  
     Bill Uhr explained several options and arranged for us to inspect several installed generators to see and hear the differences in sound levels.  He convinced us to go with a whole house solution that can handle the full load, and we selected a liquid cooled generator to keep the noise level as low as possible.  Bill assisted us in selecting the best location for the generator and evaluating alternatives for routing the gas and electric lines.  We appreciated the fact that the same expert (Bill Uhr) was with us each step of the way, from delivery of the parts through final checkout.  The installation was neat, clean, and caused no disruption to our normal home activities.  The county electrical inspector commented favorably on specific features in the way the transfer switches had been installed.  
     The generator has run through its weekly test cycle without fail.  Bill has called every few months to be sure that we are happy with the installation.  We have and will continue to recommend MAX Energy Systems to our friends and neighbors.

Very well.  See above.

From the day we first contacted Bill, on the recommendation of neighbors, he was by our side, working out the complexities of installing a whole house generator in a house whose gas line capacity was initially unknown.  He walked us through
every step of the way with the gas company and its contractors - indeed, doing the negotiating for us - and we were continually amazed that he would accept no payment until we were satisfied that the new gas line could be introduced in the most garden-sensitive way possible. Once the line was in, he gave us ample notice to enable us to prepare for his own work, which involved several days of electrical setup and installation. In the end, he and his team installed the generator expeditiously, tested it, and left everything in good shape. The generator self-tests every week, as it was set up to do, and even turned on during a nanosecond outage a few days after installation.
Bill Uhr is a serious professional. He knows his business, hires good people, and provided the most excellent service we can imagine. Knowing what we know now about all the uncertainties associated with generator installation,we would not use anyone else.

Bill Uhr is the most knowledgeable and reasonably priced of the half-dozen contractors I got bids from.  He explained the process more thoroughly than any of the other contractors and gave genuine personalized service; he's not just a salesman.  He also didn't try to inflate the price as some other contractors did for other, more expensive brands.  (Consumer Reports rates Generac as the best buy generator for the money.)  He was patient and flexible about scheduling although occasionally ran into delays because of his electrician and the high volume of customer demand he has.
I was initially reluctant because Uhr requires a $500 fee upfront to inspect your house and other contractors do it for free.  But you save the money on the back end because he applies it to your total fee, which is less than other contractors.  Clearly, his strategy is not to waste his time on customers who aren't serious, unlike other contractors who conducts lots of estimates, most of which don't lead to business, and then have to charge their other customers more to pay for the larger sales staff.

After receiving the estimate and meeting with Bill Uhr, we signed the contract.  That was all we had to worry about because Bill managed everything from that point forward.  He was the best general contractor we have ever had.  He handled the order of the generator, all the permits, the laying of the concrete pad - all the necessary visits from the County and the Gas Company.  He used amazing electricians who essentially rewired our two breaker boxes and installed the inside switches.  Bill constantly communicated with us regarding next steps throughout the process and made sure the gas company put in the new meter and pressure valve and that everything was done to code.  The subcontractors were great, everything went well.  Upon final inspection, the County inspector said this was a beautiful job. The generator self-tests every Saturday, we have a great maintenance agreement, and we completed the deal just before SuperStorm/Hurricane Sandy roared into the area.  Our power went out and 15 seconds later the entire home went back online and we had full power for the four days that the rest of the neighborhood had none!  Perfect timing.
Bill and his firm Max Energy Systems did an incredible job and took on all the tasks - we did nothing.  Bill knows his stuff and is extremely knowledgeable on backup power, and his guidance as to the correct size generator made us feel very confident.  This is an area of big old trees that fall all the time, and we are so happy that our natural gas fueled generator gives us the assurance we won't lose power ever. 
If you are looking for a back up power generator for your home, call Max Energy and talk to Bill.  They are the best.. Beware of HVAC firms that do generators - they don't have the same level of knowledge.  This is all Max Energy does and they do it very well.  Bill Uhr and team are the absolute best.