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Power outages aren’t just inconvenient—they can disrupt your daily life, threaten your safety, and even damage home systems and appliances. In North Alabama, where storms, extreme heat, and unexpected grid issues can leave homes without electricity for hours—or days—a dependable generator isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a smart investment in your home’s resilience.

At Blake Brothers, we’ve been helping local homeowners protect what matters most since the 1880s. Our legacy is rooted in dependable service and doing right by our community—values we bring to every installation, repair, and recommendation. If you’re considering a backup generator, this guide will walk you through the key decisions, from sizing and fuel types to installation and long-term support.

Step 1: Determine What You Need to Power

Before selecting a generator, think about what you want it to support when the power goes out. Every home is different, and your priorities may range from basic comfort to full-home operation.

Backing Up the Essentials

If your goal is to keep just the necessities running, a smaller standby generator may be enough. These systems typically power items such as:

This approach is cost-effective and provides peace of mind during short outages or seasonal storms.

Powering the Whole House

For many homeowners, especially those with families, remote work needs, or medical dependencies, full-home coverage is the best option. Whole-house generators can run your HVAC system, kitchen appliances, water heater, washer/dryer, and more—essentially allowing your home to function normally even when the grid is down.

This type of system is ideal if you:

Get the Right Size

Sizing your generator correctly is critical. A unit that’s too small won’t meet your needs, while one that’s too large could waste energy and money. Our licensed technicians evaluate your home’s layout and power usage to calculate the proper size generator—so you get optimal efficiency and performance.

Step 2: Choose Your Fuel Source

Generators come in different fuel types, and each has its pros and cons depending on your location, energy usage, and home infrastructure.

Natural Gas

If your home is already supplied with natural gas, this is often the most seamless and reliable choice.

Propane

Propane generators are a good fit in rural areas or for homeowners who want to be independent from utility interruptions.

Diesel

While diesel is less common for residential properties, it’s sometimes used when fuel availability and longevity are key concerns.

Not sure what makes sense for your home? Blake Brothers can walk you through the options and help you select the safest, most cost-effective fuel source for your needs.

Step 3: Understand the Installation Process

Installing a standby generator is a project that requires precision, permits, and professional coordination—but the results are well worth it. Here’s what the process typically looks like:

On-Site Consultation

Our team begins with an in-person assessment to determine your power requirements and inspect the layout of your home. We’ll ask about your goals, review energy usage, and provide clear guidance on the best generator options.

Permit Handling

We take care of all the necessary permits and code compliance, so you don’t have to worry about red tape. Our team ensures every step meets local regulations and safety standards.

Professional Installation

Our highly trained technicians install your generator with expert-level care. From connecting the electrical panel to setting up fuel lines and transfer switches, we handle everything—ensuring the system works reliably when you need it.

Once installed, we test the system thoroughly and walk you through how it works, so you feel confident and prepared for the next outage.

Standby vs. Portable Generators

Many people ask whether they really need a standby generator or if a portable unit would do. While portable generators can be helpful for camping or quick fixes, they aren’t ideal for long-term home protection.

Standby Generator Benefits:

When your family’s comfort and safety are on the line, a professionally installed standby generator is a better long-term solution.

Why Homeowners Trust Blake Brothers

When you choose Blake Brothers, you're not just getting a generator—you’re getting the support of a company with nearly 140 years of experience serving the North Alabama region. We offer:

We're proud of our heritage and equally committed to helping today’s homeowners protect their families with smart, future-ready home systems.

Be Ready Before the Next Storm Hits

Power outages don’t come with a warning—but preparation can make all the difference. A backup generator is more than a convenience; it’s protection for your family, comfort, and livelihood. Whether you’re ready to install or just exploring options, Blake Brothers is here to help. We’ll take the time to answer your questions, assess your needs, and recommend the best solution for your home—backed by our longstanding commitment to integrity, service, and community.

Call us today to schedule your in-home consultation. Let’s ensure your home stays powered, safe, and comfortable—no matter what comes your way.

Your heating and air conditioning system keeps your home comfortable all year long, regardless of the weather outside. Many may not know this, but maintaining the air ducts that transport warm or cold air throughout your home is an important part of keeping your HVAC system in top condition.

Over time, dust and other allergens can build up in the ducts and reduce the overall efficiency of your system. Not only that, but enough buildup can become a fire hazard if left untreated. Regular air duct cleanings can keep your home safe and clean.

How often should you have your air ducts cleaned? Blake Brothers has years of experience in the HVAC industry, and we’re happy to provide some insight. To help you diagnose HVAC issues in your home, we have created an outline that illustrates the importance of ductwork cleaning and summarized the main signs of dirty air ducts.

Is Ductwork Cleaning Necessary?

Your HVAC system circulates all of the air throughout your home using air ducts, meaning that dust, pollen, and other allergens in the air can build up over time. This reduces the overall air quality inside your home, leading to an increase in allergy symptoms and respiratory issues.

Having a professional deep clean your air ducts every few years reduces the amount of contaminants in the air while keeping your home safe. Dust is quite flammable, and a buildup in the ducts can increase the risk of a fire. Clear ducts also mean your HVAC system can run more efficiently, reducing your energy bill each month.

How Often Should Air Ducts Be Cleaned?

Signs Your Air Ducts Need to Be Cleaned

You don’t see the inside of your ducts on a daily basis, so it can be tough to tell whether or not you need professional cleaning. While you may not be able to see the dust levels in your ducts, other clues around your home can help. Keep an eye out for these warning signs that it may be time to get in touch with a professional HVAC technician:

  1. Changes to Your Home: It’s exciting to move into a new home and begin a new chapter in your life. If the previous owners smoked, owned pets, or didn’t service the air ducts in the last three years, it may be a good idea to clean them as part of the move-in process. A professional duct cleaning service may also be beneficial for current homeowners after a serious renovation. Building a brand-new kitchen or adding an extension to the home is exciting and new, but it can also create a ton of dust and sawdust. All of the construction work kicks up a ton of dust and contaminants that can filter into your ducts and clog them up, and a duct cleaning can reduce contaminants and keep your home clean.
  2. Mold Growth or Strange Odors: Mold thrives in humid, dark areas, and the inside of an air duct is the perfect spot. Your air ducts can have higher moisture levels than other areas of your home, and mold will take advantage of that. If you notice visible mold in areas of your home, smell a musty odor in the air, or notice physical symptoms such as throat irritation and coughing, it could point toward mold in your ducts. An experienced HVAC technician can find the source of the mold, safely clear it out, sanitize the area, and perform professional air duct cleaning services to prevent mold from coming back in the future.
  3. Pest Infestation: Small critters and creepy crawlies can sneak into your ducts and make themselves at home. Not only do they now have a series of tubes to crawl through and spread throughout your house, but they also spread their own debris and contaminants throughout the ducts. If you see an increase in critters near your vents or notice an odd smell coming from your air ducts, you could have a bug highway in there. A professional air duct cleaning can evict any unwanted guests in no time.
  4. Dust and Debris: Dust naturally accumulates on your cabinets and tables over time. However, a consistent layer of dust that always seems to come back no matter how often you use the duster is a cause for concern. As more dust builds up inside the ducts, additional dust is spread throughout your home and into the air. Dust, pet dander, dead skin cells, and other contaminants can decrease your air quality and lead to respiratory symptoms. If you notice a substantial amount of dust in your house, this is an indicator it’s time to have your air ducts cleaned.
  5. Air Filters Are Clogged: Your heater and air conditioner have a series of filters that help collect dust and other contaminants before they can travel through your ducts. These filters can fill up quickly, and this can cause dust to build in the ducts. Regularly replacing your filters and cleaning off your vents can reduce the overall contaminants in your air and help keep your ducts clear.
  6. Poor Airflow in the House: Although there is no definitive answer regarding how often you should have your air ducts cleaned, poor airflow is a clear sign of ineffective ductwork in your home. As dust builds up in the air ducts, it can interfere with airflow and impact the efficiency of your system. When your system starts up, you should feel a strong current of air coming from your supply vents. If you notice a weaker airflow or inconsistent heating and cooling in different areas of your home, it could indicate a buildup of dust and other debris.
  7. High Heating or Cooling Bills: If your HVAC system can’t run at full efficiency, it needs to work harder to maintain the desired temperature in your home. This can lead to an increase in your heating and cooling bills each month. While it’s normal for your bill to fluctuate slightly from month to month depending on the weather, a sudden increase could be a sign of a dust clog in the air ducts.
  8. Strange Noises: As your heating and cooling system pumps air through your home, all you should be able to hear is a faint humming from the system and a gentle rush of air from the vents. Hearing odd noises such as whistling can indicate a problem with the air ducts.
  9. No Records of Previous Air Duct Cleaning: How often should HVAC ducts be cleaned? No matter how long you’ve lived in your current home, there should be a written record of all maintenance services performed on the property. Take a look at any records you have and see when was the last time an HVAC technician cleaned the ducts. If there’s no record of any cleanings, or the last cleaning was more than 2 or 3 years ago, it may be time to schedule an appointment.
Blake Brothers Team Member

Professional Air Duct Cleaning and Repair Services

While the frequency of professional air duct cleanings depends on a variety of factors, our team members can work with you to inspect your system and develop a regular maintenance strategy. Our staff provides reputable air duct cleaning services in Huntsville, Alabama and the surrounding areas.

No one wants to spend their summers sneezing and coughing due to a layer of dust in their home. When dust and other allergens build up in the air ducts of your HVAC system, this can reduce efficiency and impact the air quality. A professional cleaning service can keep your system working like a charm and keep the dust away.

Whether you’re struggling with an excess of dust in your home or a damaged air duct, Blake Brothers is ready to help. Our team provides exceptional ductwork repair services for homeowners and has the training necessary to restore the flow of air on your property.

Need support with a different issue? Our staff also provides other types of HVAC services such as air conditioning repair, heat pump maintenance, ductless mini-split system installation, and furnace replacement. Our team will quickly get to work diagnosing the problem and creating a custom solution that meets your needs. Give us a call at (256) 460-6174 to schedule your next professional air duct cleaning.