Installation overview

Whole-house generator installation connects a standby generator to your home's electrical panel through an automatic transfer switch, with a dedicated fuel line and an outdoor equipment pad. Unlike a portable unit, once it's installed you don't do anything during an outage — it starts on its own.

What's included

Installation timeline

Factors affecting price

• Generator size (kW capacity)
• Distance from the panel and fuel source to the pad location
• Whether your electrical panel needs upgrading first
• Natural gas vs. propane fuel connection
• Local permit and inspection fees

Signs a home may benefit

• Outages happen more than a few times a year in your area
• Someone in the household relies on powered medical equipment
• You have a sump pump, well pump, or freezer that can't go without power for long
• You work from home and depend on reliable connectivity and power

What to ask an installer

• Is the transfer switch included in the quoted price?
• Who handles permit filing and scheduling the inspection?
• What's the manufacturer warranty, and does it require a maintenance plan to stay valid?
• What's included in the load calculation — essentials only, or the whole home?

Frequently asked questions