The power goes out. At first, it’s just an inconvenience — the lights flicker, the refrigerator goes quiet, maybe the sump pump stops. A few hours in, it’s something else entirely. Food starts to spoil. A family member on medical equipment needs backup power. The house gets cold, or hot, depending on the season. And you’re left wondering: how did I let this catch me off guard again?
A whole-home standby generator is the answer most homeowners eventually arrive at — not as a luxury, but as a practical investment in their home and family. But before you call a contractor, it pays to understand what standby generator installation actually involves: the equipment, the process, and how to choose the right installer.
This guide covers everything you need to know, in plain language.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Whole-Home Standby Generator?
- How a Standby Generator System Works
- The Installation Process: Step by Step
- How to Choose a Standby Generator Installer
- Kohler vs. Generac: Which Brand Is Right for Your Home?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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What Is a Whole-Home Standby Generator?
A standby generator is a permanently installed backup power system connected directly to your home’s electrical panel and fueled by your existing natural gas or propane supply. Unlike portable generators that you drag out of the garage and manually connect, a standby generator is always ready. When utility power fails, it detects the outage and starts automatically — typically within 10 to 20 seconds.
The result: your home keeps running. Lights stay on. HVAC continues operating. The refrigerator never stops. If you have well water, the pump keeps working. If a family member relies on home medical equipment, it stays powered.
Standby generators are available in a range of output sizes, measured in kilowatts (kW). Residential units typically range from 11 kW to 26 kW for whole-home coverage, though the right size for your home depends on square footage, electrical load, and whether you want to power everything or just the essentials.
The most trusted names in the residential market are Kohler and Generac — and CDS Home Services is an authorized dealer and service center for both.
How a Standby Generator System Works
Understanding the components helps you ask better questions when getting estimates — and helps you avoid surprises during installation.
The Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)
The automatic transfer switch is the brain of your backup power system. It constantly monitors utility power. The moment it detects an outage, it disconnects your home from the utility grid and signals the generator to start. Once utility power is restored and stable, the ATS switches back and shuts down the generator.
This happens automatically — you don’t need to be home. You don’t need to flip a switch or pull a cord. The system handles it all.
The Generator Unit
The generator itself sits outside your home on a concrete pad, similar in size to a central air conditioning unit. It’s weather-rated and designed for year-round outdoor installation. Most units run on natural gas (piped from your existing line) or liquid propane from an on-site tank.
Modern standby generators from Kohler and Generac perform weekly self-tests to verify they’re ready — a brief run cycle on a schedule you set, so the engine stays conditioned and you know the system will perform when you need it.
The Fuel Connection
Your installer will coordinate with a licensed plumber or gas contractor to connect the generator to your natural gas or propane supply. Proper fuel line sizing is critical — an undersized line can cause the generator to underperform under load.
The Standby Generator Installation Process: Step by Step
A professional standby generator installation involves several trades and typically takes one to two days of on-site work, depending on the complexity of your home’s electrical system and whether a concrete pad needs to be poured. Here’s what the process looks like from start to finish:
- Site assessment — Your installer visits the home to evaluate electrical panel capacity, available fuel supply, generator placement options, and local permit requirements.
- Permitting — Most localities require a permit for generator installation. Your contractor handles this. Never skip permitting; it protects you if you sell the home and ensures the work passes inspection.
- Concrete pad installation — The generator needs a stable, level surface. Most installations use a precast or poured concrete pad. This may be completed a day or two before the main installation to allow curing time.
- Generator placement — The unit is positioned and anchored to the pad. Local codes typically require minimum clearances from windows, doors, and gas meters.
- Electrical connection — A licensed electrician installs the automatic transfer switch and connects the generator to your home’s electrical panel.
- Gas line connection — A licensed plumber or gas contractor runs the fuel supply line and verifies proper sizing.
- System startup and testing — The installer commissions the system, verifies all connections, runs a load test, and walks you through the controls and maintenance schedule.
- Final inspection — The local building inspector signs off on the permit.
A reputable installer handles the permitting and coordinates all the trades — you shouldn’t have to manage multiple contractors yourself.
How to Choose a Standby Generator Installer
Not all contractors offering generator installation have the same qualifications. Here’s what to look for:
Authorized Dealer Status
Kohler and Generac both maintain networks of authorized dealers who are trained, certified, and vetted by the manufacturer. Buying and installing through an authorized dealer means your warranty is fully supported, parts are genuine, and the technicians have factory training. CDS Home Services is an authorized dealer for both Kohler and Generac.
Licensed and Insured
Generator installation involves electrical work and gas line connections — both of which require licensed contractors in virtually every jurisdiction. Ask for license numbers and proof of insurance before signing anything.
Local and Established
A local contractor who’s been operating in the region has a reputation to protect and will be around for warranty service and annual maintenance. Be cautious of out-of-area companies that show up after major storms and disappear just as quickly.
Handles Permitting
Any legitimate installer pulls the permits. If a contractor suggests skipping permits to save time or money, walk away.
References and Reviews
Ask for references from recent generator installations in your area. Check Google reviews and look for patterns — not just star ratings, but what customers say about communication, cleanliness, and whether the system has performed when they needed it.
Kohler vs. Generac: Which Brand Is Right for Your Home?
Both Kohler and Generac make excellent residential standby generators. The right choice depends on your priorities — and an authorized dealer for both, like CDS Home Services, can help you compare options without steering you toward one brand for the wrong reasons.
Kohler is well regarded for quiet operation, build quality, and their proprietary engine technology. Many homeowners appreciate the lower noise output, particularly in neighborhoods where the generator sits close to neighboring homes.
Generac is the best-selling residential standby generator brand in the country. They offer a broad range of sizes, strong parts availability, and a large dealer network. Their Evolution controller is widely praised for ease of use and remote monitoring capabilities.
In practice, both brands perform reliably when properly installed and maintained. The right conversation happens during your estimate — when an installer can evaluate your specific home, electrical load, and site conditions — rather than based on online reviews alone.
Don’t Wait for the Next Outage.
CDS Home Services installs and services Kohler and Generac standby generators. Protect your home and family year-round.
Get a Free Generator EstimateFrequently Asked Questions About Standby Generator Installation
Most residential standby generator installations are completed in one to two days of on-site work. If a new concrete pad needs to cure first, the total project timeline may be three to five days from start to final inspection. Permitting timelines vary by municipality and can add time to the overall project schedule.
Yes, in virtually all jurisdictions in the Mid-Atlantic region. Standby generator installation involves electrical panel work and a gas line connection — both of which are inspected trades. A permit ensures the work is done to code and protects you at resale. CDS Home Services handles all permitting as part of the installation process.
Generator sizing depends on your home’s square footage, the number and type of electrical loads you want to support, and whether you want to power the entire home or just critical circuits. A proper site assessment — which CDS provides as part of every estimate — is the only reliable way to size correctly. Guessing too small means the generator can’t handle your load; too large means paying for capacity you don’t need.
Yes — that’s exactly what a properly sized whole-home standby generator is designed to do. HVAC, refrigerators, sump pumps, well pumps, lighting, home offices, medical equipment — all of it. The key word is “properly sized.” Your installer should perform a load calculation based on your specific home before recommending a unit.
No — and you shouldn’t try. Standby generator installation involves licensed electrical work, gas line connections, and building permits. Improper installation creates safety risks, voids the manufacturer’s warranty, and can cause problems when you sell the home. This is work for licensed professionals.
Standby generators require periodic maintenance to stay reliable — typically an annual service that includes oil and filter changes, spark plug inspection, battery check, and a full load test. Modern Kohler and Generac units perform weekly self-tests automatically. CDS Home Services offers ongoing service and maintenance for the generators we install.
Ready to Stop Worrying About the Next Power Outage?
A standby generator is one of the few home investments that pays for itself the first time you really need it. Properly installed by a licensed, authorized contractor, it will protect your home, your family, and your peace of mind for 20 years or more.
CDS Home Services is the Mid-Atlantic region’s authorized Kohler and Generac dealer and installation specialist. We handle everything — the assessment, the permits, the electrical, the gas line, and the final inspection — so you don’t have to coordinate multiple contractors.
Request a free in-home estimate to find out what a system would look like for your home.
Don’t Wait for the Next Outage.
CDS Home Services installs and services Kohler and Generac standby generators. Protect your home and family year-round.
Get a Free Generator Estimate
