
Be prepared for power
outages.
A permanently installed Generac home standby generator does more than keep the lights on when the power fails; it delivers peace of mind.

How Home Standby Generators Work
Your home standby generator is installed outside your home like a central A/C unit and runs on natural gas or liquid propane (LP), depending on what fuel source is available. All home standby solutions are designed to keep you safe, secure and comfortable in an outage.
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Whether from a storm, equipment failure, or any number of other causes, you suddenly find yourself without electricity.

Thanks to the transfer switch technology, your backup generator can start supplying power to your home seconds after an outage begins.

Whether you’re home or not, your Generac home standby system kicks into action, and continues to power your home until utility power returns.
Standby Generator FAQs
Learn more about getting backup power to your home with a home standby solution.
A home standby generator is a backup power source that operates whether you are home or away.
Within seconds of sensing an outage the generator will automatically kick on and supply power to your home.
After utility power returns, the generator shuts itself off and waits for the next outage.
It operates on natural gas or liquid propane gas and sits outside just like a central air conditioning unit.
Refueling Not Necessary- Your Generac home backup generator runs on your existing natural gas or LP fuel supply.
The backup generator is designed as a backup to utility power only and should not be used as a primary power source.
There are many factors that impact the generator sizing and power needs for your home. An authorized Generac dealer can best determine which home standby generator will be best for your home, and you can request a free quote, which includes sizing options and price.
The generators average between 65 to 67 decibels depending on the model. This is a similar sound level as a central air conditioning unit.
Our Generac home standby generators are designed to run on one fuel source, either natural gas or liquid propane.
Generac’s generators are considered CARB compliant and able to be installed in areas with strict emissions requirements. Your local dealer will determine which generator is best for your needs. Additional details on Generac’s environmental impact can be found at generac.com .
Our home standby generators are assembled Wisconsin, USA, using both foreign and domestic parts.
Renter/non-homeowner: Our home backup generators are a permanent installation and requires the property owner to schedule and approve any type of modification to their property.
Apartment/Multi-Family/Mobile Home Our home backup generators are a permanent installation, designed for a single use property.
Other: Any motor vehicle, trailer, RV or transportable property would not be able to utilize the Home Backup Generators, as they are a permanent installation designed to be installed on the ground.
Generac offers systems prepackaged and pre-wired with comprehensive installation instructions. You could perform the simpler site preparation steps and have a professional make the electrical panel and fuel connections, or you could complete the entire installation yourself.
For safety reasons and to ensure adherence to all local, state and national electrical codes, particularly for non pre-wired or larger systems, Generac recommends you use an authorized Generac dealer or licensed contractor.
Most Generac customers purchase through an authorized dealer, who will offer you a free no-obligation quote.
If you are not interested in scheduling a free quote with one of our authorized dealers, you can visit generac.com to locate local retailers in your area.
To qualify for the 5-year warranty, all you need to do is schedule a free quote with our local dealer, complete the purchase, and install with that dealer. After installation and activation of your generator, the 5-year warranty will be applied within 8 weeks.
The exact generator dimensions and clearance requirements can be found in the installation guide. All installation guides can be found on generac.com.
Generac continues to manufacture new units daily and built a new facility in South Carolina to support the increased demand. While we continue to increase our production, our dealer partners manage their own inventory.
Our home backup generators start at just over $2,000. Pricing of each of our generators are listed on our website.
Keep in mind that the cost of installation is determined by the dealer and will vary based on several factors. This is why Generac offers a free, no-obligation quote.
Yes, many of our dealers offer financing. If interested, make sure to schedule your appointment with a dealer who offers financing in your area. Click here to learn more about financing.
The generator would be installed outside of your home, typically close to your fuel source (propane tank or natural gas meter). As a part of the free quote that we offer, our Generac Dealer will also do a site survey to help determine the best location for the generator.
When selecting a site, always follow the guidelines in the Site Selection and Preparation section of your unit’s installation manual.
All generators require periodic maintenance, such as oil and filter changes to ensure maximum performance and years of reliable service.
Scheduled maintenance kits are available and many Generac authorized dealers offer annual maintenance contracts for a worry-free ownership experience.
We recommend you have your unit serviced every 6 months by an authorized independent service dealer. Refer to the owner’s manual for routine maintenance procedures and schedules.
You can find a digital copy of your owner’s manual here
The Wi-Fi network connection is part of the generator’s settings and controller. If you don’t want to connect it to a home network, or avoid connecting to Wi-Fi, you can simply choose not to use that feature and connection.
Any Authorized Generac dealer can perform warranty service. To find your local authorized Generac dealer, visit generac.com Dealer Locator for additional information.
Our Authorized Service Centers provide parts, service, and information on Generac equipment, regardless of where it was purchased.
Our Authorized Service Centers are staffed with trained technicians certified in supporting all aspects of the Generac automatic standby generator line.
Generac Customer Support team is also available, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
1-888-436-3722
All generators need maintenance from time to time—such as oil and filter changes—to keep them performing at their best for years of reliable service. Refer to the owner's manual for routine maintenance procedures and schedules.
Assembling your portable generator is easy, but it’s important to do it correctly. You’ll need to install the handle, feet, wheels and battery. This video will show you what tools you need and how to precisely put every part together.
It depends on the application. When using extension cords alone, you do not need to use a ground rod. (This applies to bonded neutral portable generators. Details can be found in the owner's manual.)
When connecting to an electrical panel (such as a building electrical system, manual transfer switch, RV, etc.) you do need to connect your generator to a ground rod.
Ground rods must be pounded into the earth, then connected to the ground lug on the generator via a ground cable. The rod must be at least 8 feet into the earth.
We strongly recommend that you check and adhere to all applicable federal, state and local regulations relating to grounding
No. Never run the generator indoors, in a garage or in an enclosed area. Portable generators are designed to run outside where there is plenty of ventilation. You need to position your portable away from doors and windows so that the exhaust fumes do not get inside the house. The produced carbon monoxide gas can cause serious poisoning.
Be sure to set your portable where it will be protected from moisture, rain and snow.
Never run a generator directly in the rain, snow or other wet conditions. Never run a generator indoors or in a garage.
We highly recommended that you drain the fuel from the tank and run the carburetor dry if you are planning on storing your portable for more than 30 days.
Fuel begins to deteriorate within approximately one month. To preserve its properties, you should add a stabilizer right from the start. The stabilizer will neutralize the damaging effect that ethanol has on the components responsible for combustion. Be sure to carefully follow the fuel stabilizer's ratio instructions, noting the duration that the fuel stabilizer is effective for.
Use clean, fresh unleaded gasoline with a minimum 87 octane rating.
What kind of oil do you recommend? How often should I change it?
Above 32°F, use SAE 30. Below 40°F and down to -10°F, use 10W-30. Synthetic 5W-30 can be used in all temperatures.
Oil should be changed after the first 20-30 hours of operation and every 100 hours of run time thereafter.
Above 32°F, use SAE 30. Below 40°F and down to -10°F, use 10W-30. Synthetic 5W-30 can be used in all temperatures.
Oil should be changed after the first 20-30 hours of operation and every 100 hours of run time thereafter.
You can properly charge your portable generator with four easy but important steps:
Connect the battery to the unit
Plug the charger into the wall
Plug the other end of the charger into the unit
Check that you have utility power
Never overcharge your battery.
Follow along with each step and get charging tips in this video.
We’re proud to say that we (Generac Power Systems Inc.) design and manufacture Generac G-FORCE® and OHVI engines right here in the U.S., at our facilities in Wisconsin.
Generac OHV engines are not engineered or manufactured in the U.S.
If the gas in your portable generator gets stale, your engine could start running rough or not at all. It’s important to keep the gas supply full and fresh.
There are several steps for safely and properly draining stale gas before you add new gas:
Turn the fuel valve off to disconnect the fuel line.
Drain the gas and clean the carburetor.
We outline these steps and more in this video
There are several possible causes.
First, check that there’s fresh gas and oil, that the fuel shut-off valve is turned on, and that the on/off switch is in the on position. Most often, the spark plug is damaged or malfunctioning and must be replaced. Fuel line damage is another possibility. The carburetor could be blocked or damaged. There might be compression issues.
The problem could also come from the starter itself. Electric-start batteries can get drained out. Were electrical devices plugged into the generator prior to starting the unit? Generators need to stabilize and warm up before appliances can be applied.
If you can’t get your generator to start again, have a Generac Service Dealer check it out.
For a Push Button Start generator, make sure the power switch is turned on before pushing the Push Button Start ignition.
First, make sure everything is unplugged from the unit. Next, use a working appliance such as a box fan to test the output. Then, check your breakers. You might need to field flash your unit. Generators in storage can lose their magnetism and fail to produce electricity, even when the engine is running.
If the breakers are not tripped and field flashing did work, you might need to replace the brushes in a brushed alternator.
Watch this step-by-step video to see the entire troubleshooting process.
If you can’t get it working again, have your device checked out by a Generac Service Dealer who can diagnose the problem and provide resolution.
There are a handful of likely reasons. To resolve the problem, make sure it has enough fuel, check the air filter, set the valve and try other steps outlined in this video.
How many loads are plugged into the generator? Overloading a generator beyond its wattage capacity can result in damage to the generator and connected electrical devices. Try unplugging loads and running the generator with fewer applied.
Is the fuel shut-off valve turned on? Without the fuel valve turned completely on, gas cannot get to the engine for proper function. If the fuel valve is on, check the fuel filter and fuel line for clogs. Clogged fuel lines may be restricting the amount of fuel getting to the engine.
Is the oil full? Oil capacity is documented in the owner’s manual. If the recommended amount is added and it still does not reach the threads on the crankcase, add enough oil to reach the bottom of the threads—even if it’s more than the manual recommends. Generac generators are equipped with a low-oil shut down system to protect the engine from low oil damage.
While the generator is running, plug the electric drill into its receptacle (a cordless drill will not work). If the drill is reversible, move the direction switch to the forward position. Compress the trigger on the drill and spin the drill chuck in the reverse direction 3-5 times. This will excite the field and the generator should now produce electricity. If spinning the chuck one direction does not work, try spinning the chuck in the other direction, as you may have the reverse switch positioned backwards. Use caution, because as soon as the field is excited, the generator will produce power and the drill will start working. If flashing the field does not make the generator work, you may have additional problems besides a lack of magnetism in the rotor. Take it to a Generac Service Dealer for more testing.
Generac offers systems prepackaged and pre-wired with comprehensive installation instructions. You could perform the simpler site preparation steps and have a professional make the electrical panel and fuel connections, or you could complete the entire installation yourself.
For safety reasons and to ensure adherence to all local, state and national electrical codes, particularly for non pre-wired or larger systems, Generac recommends you use an authorized Generac dealer or licensed contractor.
The backup generator is designed as a backup to utility power only and should not be used as a primary power source.
All generators require periodic maintenance, such as oil and filter changes to ensure maximum performance and years of reliable service.
Scheduled maintenance kits are available and many Generac authorized dealers offer annual maintenance contracts for a worry-free ownership experience.
We recommend you have your unit serviced every 6 months by an authorized independent service dealer. Refer to the owner’s manual for routine maintenance procedures and schedules.
You can find a digital copy of your owner’s manual here

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Understanding generator costs and considerations
Equipping your home with permanent backup power requires a solution as unique as your home and the way you live in it. Work with a local Authorized Generac Dealer to get a detailed estimate for a solution that's configured specifically for you.
When you choose Generac, you’re choosing peace of mind.
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We know outages don’t only happen 9a-5p. That's why you can always reach someone at Generac, or your local authorized dealer.
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