Three Things to Consider Before Installing a Whole-House Generator
Discover why portable generators aren’t enough and how a whole-house standby generator ensures safe, reliable power during outages.
March 22, 2025
Summary
When severe weather threatens power outages, many homeowners rush to purchase a portable generator. While portable generators may appear to be a quick solution, they often fall short when it comes to safety, reliability, and long-term performance. For homeowners who want true peace of mind during an outage, a whole-house standby generator is often the superior solution.
At Team Enoch, we specialize in residential generator installation and have helped homeowners protect their homes with professionally installed standby generators designed to deliver safe, reliable power during emergencies. Below, we explain why portable generators are limited, and why more homeowners are choosing whole-home backup power systems.
While it's tempting to run on down to the local home improvement store to purchase a portable generator when a big storm is on the way, there are some good reasons why you may want to think ahead and provide your home with a dedicated standby generator.
Portable generators are designed for recreational use or temporary power needs—not to support an entire home. Most portable units provide between 2 kW and 4 kW, which is enough to run a few small appliances but nowhere near sufficient for modern households.
In comparison, a professionally installed whole-house generator typically produces 20–22 kW, allowing it to power:
During extreme heat, cold, or medical emergencies, insufficient power isn’t just inconvenient, it can be dangerous. This is why homeowners with critical power needs choose whole home generator installation instead of relying on partial solutions.
Improper use of portable generators has resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities over the years, primarily due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Portable generators are often placed too close to homes, garages, or open windows, allowing exhaust fumes to enter living spaces.
Additional safety concerns include:
A standby generator installation eliminates these risks by using:
This ensures your home receives backup power safely, without manual intervention.
Portable generators have small fuel tanks and require frequent refueling—often every few hours. During widespread outages, gasoline may be scarce or unavailable, making extended operation difficult.
A whole-house standby generator, on the other hand, is designed for long-term operation and can run for days or even weeks, depending on fuel supply.
Standby generators typically use:
These fuel sources are far more reliable during emergencies, making standby generators ideal for emergency generator installation in residential settings.
An ideal home backup generator should:
A whole home generator installation ensures seamless operation and uninterrupted comfort when you need it most.
More homeowners are investing in standby generators as storms become more frequent and outages last longer. A whole house generator is permanently wired into your electrical system and activates automatically during an outage, no setup required.
Benefits include:
Unlike portable units, standby generators are designed to support the entire household and are installed to meet electrical codes and local regulations.
Generator size is measured in watts (or kilowatts). The size you need depends on how much of your home you want to power.
Portable generators rarely exceed 10 kW, while a whole-house generator installation ensures your home receives adequate power for all critical systems.
The most accurate way to determine generator size is through a professional load calculation performed by an experienced contractor.
Your generator won’t do you any good if it doesn’t have fuel. In the event of a natural disaster, fuel supplies may be limited or unavailable, so you’ll need a sufficient quantity of fuel to last for an extended period of time.
Of the four fuels that are primarily used for generators, gasoline, diesel, LP gas, and natural gas, we can rule out the first one immediately. While gasoline is the most common fuel for portable generators, it’s a poor choice for whole-house generators. Gasoline is highly volatile and deteriorates over time, making long-term storage difficult, so the jerry cans you stashed in the shed will be worthless after a year or two. Let’s examine the other options:
Diesel has some attractive qualities as a fuel: it’s less volatile than gasoline and it’s high in energy content, so diesel engines are generally quite efficient. For a standby generator, you’ll need to install an external tank to hold your fuel if you want more than a day’s supply. The advantages of diesel make it a popular choice for schools, hospitals, or businesses, but it is less common for home applications. Nonetheless, it’s worth considering if you don’t have access to natural gas or convenient LP gas delivery.
Clean-burning LP gas is safe and easy to store. Home storage tanks for liquid propane range in size from 100 to 1000 gallons, and most areas have local dealers who can set you up with a tank and deliveries in a jiffy. While propane doesn’t have quite the energy content of diesel, it’s an excellent fuel for a standby generator, since you can easily have a large, stable supply of fuel on hand.
What’s not to like about natural gas? It burns cleanly, and natural gas supplies are rarely affected by natural disasters. Natural gas generators offer the reliability to keep the power flowing through almost any circumstances. Natural gas tops our ratings, followed closely by LP gas, with diesel running a distant third.
If you’re a dedicated do-it-yourselfer you may entertain notions of saving on your home generator installation cost by installing a whole-house generator yourself. After all, there’s always YouTube to help… But before you take the plunge, consider all the factors that are involved in installing a standby generator. You'll probably decide that the extra installation cost of hiring a professional is worth it.
A standby generator must be connected to your home’s electrical system through an automatic transfer switch (ATS). This device isolates your home from the utility grid during an outage and safely redirects power from the generator to selected circuits or the entire home.
Improper electrical integration can result in:
Licensed professionals understand load balancing, grounding requirements, and breaker panel configurations to ensure your residential generator installation meets National Electrical Code (NEC) standards.
Standby generators powered by natural gas or propane require precise fuel delivery to operate correctly. Gas lines must be properly sized to handle the generator’s fuel demand without starving other gas appliances in the home.
Incorrect gas line installation can cause:
Professional installers verify pressure requirements, install the correct shutoff valves, and ensure all connections are leak-tested and code-compliant, critical steps in any whole home generator installation.
Standby generators produce exhaust gases that must be safely dispersed away from the home. Manufacturers specify minimum clearance distances from windows, doors, vents, and neighboring structures.
Improper exhaust placement can result in:
Professionals evaluate airflow patterns, property layout, and manufacturer guidelines to position the generator correctly, minimizing the risk of carbon monoxide exposure during extended operation.
Every standby generator installation must comply with national and local building codes, including NEC standards, zoning regulations, and municipal permitting requirements. Many jurisdictions also require inspections by electrical and gas authorities before the generator can be legally operated.
DIY installations often fail because:
Professional installers handle permits, inspections, and documentation, ensuring your emergency generator installation is legal, insurable, and approved for operation.
Hiring experienced professionals ensures your standby generator is installed correctly the first time. Licensed installers protect your home, your family, and your investment by ensuring:
Professional installation ensures your generator operates safely, efficiently, and reliably during every power outage.
If you’re considering whole home generator installation, Team Enoch is here to help. We specialize in:
Don’t wait for the next outage to discover your home isn’t prepared.
Contact Team Enoch today to schedule a consultation and protect your home with reliable backup power.
