Practical next steps before you call an installer.
The directory gives you a place to start. These guides help you use it well: understand what a finished project actually costs, how to size the unit, what permits require, and the questions worth asking on a first call, no matter which brand you end up with.
Whole-house generator cost
What a finished standby project actually costs: equipment vs labor, air-cooled vs liquid-cooled, and why two quotes on the same unit can differ by thousands.
What size generator do you need?
Skip the square-footage rule of thumb. Load calculations, locked-rotor amps, and when load management lets a smaller unit cover the house.
Questions to ask a generator installer
A first-call checklist: licenses, fuel work, load calc, permits, warranty path, and the red flags that show up in real complaints.
Generator installation process and timeline
What happens from the consult to the first automatic transfer, and why permits and the gas utility usually set the clock, not the factory.
Natural gas vs propane generators
Runtime, derate, pipe and tank sizing, and how your state’s heating-fuel mix should shape the conversation.
Standby vs portable vs battery backup
When each option fits, and the carbon monoxide case that makes portable plus dryer-outlet backfeeding a non-starter.
Generator maintenance and warranty
Service intervals by brand, exercise cycles, what warranties actually cover, and why portable recalls are not home standby recalls.
Generator permits, clearances, and codes
NEC 702, NFPA 37 clearances, manufacturer listings, and why your AHJ, not a blog, has the last word.
Transfer switch and interlock kits
Automatic vs manual transfer, interlock kits for portables, and why backfeeding through a dryer outlet violates the code.
Ready to find who to call?
Open your state page or search by ZIP for a distance-sorted list.