Generac standby generator beside home at dusk

Whole House Standby Generator Installation

Power that starts on its own

Generac home and commercial standby generators, sized, installed and tested by our licensed electricians. Wolf River Electric is an authorized Generac dealer.

Authorized Generac dealer

Licensed in every state we serve

1,000+ five-star reviews on Google and BBB

Generac extended warranties available

For your home

Whole-home standby

  • Runs your furnace, well pump, sump pump and fridge
  • Automatic transfer switch, no cords to run
  • Runs on natural gas or propane
  • Pairs with solar and batteries
Generac Guardian 20kW generator by brick border

For your business

Commercial standby power

Sized, integrated and tested around critical loads.

Generac air-cooled lineup

Sizes from 10 kW to 28 kW

Every Generac air-cooled home standby generator runs on natural gas or LP, starts on its own within seconds of an outage and includes Mobile Link cellular monitoring. We size yours with a load calculation, not a guess.

Generac home standby generator with automatic transfer switch
SizeRated output (LP / NG)Typical useBallpark installed
10 kW10 / 9 kWEssentials: furnace, fridge, sump pump, lightsAsk us
14 kW14 / 14 kWEssentials plus well pump and garageAbout $13,500
18 kW18 / 17 kWMost of a mid-size homeAbout $15,500
22 kW22 / 19.5 kWWhole home, including central airAbout $16,600
24 kW24 / 21 kWWhole home with larger loadsAbout $17,300
26 kW26 / 22.5 kWLarger homes, shops and all-electric homesAbout $17,700
28 kW28 / 25 kWLarge homes and shopsAsk us

Output from Generac's 2026 specifications; actual output drops at altitude and in high heat. Prices are 2026 ballpark figures for a Wolf River Electric install, including the automatic transfer switch, and may change without notice. Your quote depends on your fuel setup and site. See whole house generator cost.

How it works

How a whole house generator install works

01

Site visit and load calculation

A licensed electrician looks at your electrical panel, your gas meter or propane tank and where the unit can sit, and lists what you want running in an outage.

02

Sizing and quote

We size the generator and transfer switch to your loads, and add load management where it lets a smaller unit do the job.

03

Permit

We pull the electrical permit and any local zoning or setback approvals.

04

Pad and placement

The unit sits on a pad outside, with the clearance from windows, doors and vents that code and Generac require.

05

Fuel connection

We coordinate the natural gas or propane connection, including any gas meter upgrade your utility requires.

06

Transfer switch and wiring

We install the automatic transfer switch and connect it to your panel and the generator.

07

Inspection, startup and registration

After inspection we start the unit, test a transfer, set up Mobile Link monitoring on your phone and register your Generac warranty.

Timeline

How long it takes

Most home standby installs take one to two days on site. Permits, the gas utility and equipment availability set the overall schedule, and we track each step for you.

Not sure what size you need? Read our guide: What size generator do I need?

Fuel

Natural gas or propane?

Every Generac air-cooled home standby generator can run on natural gas or liquid propane (LP). Which one fits depends on what you have at the house.

Natural gasPropane (LP)
Fuel supplyPiped from your gas utility, so it does not run outStored in a tank on site, so run time depends on tank size
OutputSlightly lower rated output on the same unitFull rated output (see the lineup table above)
Best forHomes with a gas meter large enough for the generatorRural homes and farms without natural gas
What we checkMeter size and gas line capacityTank size and placement, and your propane supplier

Clean installs

Set on a pad, out of the way

Generac Guardian 20 kW standby generator beside a stone homeGenerac standby generator and transfer switch on brick homeGenerac Guardian standby generator beside blue siding

Why a standby generator

Backup power that takes care of itself, for as long as the outage lasts.

Starts on its own

When the grid goes down, the transfer switch starts your generator within seconds. You don't need to be home.

Runs for days

Connected to natural gas or a propane tank, it keeps going through long outages, not just a few hours.

Powers the whole home

Furnace, AC, well pump, sump pump, fridge and freezer, all at once with the right size unit.

Protects your home

Keeps the heat and sump pump running, so a winter outage doesn't turn into frozen pipes or a flooded basement.

Built for Midwest weather

A weatherproof outdoor unit made for blizzards, ice storms and summer heat waves.

Tests itself

It runs a short self-test every week, and you can check its status from your phone.

Want backup that also lowers your power bill? Pair your generator with solar and a home battery. We install all three.

Backup options

Generator, battery or both?

What size generator do I need?

How to size a standby generator for your home, from essential circuits to whole-home backup. Read the sizing guide.

Battery vs generator

How home batteries and standby generators compare for Midwest outages, run time and upkeep. Compare backup options.

Minnesota winter backup

What it takes to keep heat, well and sump pumps running through a long winter outage. Winter backup guide.

Generac warranty

Covered for years, not months

Generac home standby generators come with Generac's 5-year limited warranty. As an authorized Generac dealer, we register your warranty at startup and offer Generac extended warranty coverage for longer protection.

Ask about extended coverage

Generator questions

How much does a whole house generator cost?

Our 2026 ballpark installed prices run from about $13,500 for a 14 kW Generac to about $17,700 for a 26 kW unit, with 22 kW at about $16,600. Those prices include the automatic transfer switch. Prices may change without notice. See whole house generator cost.

What size generator do I need?

Most homes need 14 to 22 kW. A 22 kW unit is common for whole-home backup on a 2,000- to 3,000-square-foot home, while 10 to 14 kW covers essentials. We size yours with a load calculation. See our generator sizing guide.

Are you an authorized Generac dealer?

Yes. Wolf River Electric is an authorized Generac dealer. We install Generac home and commercial standby generators and register the warranty for you.

How long does installation take?

Most home standby installs take one to two days on site once the permit and fuel connection are scheduled.

Natural gas or propane: which is better?

Natural gas never runs out as long as the utility supply holds and your meter is big enough. Propane works anywhere and gives full rated output, but run time depends on your tank.

Will a generator run my whole house?

With the right size unit, yes: furnace, central air, well pump, sump pump and appliances. Load management lets a mid-size generator handle big loads one at a time.

How does the generator know the power is out?

The automatic transfer switch senses the outage, starts the generator and switches your home over within seconds. When utility power returns, it switches back and the generator shuts down.

Does it test itself?

Yes. It runs a short self-test on a schedule, and Mobile Link lets you check its status from your phone.

What warranty comes with it?

Generac's 5-year limited warranty on home standby generators. Ask us about Generac extended warranty coverage.

Can a generator work with solar and batteries?

Yes. We install all three and design the system so each one does its job. See battery vs generator.

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