Authorized Generac dealer
Licensed in every state we serve
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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 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.
| Size | Rated output (LP / NG) | Typical use | Ballpark installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | 10 / 9 kW | Essentials: furnace, fridge, sump pump, lights | Ask us |
| 14 kW | 14 / 14 kW | Essentials plus well pump and garage | About $13,500 |
| 18 kW | 18 / 17 kW | Most of a mid-size home | About $15,500 |
| 22 kW | 22 / 19.5 kW | Whole home, including central air | About $16,600 |
| 24 kW | 24 / 21 kW | Whole home with larger loads | About $17,300 |
| 26 kW | 26 / 22.5 kW | Larger homes, shops and all-electric homes | About $17,700 |
| 28 kW | 28 / 25 kW | Large homes and shops | Ask 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 concrete pad, generator battery, automatic transfer switch, permit and installation. Sales tax and the natural gas or propane hookup are extra. Prices may change without notice. Your quote depends on your fuel setup and site. See whole house generator cost.
What is in the price
What does generator installation include?
A Wolf River Electric generator installation includes the Generac generator, a concrete pad, the generator battery, an automatic transfer switch, the permit and the installation itself. Most home installs run about $13,500 for a 14 kW unit to about $17,700 for a 26 kW unit, as of October 2026.
Sales tax and the natural gas or propane hookup are extra. Your gas utility or propane supplier does the hookup and bills you directly, and we coordinate the timing with them.
| Item | In our installed price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Generac home standby generator, 14 to 26 kW | Included | Sized with a load calculation of what you want to keep running. |
| Concrete pad | Included | Set outside with the required clearances from windows, doors and vents. |
| Generator battery | Included | Starts the engine when the power goes out. |
| Automatic transfer switch | Included | Moves your home to generator power within seconds of an outage. |
| Permit and inspection | Included | We pull the electrical permit and schedule the inspection. |
| Installation, startup and testing | Included | We test a transfer, set up Mobile Link monitoring and register your Generac warranty. |
| Natural gas or propane hookup | Extra | Done and billed by your gas utility or propane supplier. We coordinate the timing with them. |
| Sales tax | Extra | Added to the installed price. |
| Electrical panel upgrade | Extra, only if needed | If your panel has no room or your service is undersized, a standard panel upgrade runs about $4,500 to $6,000, as of October 2026. |
Other ways to add backup power
- Portable generator hookup: a 240V inlet and manual transfer switch runs about $2,000, as of October 2026. You start the portable generator and switch over by hand.
- Already have a standby generator? Tying it into a new home battery system adds about $2,000 plus the battery, depending on the generator's age and compatibility.
For prices by size and what moves them, read our whole house generator cost guide.
How it works
How a whole house generator install works
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.
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.
Permit
We pull the electrical permit and any local zoning or setback approvals.
Pad and placement
The unit sits on a pad outside, with the clearance from windows, doors and vents that code and Generac require.
Fuel connection
We coordinate the natural gas or propane connection, including any gas meter upgrade your utility requires.
Transfer switch and wiring
We install the automatic transfer switch and connect it to your panel and the generator.
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 gas | Propane (LP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel supply | Piped from your gas utility, so it does not run out | Stored in a tank on site, so run time depends on tank size |
| Output | Slightly lower rated output on the same unit | Full rated output (see the lineup table above) |
| Best for | Homes with a gas meter large enough for the generator | Rural homes and farms without natural gas |
| What we check | Meter size and gas line capacity | Tank size and placement, and your propane supplier |
Clean installs
Set on a pad, out of the way
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.
Authorized Generac dealer
Why use an authorized Generac dealer?
Wolf River Electric is an authorized Generac dealer, so one team handles your generator from the first site visit to service calls years later. Our licensed electricians size it, install it and start it up, and we stay your contact for service after that.
One team, start to finish
The same company quotes, installs, starts up and services your generator.
Maintenance on Generac's schedule
Generac lists a check-up every 100 hours of run time or once a year, whichever comes first, plus oil, filter and battery service every 200 hours or two years. We can book it for you.
Ready for long winter outages
When an outage runs for days, Generac says to check the oil every 24 hours of continuous running.
Works with solar and batteries
We also install solar panels and home battery backup, so your generator, battery and solar can work together.
Where we install home standby generators: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Want it running before the coldest weeks? The install takes one to two days on site, but permits and the gas or propane hookup usually set the schedule, so start your quote now.
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 concrete pad, generator battery, automatic transfer switch, permit and installation. Sales tax and the natural gas or propane hookup are extra. 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.
Can I install a standby generator myself?
It is not a good DIY job. The install ties an automatic transfer switch into your main electrical panel, connects to natural gas or propane, has to meet clearances from windows, doors and vents, and must pass an electrical inspection. A licensed electrician who is an authorized Generac dealer does it to code and registers the Generac warranty at startup.
Do I need a permit to install a standby generator?
Yes. A standby generator needs an electrical permit and inspection, and some cities also require a zoning or setback approval. Wolf River Electric handles the permit for you.
Who services my generator after it is installed?
We do. Wolf River Electric is your contact for maintenance, warranty questions and repairs after startup.