Regardless of the generator you buy, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. The installation of a standby generator does require a building and electrical permit.

Never operate portable generators indoors! (including garages)

Do not install or use generators near outside vents, under or near windows or doors of your home, they give off deadly carbon monoxide exhaust gas.

Remember! Just because your heat is gas powered, it is useless without electricity powering the blower fan.

Types of Generators:

Standby Generator: Standby generators are installed and configured to start either manually or automatically. When a power outage occurs, and switch the electrical load from the utility company over to the standby generator. Standby generators are typically larger units that provide ample power to run your home's critical appliances, keep the lights on and, if the power output is large enough, supply power to your entire home. Standby generators run on various fuel sources. (These include: Natural Gas, Unleaded Fuel, Propane, or Diesel Fuel.) They are usually placed on a pad outside with the necessary feed wires and load switch gear entering the side of the house your electrical panel receives power from.

Portable Generator: A portable generator usually requires set-up, including the physical connection to whatever load needs service, and must be started manually. The main difference between generators is power delivery and run time. Portable generators will normally be capable of supplying only the minimum power necessary to survive a power outage and be capable of three to seven hours of run time on one tank of fuel as compared to a standby generator that is designed for three days of continuous operation. Although, portable generators do have advantages over standby generators. Advantages: The portable type have versatility and can be used to go camping, or in rural areas where there is no source of power available, such as for farmers and ranchers. They also take less space for storage, cost less to maintain, and are more fuel efficient. Portable generators are also quieter than the larger standby types.