GeneracFeatured: Generac 14kW on AmazonWhole-home backup · See current price →Ad

Learn: whole house generators, from the ground up

Five guides that cover the subject end to end — start at the beginning or jump to what you need. Written by John Reilly, updated for 2026.

Home standby generator installed beside a house on a concrete pad
Start here · Guide 1

Whole House Generators 101: How Standby Power Actually Works

A plain-English introduction to home standby generators — what the parts do, how automatic transfer works, the fuel and sizing basics, and how standby compares with portable, inverter and battery backup.

Read the guide 16 min read
Electrician wiring a transfer switch during a standby generator installation
Guide 2

Installation & Sizing

How sizing is really done, what installation involves, what it costs, and how to read three quotes against each other.

18 min read

Technician servicing a standby generator with the enclosure open
Guide 3

Maintenance & Care

The real service schedule, what you can safely do yourself, and the handful of failures that cause most no-starts.

18 min read

Kohler home standby generator installed outside a house
Guide 4

Brand Comparisons

Side-by-side on warranty, noise, monitoring, build and dealer coverage — and why the dealer often matters more than the badge.

16 min read

Homeowner researching home standby generators
Guide 5

FAQs

Forty direct answers on cost, sizing, fuel, noise, permits, safety and everything else people ask before buying.

20 min read

Ad
Generac 14kW Whole Home Generator, Transfer Switch & Cellular Capability
Featured · GeneracGenerac 14kW Whole-Home Standby GeneratorAutomatic backup for the whole house with a 200-amp transfer switch and cellular monitoring included.
  • 14 kW
  • 200A ATS included
  • NG / LP
  • Cellular monitoring
See Current Price on Amazon

Latest from the blog

All 36 articles

Not sure what size you need?

Add your appliances and the sizing calculator returns a recommended kW range and the generators that fit it — then get quotes from dealers near you.

Open the sizing calculatorFind a dealer

About the author

John has spent 20+ years installing, selling and servicing home standby generators. Every guide here reflects what he saw in the field.

Read John’s bio