What the Home Standby Generator Installation Process Looks Like

Home standby generators are a great shield of protection in case of outages to help protect your home and your family. They keep the lights on and power all your necessary appliances, from the refrigerator to the Internet.

As useful as home generators are, getting one installed isn’t as easy as selecting one at the store and bringing it home.

In fact, installing a residential generator can take about a month or two, depending on your local requirements and approvals. Getting permits, installing the unit, and getting an inspection are all part of a smooth installation experience.

As a premier Connecticut generator installation company, Cannondale Generators handles the entire generator installation process for you. But it’s good to be familiar with the process before purchasing a home generator so you know exactly what to expect.

Here’s what the home standby generator installation process looks like:

Step 1. Site Evaluation

First, your generator installation company visits your home to do a thorough inspection and site evaluation.

Location and noise are the two biggest factors when installing a generator. For instance, you never want to use a generator inside your garage or home, even with windows or doors open.

In fact, most towns in Connecticut require placement to be at least five feet away from any opening in a building. This is due to the carbon monoxide production of home generators, which is dangerous to the people in your home.

You can find these guidelines on your official town websites, such as Greenwich or New Canaan.

At Cannondale Generators, our sales team’s main priority is to gather all the critical information about your generator needs. We note anything that might be needed in the town permit and approval process. This includes information like your power requirements, location of the generator unit, and the transfer switch most appropriate for your needs.

Once we complete the site evaluation, we’ll provide you with brochures and spec sheets that contain all the information you need about the installation process. We’ll also provide you with a customized quote based on the size of your home.

Step 2. Town Permits & Approvals for Generator Installation

Think of generator installation as a mini home project. Permits are required throughout Fairfield County and most other municipalities.

When you work with a home standby generator installation company, this entire process is handled for you. Our sales team will help you submit a permit application to your town with the plans and specifications of the installation.

Here’s an example of what some of those documents look like from a public filing in the town of Darien, CT.

From surveys showing the property boundary and the intended placement of the generator, to installation diagrams and the specifications of the automatic transfer switch, we’ll share site plans of the generator installation to ensure everything meets zoning laws.

If you reside in a Homeowners Association and approval is required prior to installing a standby generator, we’ll work with them to get the proper permissions.

Town permits and approvals are typically the most important and most drawn-out step of the process. Getting a permit for your generator can sometimes be a same-day turnaround, and other times can take weeks. All said and done, you can expect this part of the process to take three to four weeks.

Step 3. Generator Delivery and Installation

Once all permits and approvals are ready to go, your generator installation team will pour a concrete pad for the base of your new standby generator. Then, the generator will be delivered and installed on that base.

With rising demand, suppliers can often be backed up by as much as nine to eleven months. Be sure to ask your generator company for the expected timeline when you get started for a more exact time frame for your home.

Once the concrete and unit are placed and installed, the next step in the generator installation process is to make sure the transfer switch is placed and wired correctly.

This involves electrical configuration so your generator can be incorporated into your home’s existing wiring as an automatic, secondary source of energy. In other words, it’s what allows your generator to come on right away in case of an outage.

Once the wiring is set up, the source of energy must be connected. This often involves skilled plumbers and technicians working together.

For instance, if your property contains a natural gas line, your home standby generator will be connected to that line. Otherwise, it would be connected to a propane tank. If your property doesn’t have either of these fuel connections, one must be installed to ensure your generator can run.

The proper installation of a home generator requires knowledge of both the generator specifications and gas and electrical connections. That’s why our team at Cannondale Generators is equipped with highly trained generator technicians, electricians, and plumbers who all work together to ensure the safety of your home.

Step 4. Town Inspection

As the final major step in the installation process, your town will need to conduct an inspection to make sure the generator is installed according to the plans submitted in the now-approved permits.

This involves communication between you and the generator company to contact your town with the permit number and schedule a day for inspection.

Step 5. Generator Walkthrough

Before providing you with long-term maintenance plans, your installation team will go through an outage simulation to ensure that your generator is working correctly. They’ll take you through a detailed tutorial covering the operation of your new system.

This is an opportunity for you to learn how to maintain your generator, such as checking oil levels, resetting faults, listening to the unit exercise, and more.

You can also learn about the remote monitoring options you have with your particular unit. Remote monitoring allows you to easily access information such as current operating status and even upcoming maintenance reminders or alerts.

Thinking of Installing a Home Standby Generator?

As the go-to home generator dealer in Connecticut and New York, Cannondale Generators can help you choose the right generator for your home and family.

Get custom, professional recommendations based on your own unique needs. Contact us today for a FREE consultation.