Start with the loads that matter
An installation starts with your priorities, not a generator size chosen from square footage alone. Decide whether you want to protect essentials such as refrigeration, selected lights, heating controls and pumps, or a broader set of household equipment.
- List the equipment you want to use during an outage, including major motors and heating or cooling equipment.
- Identify which loads must operate together and which can be managed or scheduled.
- Include planned changes such as a workshop, additional cooling equipment or an EV charger in the assessment.
What the site assessment should cover
The generator is one part of the installation. The assessment should bring electrical loads, fuel supply and placement together before equipment is selected.
- Electrical service: review the panel, service arrangement, starting demands and running loads.
- Fuel: confirm natural gas or propane, available capacity and the work needed for the selected unit.
- Placement: review clearances, nearby openings, access and the route for electrical and fuel connections.
- Transfer equipment: define the circuits or service to be backed up and any load-management equipment.
- Responsibilities: identify site preparation, electrical and fuel work, permits and inspections in the written scope.
- Startup and handoff: confirm operational checks, customer walkthrough, maintenance information and model-specific warranty documents.
What affects your installation proposal?
Generator capacity is only one cost driver. Fuel-line work, distance between equipment, electrical-service configuration, transfer equipment, site access and required approvals can change the scope.
- Ask for a clear distinction between included work, allowances and exclusions.
- Confirm who coordinates each trade and applicable permit or inspection step.
- Review what the proposed system will and will not power before approving equipment.
Natural gas and propane need different planning
Natural gas depends on available utility service, adequate supply capacity and continued fuel availability. Propane requires suitable on-site storage and replenishment planning; runtime depends on usable tank capacity, generator load and operating conditions.