Power outages in Southwest Florida usually come with storms. A hurricane or tropical storm can knock out power for hours or for days. If your home sits empty for part of the year, an outage while you're away can mean the A/C stops, humidity climbs, the fridge warms up and a sump pump or lift station alarm goes quiet. A generator can keep the most important systems running. But it only helps if it's the right type for your home, installed correctly and maintained while you're gone.
This guide covers the choices in general terms. Rules, permits and fuel availability vary by city, county and homeowners association, so check with a licensed local professional before you buy anything.
Standby or portable?
A home standby generator is permanently installed outside the home and connected to your electrical system through a transfer switch. When utility power fails, an automatic transfer switch starts the generator and moves your home's circuits over to it, usually within seconds, whether or not anyone is home. For seasonal owners, that's the main advantage: it can protect an empty house without anyone there to start it.
A portable generator sits on wheels and has to be started, fueled and connected by a person. It costs less up front and can be stored in a garage, but someone has to be at the house to run it. If you're up north during a storm, a portable generator only helps if your home watch provider, a neighbor or a family member can safely set it up and refuel it.
Many seasonal owners choose a standby unit for the house and treat a portable generator as a backup for when they are in residence. Others decide a generator isn't worth it and focus on other steps, like storm protection and a trusted person who can check the home after the storm passes. There's no single right answer. It depends on your home, your budget, how long you're away and what you need to keep running.
Decide what you need to power
Before you get quotes, make a short list of what has to keep working during an outage. Common priorities in an empty SWFL home include:
- The A/C or at least one zone, to control heat and humidity
- The refrigerator and freezer
- A sump pump, well pump or lift station, if your home has one
- Internet, cameras, leak sensors and smart thermostats, so you can see what's going on
- Security systems and garage door openers
An installer will use this list to size the generator and decide whether to back up the whole house or only selected circuits. Bigger isn't always better: an oversized unit costs more to buy and run, and an undersized one may shut off under load.
Use a licensed installer and expect permits
A standby generator touches your electrical system, and often your gas line too. In Florida, this kind of work generally needs properly licensed contractors, and most local building departments require permits and inspections. Ask anyone you're considering:
- Which Florida licenses they hold for the electrical work, and who handles any gas connection. You can look up a license on the state's licensing site, myfloridalicense.com.
- Whether they'll pull the permits and schedule the inspections.
- Where the unit will sit, how far from windows, doors and vents, and whether your HOA or condo association needs to approve it first.
- Whether the pad and mounting are suited to flood risk and high wind at your address.
- What the warranty covers, and whether they offer a maintenance plan.
Our guide to hiring and checking a contractor in Florida walks through license checks, insurance and estimates in more detail. You can compare local generator companies and electricians in our directory.
For a portable generator, never plug it into a wall outlet to "back-feed" the house. That can send power out onto the utility lines and endanger line workers and anyone nearby. If you want to run house circuits from a portable unit, ask a licensed electrician about installing a proper transfer switch or interlock.
Fuel options
- Natural gas: if your street has a gas line, a standby unit can draw from it with no refueling. Supply is usually steady during storms, but it depends on the local system.
- Propane (LP): common where natural gas isn't available. The unit runs from a tank on site, above ground or buried. Ask how long a full tank will last at your expected load, and set up a delivery schedule with a propane supplier, especially before hurricane season.
- Gasoline: typical for portable units. Gasoline goes stale over time and can be hard to find right after a storm. Store it only in approved containers and follow the manufacturer's advice on fuel stabilizer.
- Diesel: used in some larger units. Ask your installer about storage and fuel shelf life.
- Dual-fuel portables can run on gasoline or propane, which gives you more options when one fuel is scarce.
Exercise and maintenance while you're away
A generator that sits unused for months may not start when you need it. Most standby units have a built-in exercise cycle, where the generator starts on a set schedule and runs for a short time to keep the engine and battery healthy. Ask your installer how often yours exercises and whether you can get alerts on your phone if it fails to run or shows a fault.
Ask your generator company about a maintenance schedule that follows the manufacturer's recommendations. A typical service visit may include:
- Oil and filter changes, and checking the air filter and spark plugs
- Testing or replacing the starting battery, which can weaken in Florida heat
- Checking for corrosion from salt air, especially near the coast
- Clearing grass, plants, wasps' nests and debris from around the unit
- Running the unit under load to confirm the transfer switch works
Schedule service before hurricane season starts on June 1, so there's time to fix anything they find. If you're away, arrange for the technician to have access to the unit and to send you a short report.
For portable units, ask your home watch provider whether they can start and run the generator on a set schedule while you're gone, and leave clear written instructions. Keep the manual, the model number and the service company's phone number in an easy-to-find place.
Safety: carbon monoxide and placement
Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell and which can kill. Never run a generator inside a home, garage, lanai or other enclosed space, even with doors open. Keep it well away from windows, doors and vents, as the manufacturer directs. Install battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms inside the home. After a storm, don't let anyone operate a portable generator in standing water or in the rain without proper cover.
Make it part of your storm plan
A generator works best as one piece of a larger plan. Pair it with storm shutters or impact protection, a home watch provider who checks the house after a storm, and a written list of who to call. Our hurricane prep guide for absentee owners and after-hurricane return checklist cover the rest. Keeping power on also helps with A/C and humidity control and mold prevention in a closed-up home.
Keep your generator model, service dates, fuel supplier and installer contact in the free My Florida Home app.
General information only. It is not legal, insurance or engineering advice. Check with your insurer, HOA and licensed professionals.
More guides: Snowbird Home Checklist for Southwest Florida · Hurricane Prep Checklist for SWFL Homeowners · How to Choose a Pool Cage & Lanai Screen Company · How to Choose a Pool Service in Southwest Florida · How to Choose a Hurricane Shutter Company in Southwest Florida · Mold and Humidity in a Closed-Up Florida Home: What Snowbirds Should Know · After a Hurricane: A Return Checklist for Seasonal Owners in Southwest Florida · How to Hire and Check a Contractor in Florida: A Guide for Seasonal Owners · Preventing Water Leaks in an Empty Florida Home · A/C Maintenance and Humidity Control for an Empty Florida Home · The Snowbird's Closing Checklist for a Southwest Florida Home · Hurricane Prep for Absentee Owners · How to Choose a Home Watch Company in Southwest Florida · Shipping Your Car South: A Snowbird's Guide · Opening Your Southwest Florida Home for the Season