A home generator is only as good as the installation behind it. The same unit can protect a house for years or fail at the worst moment, depending on how it was sized, where it was placed, how the transfer switch was wired and whether anyone keeps it serviced. For seasonal owners in Southwest Florida, the installer matters even more, because the system has to work when nobody is home. This guide covers how to choose an installer and what to ask. For background on picking a generator type and fuel, see our generator guide for seasonal owners.
Start with the right type of generator
Before you collect quotes, decide which kind of system you're shopping for, because it changes who you hire.
- Home standby generators are permanently installed outside, connected to your electrical panel through a transfer switch and fed by natural gas or propane. With an automatic transfer switch, the unit starts on its own when utility power fails and shuts down when power returns. That's the main reason many absentee owners choose one: it can protect an empty house without anyone there.
- Portable generators have to be started, fueled and connected by a person. If you want to run house circuits from one, you still need an electrician to install a proper inlet and a transfer switch or interlock. A portable unit only helps an empty home if someone you trust can safely run it after a storm.
Who should do the work
In Florida, connecting a generator to a home's wiring is electrical contracting work, and the gas connection has its own licensing rules. Depending on the company, you may deal with one firm that handles everything or with an electrician, a gas contractor or propane company, and the generator dealer working together. Either way, each part should be done by someone properly licensed for it, with one company clearly responsible for the whole job.
Many generator brands have authorized dealers who are trained on that brand's equipment and can register the warranty. Ask whether the company is an authorized dealer for the unit they're quoting, and who will service it later. Browse local generator companies and electricians in our directory to build a short list.
Check the license yourself
Don't rely on a license number printed on a truck or a website. Look it up:
- Go to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) license search at myfloridalicense.com and use "Verify a License."
- Search by the company's name, the qualifier's name or the license number.
- Confirm the license is current and the type fits the work, such as an electrical contractor for the wiring. Some contractors are certified statewide and others are registered for specific local areas. The lookup shows which.
- Ask who will pull the permit. The permit should be issued to a licensed contractor, not to you as the owner, unless you truly intend to act as your own contractor.
- Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability and, where it applies, workers' compensation.
Propane tank installation and gas piping have their own licensing in Florida, so ask the installer who will handle the fuel side and how that person or company is licensed. Our guide to hiring and checking a contractor in Florida goes through license lookups, insurance and estimates in more detail.
Sizing: ask for a real load assessment
A good installer asks what you need to keep running and looks at your electrical panel, A/C equipment and major appliances before recommending a size. Be cautious of anyone who quotes a size over the phone without seeing the house.
- Whole-house or essential circuits? Some owners back up the entire panel. Others choose a smaller unit that runs selected circuits, such as one A/C system, the refrigerator, a well or lift pump, lights, internet and security equipment. Ask the installer to explain the tradeoffs for your home.
- A/C start-up. Air conditioners draw extra power for a moment when they start. Ask how the installer accounts for that, and whether load management or a soft-start device makes sense.
For an empty home, keeping at least some A/C running during a long outage helps control heat and humidity. See our guide to A/C maintenance and humidity control in an empty home.
The transfer switch
The transfer switch is what safely moves your house from utility power to generator power. Ask which type you're getting:
- Automatic transfer switch: standard with most standby systems and the practical choice for an owner who isn't there.
- Manual transfer switch or panel interlock: common with portable generators. Someone has to flip it.
Never connect a generator by plugging it into a wall outlet. That "back-feeding" can send power onto the utility lines and injure line workers or others. A properly installed transfer switch prevents this.
Fuel: natural gas or propane
- Natural gas is an option if your street has gas service. Ask the installer whether your gas meter and line can supply the generator along with your other gas appliances, and whether the gas utility needs to be involved.
- Propane is common where there's no natural gas. Ask what size tank they recommend, where it will go, whether it will be above ground or buried, and roughly how long it would run the generator at your expected load. Set up a refill arrangement with a propane supplier, and ask whether they offer automatic delivery or tank monitoring while you're away.
Permits, placement and your HOA
Standby generator installations generally need a permit and inspection from the local building department. In Southwest Florida that's the city if your home is within city limits, or the county (Lee, Collier or Charlotte) if it's in an unincorporated area. Ask the installer:
- Will you pull all permits and schedule the inspections? Will I get a copy of the final inspection?
- Where will the unit sit, and how far will it be from windows, doors, vents and property lines? Local codes and the manufacturer's instructions set minimum distances.
- Does my flood zone affect how high the unit or pad must be?
- How will the unit and pad be secured for high winds?
- Does my HOA or condo association need to approve the location, screening or noise first? Get that approval before work starts.
Get written quotes you can compare
Ask at least two or three companies for written quotes. A useful quote spells out:
- The generator make, model and rated output
- The transfer switch type and which circuits are covered
- Fuel work: gas piping, meter changes, or propane tank size and placement
- The pad, mounting and any concrete or electrical trenching
- Permits, inspections and HOA paperwork
- Start-up, testing and a walk-through of how the system works
- Warranty terms, who registers it, and what a service plan includes
- The payment schedule and expected timeline
Be wary of pressure to sign the same day, especially right after a storm, and of large upfront payments. Ask how deposits are handled and when the balance is due.
Maintenance and exercise for an absentee owner
A standby generator that sits for months still needs care. Most units run a short automatic exercise cycle on a schedule to keep the engine and battery in shape. Ask the installer to set the exercise schedule, show you how to check it and explain how you'll know if it misses a run.
- Remote monitoring: many standby units can send status alerts to your phone or to the dealer. Ask what's available for your model and whether it needs Wi-Fi or a cellular connection.
- Service plan: ask about scheduled maintenance that follows the manufacturer's recommendations, such as oil and filter changes, battery testing and checking for salt-air corrosion. Book a visit before hurricane season starts on June 1.
- Access: arrange how the technician reaches the unit when you're away, and ask for a short report with photos after each visit.
- After a storm: ask who checks that the generator ran, refuels propane if needed and confirms the transfer back to utility power. Your home watch provider can often look at the unit and report back.
Questions to ask every installer
- What licenses do you hold, and who does the electrical and fuel work?
- Are you an authorized dealer for this brand? Who services it later?
- How did you size the unit, and what will and won't run?
- Will you pull the permits and give me the final inspection?
- How is the unit protected from flooding, wind and salt air?
- How does remote monitoring work, and who gets the alerts?
- What happens if it fails during a storm while I'm away?
Safety: generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide. Never run a portable generator indoors, in a garage or on a screened lanai, and install carbon monoxide alarms inside the home.
A generator works best as part of a full storm plan. See our hurricane prep guide for absentee owners and after-hurricane return checklist. Keep your generator model, installer, service dates and propane supplier 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 · Choosing and Maintaining a Generator in Southwest Florida: A Guide for Seasonal Owners · Mold Inspection vs. Mold Remediation: What Florida Homeowners Should Know · 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