Florida leads the country in power outage duration after hurricanes. The 2024 and 2023 storm seasons saw tens of thousands of South Florida homes without power for 5–14 days. Whole-home standby generators have gone from luxury upgrade to practical necessity for many homeowners here.
Unlike portable generators — which require manual setup, extension cords, and outdoor operation — standby generators are permanently installed outside your home, connected to your electrical panel, and start automatically within seconds of a power outage. You don't touch them.
Propane vs. Natural Gas: Which Is Right for Your Home
Natural gas generators connect directly to your home's gas line. The fuel supply is unlimited as long as the gas main is functioning — a significant advantage during extended outages. If your home already has natural gas service, this is typically the better choice.
Propane generators run from an on-site propane tank. You control your fuel supply — your generator keeps running even if the gas infrastructure is damaged in a storm. In South Florida, where gas lines are less common than in northern states, propane is often the more practical choice. Tank size determines how many days you can run — a 500-gallon propane tank runs a 22 kW generator for approximately 5–7 days of typical usage.
Sizing a Generator for Your Home
Generator capacity is measured in kilowatts (kW). Undersizing is a common mistake — running a generator at or near capacity is hard on the system and won't handle AC startup loads.
Key appliances and their approximate loads:
- Central AC (3-ton): 3,500–5,000 watts running, 7,000–12,000 watts starting
- Refrigerator: 150–400 watts running
- Electric water heater: 4,000–5,500 watts
- Lights and miscellaneous: 1,000–3,000 watts
For a typical South Florida home (1,500–2,500 sq ft) with central AC, a 20–26 kW generator handles the full home comfortably. Homes with electric vehicle chargers, pool pumps, or large HVAC systems may need 30–48 kW.
Permits and Installation
Permits are required — Miami-Dade and Broward both require electrical and plumbing permits for standby generator installation. We handle the full permit process. Call (786) 983-7928 for a free estimate — we'll assess your home's load requirements and give you a written number.
Transfer Switch: Manual vs. Automatic
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) detects a power outage and starts the generator automatically, switching your home to generator power within 10–30 seconds. Manual transfer switches require you to physically engage the switch.
For standby generators, automatic transfer switches are standard — they're the whole point of a standby system. Manual transfer switches are primarily used with portable generators.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a standby generator need maintenance?
Annual service is standard — oil change, filter replacement, and system test. Most generators also run a weekly self-test (typically Sunday morning for 12 minutes) to verify readiness.
Can a generator run my whole house including AC?
A properly sized generator can. Undersized generators run everything except AC — which defeats much of the purpose in South Florida's heat. Size the generator for your full load.
Is generator financing available?
Yes — we offer financing options including PACE financing, which ties the payment to your property tax rather than a monthly loan payment.
We install Generac and other leading standby generators throughout Miami-Dade and Broward. Call (786) 983-7928 for a load assessment and free estimate.