A whole-home standby generator automatically restores power to your entire home within seconds of a utility outage — no extension cords, no manual setup, no going outside in a storm. It runs on natural gas or propane, starts itself when utility power drops, and shuts off when power is restored. For Colorado homeowners who deal with summer storm outages, winter ice storms, and the wildfire-season grid disruptions the Front Range has experienced in recent years, a standby generator is the most reliable way to stay comfortable and safe regardless of what the grid does.

How Standby Generators Differ from Portable Generators

Portable generators require you to go outside, pull-start them, run extension cords, and manually manage what’s powered. They run on gasoline, which degrades in storage, and they cannot be operated indoors or in a garage due to carbon monoxide risk. A standby generator is permanently installed outside, connects to your home’s fuel supply (natural gas or a propane tank), and is wired through a transfer switch that automatically disconnects you from the utility and connects the generator when power is lost. The entire process is automatic and takes 10–30 seconds. When utility power returns, the transfer switch reconnects the utility and the generator shuts itself down.

What a Whole-Home Generator Protects

Unlike portable generators that typically power only a few circuits, a properly sized standby generator can run your entire home — HVAC system, refrigerator, sump pump, medical equipment, security system, lighting, and EV charger. This matters in Colorado for several reasons:

  • Winter heating: Even a gas furnace needs electricity to run its blower, igniter, and controls. Without power, you have no heat during a winter outage — a serious concern when temperatures drop below zero on the Front Range.
  • Summer cooling: A multi-day summer outage during a heat wave puts elderly family members and pets at real risk.
  • Sump pumps: If your Denver-area home has a basement with a sump pump, losing power during a heavy rain event is exactly when you need it most.
  • Medical equipment: CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, and refrigerated medications require uninterrupted power.
  • Food and refrigeration: Extended outages result in significant food loss — a generator eliminates this entirely.

Sizing and Fuel

Standby generators are sized in kilowatts. A 10–14 kW unit handles essential loads for most homes; a 20–22 kW unit runs everything simultaneously without restriction. Proper sizing requires calculating your home’s starting and running loads — Done’s electricians perform this calculation as part of the installation planning process. Oversizing wastes fuel and money; undersizing means load shedding during the outage.

Natural gas is the preferred fuel for most Denver metro homeowners because it’s supplied continuously through the utility line — no tank to fill, no concern about running out during an extended outage. Propane is the option when natural gas isn’t available, typically in rural Front Range areas. Tank sizing and refill scheduling become part of the maintenance plan in that case.

Installation Requirements

Standby generator installation involves a licensed electrician and often a licensed plumber or gas fitter, plus a permit and inspection. The generator is placed on a concrete pad outside, connected to the fuel supply, and wired through a transfer switch at the panel. Clearance requirements from windows, doors, and gas meters must be observed per manufacturer specs and local code. Done coordinates the full installation and manages the permit process.

To explore standby generator options for your home, visit Done’s backup power page. If you’re also evaluating battery backup systems as an alternative, our team can walk through the trade-offs. Questions about panel capacity? Our panel and wiring team assesses whether your service entrance can support a generator connection or needs an upgrade first.