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How far can a standby generator be from the house?

August 04, 2022

Portable whole-house generator

If you’ve been thinking about investing in a whole-house generator for your home, one of the first things you’ll need to consider is where to place it. Standby generators need a permanent location on your property outside of the house for safety reasons. If you have a larger property or you have a spot in mind that’s away from the house, you may be wondering how far away you can place your standby generator. Here are some factors to keep in mind to determine how far a generator can be from your house:

Type of Generator

The first consideration is the type of generator you choose. A smaller, portable standby generator can be kept quite a distance from the house and is designed to be placed wherever you need it. These types of generators have smaller capacities and are not designed to power an entire home. Meanwhile, a whole-house generator features a much larger capacity, allowing it to power your entire home. Due to their size and capacity, they’ll need a permanent location on your property. You’ll likely need to place it on a concrete slab for stability as well.

Another consideration about the type of generator you choose is how it’s powered. If your home has access to a natural gas line, you’ll want to consider where that line is so that the standby generator can be connected to it. For gas-powered generators, you’ll want to consider where you can store your fuel, which should likely be close to the generator. The type of generator you choose may also come with specific manufacturer instructions for how close or how far the generator should be installed from your home.

Powering Up Your Home

In addition to the capacity and power source of your new whole-house generator, you’ll also need to consider how the generator will connect to the rest of your home to supply power. You’ll likely want to connect the standby generator to a transfer switch, which is a cleaner option than using multiple extension cords. Transfer switches are also ideal for whole-home generators if you choose a model that can automatically power on when an outage is detected. You’ll want to determine where the transfer switch can be installed to help determine where to place your generator as well.

Building Codes & Other Restrictions

Local building codes, HOA restrictions, and any other regulations that may apply to your property will need to be considered. Because you’ll need to pull a building permit to have a whole-house generator installed, it’s best to choose a professional company to install your standby generator. Your generator company should already be familiar with the permitting requirements and any local building codes that may affect where you can have your new standby generator installed.

Tri-State Water, Power & Air is pleased to be a reliable source of top-of-the-line whole-house generators and professional installation services for many homeowners. We can help you find the type and capacity of generator that will best suit your needs, as well as provide expert assistance in determining the best location for your new generator. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about having a new generator system installed on your property.

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