Straight answers to the questions Fairfield County homeowners ask before buying a standby generator. For pricing detail, see the cost guide.
In practice, yes. Your town requires an electrical permit for standby generator installs, and usually a gas permit too, with inspections. Connecticut's electrical code and your town's rules set pad, clearance, and setback requirements. Reputable installers pull the permits for you — treat any installer who suggests skipping permits as a red flag, because an unpermitted unit can complicate insurance claims and resale.
Most homes land at 18–22 kW with load management — enough for one central AC or heat pump, kitchen, laundry, well pump or sump pump, and lights. Homes with two AC units, a pool, electric heat, or a large kitchen usually go 24–26 kW. A good installer does a load calculation at your home rather than guessing from square footage.
Usually 2–5 weeks from signed quote in the off-season: site visit and load calculation, permits (often the slowest step), pad and gas work, then a one-day equipment install and startup. After a major storm, lead times of 8–12 weeks are common.
Where natural gas service exists — Eversource and Southern Connecticut Gas serve much of the county — it's the convenient default: unlimited fuel, no tank, no deliveries. Propane gives the generator its full rated output and keeps you independent of the gas grid, but requires a tank and delivery planning for long outages. Your installer can price both.
No. Portable generators must never be connected to a home's wiring without a transfer switch or interlock, and they're far noisier, need manual refueling, and produce deadly carbon monoxide if run in a garage. A standby system starts automatically in about 10–30 seconds, runs on gas or propane, and is installed to code outdoors.
Plan on an annual service visit — oil, filters, spark plugs, battery, and a full exercise test — typically $300–$500 per year on a maintenance plan. Manufacturers require documented maintenance to keep extended warranties valid. In Connecticut, that visit is also when cold-weather items like the battery get checked before winter.
Yes — they're effective in closings. Buyers in storm-exposed Fairfield County treat a permitted, whole-home standby generator as a real amenity, and listing agents routinely feature it. Keep your permit records and maintenance history for the buyer's file.