Since 1959, Generac has been designing and manufacturing backup power generators for residential, commercial and industrial applications. We have grown to be the world’s largest provider of residential backup generators, selling five times as many generators as all of our competitors combined. Generac’s broad product line is available through the industry’s largest network of independent generator dealers, retailers and wholesalers. 

An automatic backup generator is a back up electrical system that operates whether you are home or away. Within seconds of an outage, it automatically supplies power directly to your home’s electrical circuit breaker box. After utility power returns, the generator shuts itself off and waits for the next outage. It operates on natural gas or liquid propane gas and sits outside just like a central air conditioning unit.

During a utility power outage, an automatic backup generator provides numerous advantages over a portable generator:

• The American Red Cross recommends permanently installed backup generators as a safer way to provide backup power to a home than a portable generator.
• With an automatic backup generator properly installed outside, your home is protected from deadly carbon monoxide poisoning that is a much greater risk with portable generators.
• Running on the home’s natural gas or LP fuel supply, it is less expensive to run than gasoline and sources such as natural gas do not need to be refilled.
• They start automatically within seconds of a power outage, and eliminate the need to haul a portable generator outside or run extension cords throughout your home.
• They provide protection 24/7, whether you’re home or away, and they turn themselves off when utility power returns, so there is no need to monitor the unit during an outage.

As an option, Generac offers the Guardian Series systems prepackaged and pre-wired with comprehensive installation instructions. You could perform the simpler site preparation steps and have a professional make the electrical panel and fuel connections, or you could complete the entire installation yourself.

However, for safety reasons and to ensure adherence to all local, state and national electrical codes, particularly for non pre-wired or larger systems, Generac recommends you use us, an authorized Generac dealer or licensed contractor. 

All generators require periodic maintenance, such as oil and filter changes to ensure maximum performance for years of reliable service. Scheduled maintenance kits are available and many Generac authorized dealers offer annual maintenance contracts for a worry-free ownership experience. We recommend you have your unit serviced every 6 months by an authorized independent service dealer. Refer to the owner’s manual for routine maintenance procedures and schedules. 

You can find a digital copy of your owner’s manual here

Important maintenance tips for your automatic home backup generator

Information about our fuel system inspection program