Whole-House Generator Installation for Sarasota-Bradenton
If you lived in Sarasota or Bradenton during Ian, you know exactly what happens when the power goes out for a week. No AC in September in Florida. Fridge full of food going bad by day two. No lights, no well pump if you're not on city water, no way to charge a phone. And if you've got someone at home on medical equipment, a power outage isn't an inconvenience — it's an emergency.
I'm Donny McGuire, and I install whole-house standby generators that kick on automatically when the power drops. Not a portable generator you drag out of the garage and run extension cords from. A permanent, natural gas or propane unit that starts itself within seconds of an outage and runs your entire house — AC included — until FPL gets the lines back up.
Call (941) 539-8892
What Goes Into a Standby Generator Install
Sizing the Generator for Your Home
The number one mistake people make is buying a generator that's too small. A 10kW unit sounds like a lot until you realize your AC alone pulls 5–6kW and your pool pump, water heater, and kitchen appliances take up the rest. I do a load calculation based on your actual panel — every circuit, every appliance. For most Sarasota homes with central AC, a 20–24kW unit covers everything comfortably. For larger homes or homes with pool heaters and multiple AC zones, we may go to 26kW or higher.
Automatic Transfer Switch
This is the brains of the system. The automatic transfer switch (ATS) monitors your utility power 24/7. The moment it detects an outage, it signals the generator to start and transfers your home's electrical load from the utility to the generator — all within about 10 seconds. When FPL power comes back, the ATS transfers back to utility and shuts the generator down. You don't have to do anything. You might not even realize the power went out.
Fuel Source: Natural Gas or Propane
If you're on TECO gas, we tap into your existing natural gas line. No fuel tanks to refill, no running out of fuel during a multi-day outage. If you're not on natural gas, we go with propane — a buried or above-ground tank that a propane company keeps filled. Most propane setups use a 500-gallon tank, which gives you roughly a week of runtime at moderate load. I coordinate with your gas company on the line sizing and connection.
Permits, Pad, and Placement
Generator installations in Sarasota and Manatee County require both an electrical permit and sometimes a building permit for the concrete pad. The unit has to meet setback requirements — typically 5 feet from the house and 18 inches from any opening like a window or door. I handle all the permitting, pour or have the pad poured, set the generator, make all the electrical and gas connections, and schedule the final inspection. Most installs take two to three days from pad pour to final startup.
Generac, Kohler, and Briggs & Stratton
I work with the three major standby generator brands. Here's the honest breakdown:
Generac is the most popular residential generator brand in the country. They've got the widest dealer and parts network, competitive pricing, and solid WiFi monitoring through their Mobile Link app. For most homeowners, a Generac Guardian series is the right balance of price and performance.
Kohler makes a quieter, more refined unit. If your generator pad is close to your bedroom window or your neighbor's house, the noise difference matters. Kohler units tend to cost a bit more but they're built like tanks. Commercial quality in a residential package.
Briggs & Stratton offers good value in the mid-range. Their units are straightforward, parts are readily available, and the price point is competitive for homeowners on a tighter budget.
I don't push one brand over another. I'll help you pick based on your budget, your home's load, and where the unit is going to sit. All three brands make reliable units when they're properly installed and maintained.
Don't Wait for the Next Storm. Call Donny Now.
Generator demand spikes every hurricane season and lead times stretch to months. The best time to install is before you need it. Free estimates — I'll do the load calculation, recommend a unit, and give you a price. Call (941) 539-8892.
