How to Install an Emergency Generator

Select the type of generator that you would like to use. A portable generator can be good for small appliances that don't require much energy, and for moving around, but it is not capable enough to run a full home. Thus you should rely on backup generators, which, as of 2010, cost between $8,000 and $14,000. Most offer the ability to be fueled by natural gas lines, and others use liquid propane vapors as their power source.

Determine the appropriate place for your generator. It should be an area on your own property that's not too far from your home, and yet far enough that noise will not disturb you or your neighbors. You will also need to ensure the ground in your location is level and capable of being modified.

Dig up the area you selected using a shovel. Remove all grass in the area and cover the bare dirt with stone dust, tamping the area down afterward.

Roll the generator out unto the area designated. Usually you will be able to place sturdy cylindrical pipes or other material as rollers between the generator's platform and slide the machine onto them, and then remove them afterward to let the generator stand alone.

Wire the transfer switch into your home's breaker box, attaching the switch to the important circuits of the home (such as the kitchen outlet where the refrigerator is plugged in). When the power outage strikes, the wired outlets will still have power from the generator, but everything else will not work, so be sure you choose wisely.

Hook up the fuel source to the emergency generator. You can either connect the generator's fuel line to the natural gas line on your property or use an external natural gas storage. You will likely need more professional help for tapping into your home's existing gas line, but this option will require no extra space, unlike fuel storage.