What to know first
The choice of standby generator for a Vermont property turns on the list of loads it must carry, the fuel available at the property, and the transfer equipment that connects it; the brand matters less than who services it locally.
How Generac, Kohler and Briggs & Stratton differ
Generac is the largest home standby maker in the United States and sells through a large network of authorized dealers. Its air-cooled Guardian line covers roughly 10 to 26 kilowatts and suits most houses on an essential-loads or whole-house basis, while its liquid-cooled units start higher and are aimed at large or all-electric homes. It supports remote monitoring through its own app, and in much of Vermont that dealer network is the reason a Generac is the unit most local electricians are set up to service.
Kohler-branded home generators are built by Rehlko, the company Kohler Energy was renamed in 2024, so the name on the enclosure and the name on the warranty paperwork can differ. The line is known for its air-cooled units in the mid-teens to mid-twenties of kilowatts and for quieter operation claims, and the sensible check is which local dealer stocks parts and does the annual service.
Briggs & Stratton went through Chapter 11 in 2020 and its assets were bought by KPS Capital Partners, so continuity of warranty support and parts is a fair question to put to any dealer quoting one. Ask which specific standby line is being quoted, whether it is still sold, and who will service it in year five.
Across all three, the fuel matters as much as the maker: natural gas needs a utility connection at the property, and propane needs a tank whose size sets how many days of running you get. Where propane is the fuel, the tank size is a decision to make with the load list, not an afterthought.
What actually decides the choice
6 factors decide the outcome for standby generators, roughly in order of how much each affects a Vermont property.
What actually decides the choice, factor by factor
The factors for standby generators, in order of how much each tends to affect a Vermont property.
| Factor | Why it decides the outcome |
|---|---|
| What you are actually backing up | An essential-loads system covering heat, well, refrigeration and communications is a different machine from one carrying an all-electric house through a multi-day outage. Decide the load list before comparing models. |
| Fuel available at the property | Natural gas, propane and diesel change siting, tank requirements, running cost and refuelling during a long outage. In much of this region propane is the practical option and the tank is a separate cost. |
| Who services it locally | A standby generator is a maintained machine, not an appliance. Local parts availability and a servicing dealer within reasonable distance matter more over ten years than the initial specification. |
| Transfer equipment | Whole-home automatic transfer and essential-loads transfer are different installations. This choice often affects total cost more than the generator model. |
| Noise and siting constraints | Clearance from openings, setbacks, neighbours and snow all constrain placement, and placement drives trenching and conductor runs. |
| Monitoring and maintenance plans | Remote monitoring and a servicing agreement are ongoing commitments. Compare what is included in year one against year three. |