Last reviewed: November 2026
You have decided a standby generator is worth having. Maybe it was the next hot summer evening with the grid under strain, maybe it was a storm that left a neighbor in Keller or Plano without power for days. Now you are looking at the part nobody warns you about: choosing who sells it, installs it and looks after it. In DFW there are a lot of companies that will say yes.
The short answer is that a good Generac dealer in DFW passes six checks you can run yourself in about an hour: it appears in Generac’s dealer locator, it holds an active Texas electrical contractor license, it pulls the permit under that license, it can show proof of insurance, it can tell you its dealer tier and how many factory-trained technicians stand behind it, and it has a clear plan for service after the install.
This guide is for homeowners comparing dealers and installers for a Generac home standby generator in Tarrant, Dallas, Collin and Denton counties. It explains the words dealers use, Generac’s dealer tiers and the six-step checklist. Each step ends with a plain line on where HomeSafe stands, so you can run the same checks on HomeSafe before anyone else. It does not cover portable generators, and commercial projects are handled under the Texxas Power name.
Dealer, installer, electrician: what is the difference?
These words get used as if they mean the same thing. They do not.
- A Generac dealer is a company in Generac’s dealer program. It can sell, install and service Generac units and deal with the factory directly.
- An installer is any company that puts a generator in. Some are dealers. Some are independent contractors who install Generac units without being part of the program.
- A licensed electrical contractor is the company Texas requires for the electrical side of the job. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) says non-exempt electrical work must be performed through a licensed electrical contractor (TDLR electricians page).
The best companies are all three. The difference shows up later, at warranty and service time.
The tiers of Generac dealership, in plain language
Generac does not treat every dealer the same. Its dealer tiers page describes five levels. In summary, from the highest level down:
- Prestige. Added in 2025. Generac describes it as the level for dealers that meet its highest standards for certification, customer satisfaction and service commitment. The page does not give a technician count.
- Premier. Sales, installation and service from purchase through long-term maintenance. The dealer must employ at least four factory-trained service technicians.
- Elite+. At least two factory-trained technicians with expertise in liquid-cooled generators, 24/7 customer support for emergencies, and a broader parts inventory.
- Elite. Installation and basic service, with at least one factory-trained technician and essential maintenance parts in stock.
- Select. Authorized to sell generators. Not every Select dealer installs or services units, so confirm that before you buy.
Generac can change these requirements, so read the page itself. A tier is a statement about training and capacity, not a promise about how a company treats you, so read the reviews too. HomeSafe has a 5.0 rating across 200+ Google reviews, all on the reviews page; read them for anyone else you are considering too. And if a dealer will not tell you its tier, that is useful information.
HomeSafe is a Generac PowerPro Premier dealer, which is the tier that requires at least four factory-trained service technicians. PowerPro Premier applies to Generac only. For Kohler and Champion, HomeSafe is a dealer and installer, which is a different kind of status with its own rules.
The six-step checklist
Run these in order. None of them needs more than a phone call or a website.
Step 1: Find the company in Generac’s dealer locator
Start with Generac’s own dealer locator. Search your zip code and see whether the company appears. A company that says it is a Generac dealer should be easy to find there. If it is not listed, ask why before going any further.
Where HomeSafe stands: HomeSafe is a Generac PowerPro Premier dealer, and you can look it up in the locator the same way.
Step 2: Check the Texas electrical contractor license
Every standby generator is wired into your home through a transfer switch, and that is electrical work. Look the company up on TDLR’s license search. You want an active Electrical Contractor license in the company’s name, not only in an individual’s name.
Where HomeSafe stands: the work runs under Texas Electrical Contractor License #41809, and you can check it yourself.
Step 3: Ask who pulls the permit
Almost every standby generator in DFW needs a permit, and the rules differ city by city. In most cities the licensed contractor pulls the electrical permit, so the permit should carry the contractor’s name and license number, not yours. Ask for the permit number once it is issued. The guide to generator permits in DFW explains how permit review differs from city to city.
Where HomeSafe stands: HomeSafe pulls the permit and schedules the inspection. Most installs are finished 3 to 5 weeks after the equipment arrives, and the work at your home usually takes one day. Permitting is the step that most often sets the pace, along with weather and the utility’s schedule.
Step 4: Ask for a certificate of insurance
Ask for a certificate of insurance and check that the company on the certificate is the company on your contract. A good contractor sends it without fuss. You need to see that coverage is in force and that the names match.
Where HomeSafe stands: HomeSafe is licensed and insured.
Step 5: Ask which tier they hold and how many technicians are factory-trained
Generac trains technicians on its own equipment, and the number of trained people tells you how deep a dealer’s bench is. Ask any dealer which tier it holds, what that tier requires, and how many of its technicians are factory-trained today. Compare the answer with the tier descriptions above.
Where HomeSafe stands: PowerPro Premier, which requires at least four factory-trained service technicians. Beyond that requirement, HomeSafe has 6 technicians and 5 service trucks covering DFW.
Step 6: Ask who services it afterward, and who registers the warranty
Read Generac’s warranty before you buy. Generac’s five-year limited warranty for air-cooled standby generators runs from successful activation of the unit. The unit has to be registered, and you need proof of purchase and proof of maintenance available. The warranty says scheduled maintenance should be done by an Authorized/Certified Generac Service Dealer, and that repairs or diagnostics by anyone else are not covered unless Generac authorizes them in writing (Generac warranty, air-cooled standby).
Where HomeSafe stands: HomeSafe is warranty-authorized for Generac, registers the warranty at startup and gives you a copy. HomeSafe services Generac units it installed and units other companies installed, plus Kohler, Champion, Briggs and Stratton, and Cummins. Every maintenance visit includes a real power outage simulation, a transfer test and not just a run test; the maintenance guide lists what a visit covers. Emergency service is available 24/7, every day including holidays. After-hours and emergency rates apply depending on the circumstances, and you are told what they are before a technician is dispatched.
Take it with you: download the six-step Generac dealer checklist (one-page PDF) to fill in while you call around.
Which brand are you shopping for? Generac, Kohler and Champion side by side
Most homeowners pick a dealer first and only then ask whether Generac is the right brand. Both questions matter. This table puts the three brands HomeSafe sells and installs next to each other. Figures are from each manufacturer’s published pages, checked October 29, 2026; the Generac Protector and Kohler 30 to 48kW figures were checked November 12, 2026. Where a maker does not publish a figure, the cell says so. There are no prices here, because the right total depends on your home.
| Generac | Kohler | Champion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Models HomeSafe installs | 18, 22, 24, 26 and 28kW air-cooled; 32, 40, 48, 60 and 80kW Protector liquid-cooled | 20, 26, 30, 38 and 48kW | 14, 22 and 26kW whole-house; 12.5kW essential-circuits |
| Natural gas output | Air-cooled: 17 to 25kW. Protector: 32 to 80kW | 18 to 48kW | 12.5 to 23.4kW (whole-house models) |
| Propane output | Air-cooled: 18 to 28kW. Protector: 32 to 75kW (the 80kW model is rated 75kW on propane) | 20 to 48kW | 14 to 26kW (whole-house models) |
| Cooling | Air-cooled to 28kW, liquid-cooled from 32kW | Air-cooled 20 and 26kW; liquid-cooled 30, 38 and 48kW | Air-cooled |
| Transfer switch | 200A switch with built-in surge protection offered as a bundle on 18 to 28kW; sold separately on Protector models | Offered separately; 20 and 26kW also come as packages that include a 200A switch | 200A automatic switch included with each whole-house model |
| Standard residential warranty, per the manufacturer | 5-year limited on air-cooled units and their transfer switch; 5-year/2,000-hour limited on Protector 32 to 80kW | 5-year/2,000-hour premium limited, covering parts, labor and travel | 10-year/2,000-hour limited on the generator (parts, labor and mileage in years 1 and 2, parts only in years 3 to 10), 2-year limited on the transfer switch, free lifetime technical support |
| Published sound, measured at 23 feet | Air-cooled 22 to 28kW: 67 dB(A) normal operation, 55 dB(A) in Quiet-Test mode | 26kW: 56 dB(A) weekly exercise, 67 dB(A) full speed. Other models publish their own figures | 14kW: 62 dB(A). 22kW: 67 dB(A). 26kW: 67 to 68 dB(A), as Champion’s page lists both |
| Usually a fit when | You want the widest size range, or a large home needs liquid-cooled power | Quiet operation, big starting loads or a tight lot matter most | Loads are moderate and a long warranty matters |
| HomeSafe’s role | PowerPro Premier dealer; warranty-authorized | Dealer and installer; warranty-authorized | Dealer and installer; warranty-authorized |
Sound figures are each maker’s own and are measured under different conditions, so treat them as a guide, not a ranking. Sources: Generac’s 22 to 28kW spec sheet and its air-cooled warranty, its Protector spec sheet and Protector warranty; Kohler’s 26RCA and 20RCA pages and its 30RCLA, 38RCLC and 48RCLC spec sheets; Champion’s 14kW and 26kW pages. For the full trade-offs, read the Generac vs. Kohler vs. Champion comparison. To see each brand’s range, see the Generac, Kohler and Champion pages.
No brand can be chosen from a table. A load calculation at your home decides, and the sizing guide explains how that works.
When another dealer, or another brand, may be the better answer
A dealer badge is a good sign. It is not a guarantee, and it is not always what you need.
- If your top priority is the quietest unit on a tight lot, a Kohler may suit you better. The Kohler installation and service guide covers the range.
- If you have moderate loads and a tighter budget, Champion is a legitimate conversation. The Champion whole-house guide explains where it fits and where it does not.
- A small local electrician with years of generator work can do careful work. The gap usually appears at warranty time, when repairs need to go through an authorized service dealer.
We would rather you pick the right fit and a company you trust than the generator we happen to sell the most of.
How an installation runs, and what the quote should cover
At HomeSafe the job runs in six steps: a sales visit, an internal review, permitting, the install, startup, and then generator school and a simulated outage so you see it work. The free estimate takes 30 to 60 minutes. The how it works page walks through each one.
Ask for a written quote that lists everything included, at one total: the equipment, transfer switch, pad, gas and electrical work, permit and startup. The guide to the anatomy of a generator quote shows what each part means. For the cost factors behind it, see home generator cost. If you want more questions to put to any installer, use questions to ask a generator installer in DFW, and for what a safe installation looks like, read safe, reliable generator installation in DFW.
What this looks like across DFW
Permit review is usually quickest in Fort Worth and Dallas and takes longer in Southlake, Flower Mound and Highland Park, so a company that has pulled permits in your city before will tell you what to expect up front. In Plano and Frisco, ask about your HOA early, because exterior equipment is often reviewed; the guide to where a standby generator can go covers HOA review.
In this series: Generac vs. Kohler vs. Champion · Kohler generators in DFW · Champion whole-house generators
Quick answers
Where can I get a Generac generator in Dallas-Fort Worth?
From a Generac dealer that holds a Texas electrical contractor license. Find dealers near you in Generac’s dealer locator, then run the license, permit and insurance checks above. HomeSafe sells, installs and services Generac generators across DFW, starting with a free in-home assessment.
How do I find an affordable generator in Dallas?
Size it correctly first. A load calculation at your home shows whether a smaller unit or an essential-circuits setup covers what you need, and size is one of the biggest drivers of the total. Then ask for a written quote that lists the equipment, transfer switch, pad, gas and electrical work, permit and startup at one total. HomeSafe also offers financing through Synchrony, with terms up to 84 months.
What are Generac’s dealer tiers, and which is HomeSafe?
Five tiers: Prestige, Premier, Elite+, Elite and Select, from the highest down. They differ mainly in technician training, emergency support and the services offered. HomeSafe is a Generac PowerPro Premier dealer, the tier that requires at least four factory-trained service technicians.
Is every company that installs Generac generators a Generac dealer?
No. Some independent contractors install Generac units without being in the dealer program. Check the dealer locator, and ask who will handle warranty service.
Do I need a licensed electrician to install a standby generator in Texas?
Yes. TDLR requires the connection to your home’s electrical system to be performed through a licensed electrical contractor.
Can I use a different company for service than the one that installed it?
Yes. HomeSafe services units installed by other companies. Under Generac’s warranty, scheduled maintenance should still be done by an Authorized/Certified Generac Service Dealer, so ask before you switch.
Does a dealer tier tell me how good the installation will be?
No. A tier shows how many factory-trained technicians a dealer has and what Generac lets it do. It says nothing about how a company treats customers, so read its reviews and run the six checks above as well.
Talk to us, or check us first
Run the checklist on HomeSafe before anyone else. A team of 6 technicians and 5 service trucks covers DFW, and emergency service is available 24/7, every day including holidays. After-hours and emergency rates apply depending on the circumstances, and you are told what they are before a technician is dispatched. For a free in-home assessment, contact us or call (817) 439-9009. You can also read about Generac installations, the generator installation process and generator service.