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home generators

Kohler standby generator installation in Friday Harbor

Automatic backup power that runs for days, not hours. Pair it with a home battery and it runs less, burns less fuel, and stays quiet through the night.

We size, permit, install and connect Kohler home generators in Friday Harbor and across the San Juan Islands, with our own licensed electricians start to finish.

WE INSTALL KOHLER STANDBY GENERATORS
Kohler Standby Generators
POWER BACK IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS

When the grid drops, the automatic transfer switch disconnects your home from the utility and the generator takes over. No extension cords, no pull-starts, nobody has to be home.

RUNS AS LONG AS THE OUTAGE

On natural gas or propane, a standby generator keeps going through multi-day windstorm and snow outages: heat, well pump, sump pump, freezer and fridge, internet and medical equipment.

TWO WARRANTIES BEHIND IT

A Kohler factory warranty of at least 7 years on the generator, plus our own 1-year workmanship warranty on the installation.

Why Homeowners here buy a generator

Northwest outages aren't usually short. Windstorms bring trees down onto lines, and crews can take days to reach every road. In the December 17, 2025 windstorm, more than 140,000 PSE customers lost power at the peak.
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A battery handles most short outages beautifully. A generator is what keeps a home running when the outage outlasts the battery, especially in winter, when solar can't refill it.

Heat in a winter outage

Keep the furnace, heat pump, or boiler running so the house and the pipes stay warm.
Water and drainage

Well pumps and sump pumps don't stop when the power does. Neither should they.
Food and medicine

Fridge, freezer, and medical equipment that can't wait for the line crew.
Work and family

Internet, lights, cooking and laundry, so the house works like normal.
Rural and island homes

Long lines and ferry-dependent repairs mean longer outages. Propane works anywhere.
When you're away

It starts on its own, and Kohler's OnCue app lets you check on it from your phone.
Generator + battery

Better Together: The Battery Runs the house, the generator refills it

On its own, a generator runs nonstop for the whole outage, even at 2 a.m. when the house needs almost nothing. Paired with a home battery, the system works in shifts instead.

1 · THE GRID GOES DOWN
Battery takes over instantly
No flicker, no noise. Short outages end here and the generator never starts.
2 · Battery Gets Low
Generator starts automatically
The battery system signals the Kohler to start at a level you choose.
3 · GENERATOR WORKS HARD
Powers the home and recharges the battery
Running at a solid, efficient load instead of idling along.
4 · BATTERY IS FULL
Generator shuts off
The battery carries the house again, quietly, often through the night. Repeat until the grid is back.
LESS FUEL, FEWER RUN HOURS

A generator burns fuel just to keep its engine turning, so it's least efficient when it's lightly loaded. Running it in shorter, harder sessions to fill the battery gets more electricity out of every gallon of propane or therm of gas, and puts fewer hours on the engine.

QUIET NIGHTS

Set the generator to run during the day and let the battery handle the evening. Your neighbors, and your sleep, will thank you.

A RIGHT-SIZED BATTERY

You don't need a battery big enough to ride out a three-day storm. The generator covers the long haul, so the battery can be sized for everyday use and short outages.

Batteries we pair with kohler generators

Both battery systems below have generator control built in, so the battery tells the Kohler when to start and stop.

FranklinWH
built-in generator control
The aGate's generator module starts and stops the generator based on battery level, can schedule run times, and runs the generator's weekly exercise for you. Set it once in the FranklinWH app.
Enphase
built-in generator control
The IQ System Controller 3G connects a compatible standby generator to IQ batteries and solar, all managed in the Enphase app. Great with Enphase solar.
LOOKING AT BATTERIES TOO?
OPALCO member? A battery covers short outages without starting the generator. Ask us about battery options for island homes.

generator, battery, or both?

Generator Only
Switchover
About 10 seconds
Multi-day outages
Yes, as long as fuel lasts
Noise
Runs the whole outage
Fuel Use
Highest
Everyday Value
Outages only
Battery Only
Instant
Limited without sun
Silent
None
Stores solar
Both Together
Instant
Yes
Silent most of the time
Lower: runs only to recharge
Both

how it works with swiftwater

1
A free estimate by phone or email

We look at your home's loads, your fuel (natural gas or propane), and whether a battery makes sense, before anyone visits.

2
Sized to your home

Essentials or whole home. We pick the Kohler model and transfer switch to match, not the biggest one on the truck.

3
Permits and installation

Pad, generator, transfer switch,
wiring and inspection, handled by our own licensed electricians. Gas or propane hookup coordinated.

4
Startup and app setup

We test a real outage, set the battery start and stop levels if you have one, and connect the monitoring app.

Generator Questions

What size generator do I need?

It depends on what you want running. Kohler's air-cooled home models come in 14, 20 and 26 kW. A 14 kW often covers essentials; larger homes with heat pumps, electric ranges or shops may need more. We size it from your actual loads.

Natural gas or propane?

Either. If you have natural gas service, that's usually simplest. Propane works anywhere, including the San Juan Islands and rural properties, with a tank sized for how long you want to run.

I already have a battery. Can I add a generator?

 Usually, yes. FranklinWH and Enphase systems have built-in generator controls. Tell us what you have and we'll explain the options.

I already have a generator. Should I add a battery?

If outages are common where you live, a battery covers the short ones silently and cuts generator run time on the long ones. Ask us about battery options for OPALCO homes.

Does the generator need maintenance?

It runs a short self-test on a schedule to keep the engine ready, and it needs periodic oil and filter service like any engine. The OnCue app alerts you if something needs attention.

How loud is it?

Kohler's home generators are enclosed and sound-dampened, and the weekly exercise runs quietly. Paired with a battery, the generator also runs far fewer hours during an outage.

Keep The Power on this storm season

Contact us to schedule a time. We'll talk through your home, your fuel, and whether a generator, a battery, or both makes the most sense.

PREFER TO TALK? CALL 360-622-7376
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Swiftwater electric and solar

Solar, Batteries, EV Chargers, and electrical services across Washington. in business since 2005.
WA Contractor Reg #SWIFTEI802K2
Bellingham
2795 E Bakerview Rd #14
Bellingham, WA 98226
360-305-3518
San Juan Islands
50 MalcoLm St. #614
Friday harbor WA 98250
360-622-7376