Frequently asked questions

Both make well-regarded home standby generators. The right fit depends on the size of the home, what you want backed up, your fuel source and your budget. We’ll walk through the options with you.

It depends on which circuits and appliances you want powered, from essentials only to the whole house. We size the unit after looking at your electrical panel and loads.

Most installations require permits and inspections from the local jurisdiction. We handle the permitting as part of the job.

Home standby generators typically run on natural gas or LP-gas (propane). We’ll confirm what’s available at your home and run the fuel line.

Generators need periodic maintenance like oil, filters and battery checks. Kelm offers Gold (two visits a year) and Silver (one visit a year) maintenance plans, plus a Mobile Link monitoring plan that includes Silver.

It depends on the site, the permit timeline and equipment availability. The on-site work is usually the shortest part; permits, inspections and utility or gas coordination take longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeline for your home.

No. Standby generators run on natural gas or LP-gas. If your home doesn’t have natural gas service, an LP-gas tank is a common option, and we’ll help you plan it.

In flood-prone areas, raising the unit helps keep it above water. Whether your site needs a stand, and how high, depends on your property and local requirements.

Usually, yes. Older panels sometimes need work first, which we can evaluate during the site visit.

Online calculators are a starting point, but they can’t see your panel, your motor loads or your gas meter. An on-site review avoids surprises.

Load management lets a smaller generator cover more of the home by temporarily shedding big loads, like a second AC unit, when demand gets high. Whether it fits depends on your home.

Yes. A generator needs enough gas volume and pressure at full load. Sometimes the utility needs to upgrade the meter; we’ll flag that early.

Call us at 409-316-9834 and we’ll explain how we handle site visits and quotes for your project.

Manual switches are common with portable generators. A standby generator is normally paired with an automatic switch so it works without you being home.

It should be inspected as part of regular generator maintenance, including a test under load.

Yes. We can inspect and service existing Generac and Kohler systems; call to describe your equipment.

Don’t operate the system. Have it inspected before it’s energized again.

Natural gas is convenient where available because it doesn’t need refilling. LP-gas works anywhere but needs a tank sized for how long you want to run. We’ll help you weigh it.

It depends on the generator, how many hours you want to run and how often the tank can be refilled. We’ll talk through realistic run times.

We help coordinate when a meter upgrade or new service is needed.

Leave the area, avoid switches and flames, and call your gas utility or 911 from a safe place.

It depends on the code. Some are maintenance reminders; others shut the unit down to protect it. Call us with the code and we’ll tell you what it means and whether to leave it off.

No. We service Generac and Kohler standby generators whether or not Kelm installed them.

That depends on the unit’s age, registration and the manufacturer’s warranty terms. As a certified dealer we can check coverage and help with the claim.

Yes. We send technicians during storms and outages as soon as it’s safe to travel; during a hurricane, road and weather conditions set the timing. The best protection is a tune-up before the season starts.

Common reasons are weak batteries, missed maintenance, fuel-supply issues and pests or debris in the enclosure. Regular maintenance and monitoring catch most of these early.

Gold includes two maintenance visits a year; Silver includes one. Both follow the same checklist, and both are available for air-cooled and liquid-cooled generators.

The service agreement is valid for one year. You can choose auto-renewal so it renews automatically, or renew it yourself.

If you choose it, your agreement and selected services renew automatically each year and the card on file is charged. It applies until you cancel in writing before the renewal date.

Maintenance already due when you enroll isn’t part of the plan and is scheduled separately. Your included maintenance starts with the next annual service cycle.

The plan is a maintenance agreement. If we find something that needs repair, we explain it before doing any extra work. Monitoring plan customers get fault visits without a service call fee.

It depends on your generator type and the package you choose. Call 409-316-9834 for plan details.

Kelm is notified and sends a technician out to correct the issue. Monitoring plan customers aren’t charged a service call fee for that visit.

We get to monitored customers as quickly as we safely can. During a hurricane or widespread outage, safety and road conditions decide timing, which is why the yearly maintenance visit matters so much.

The monitoring plan includes the Silver Package: one maintenance visit a year with the full checklist. If your generator is already due for service when you enroll, that visit is scheduled separately, and included maintenance starts with the next annual cycle.

Monitoring plans run for a 12-month term, paid yearly in full or monthly for 12 months. If you cancel before the term ends, the rest of the term is due. Ask us about optional auto-renewal.

Yes. A Mobile Link LTE device may be needed. If so, it’s a one-time addition and the device is yours to keep.

On Wi-Fi, your router and internet need power too. An LTE device connects over the cellular network instead. We’ll recommend what fits your setup.

Our monitoring plan uses Generac Mobile Link. We can still help Kohler owners get OnCue connected; call and tell us about your unit.

General home inspections often note that a generator exists and may check that it starts. A generator-focused inspection looks deeper at the controller, battery, engine and transfer switch.

Yes, and please don’t try to start it first. Water can damage the engine, controller and transfer switch.

Generac and Kohler. For other brands, call and ask.

Someone needs to give us access to the unit and the transfer switch. We’ll arrange it with you.

Late spring is ideal, ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season. If a storm is already forecast, call anyway and we’ll do what we can.

It covers the same core service, timed for storm season and focused on outage readiness. On a maintenance plan, it’s typically one of your scheduled visits.

A standby generator is designed to run automatically during outages. Keep the area around it clear, and follow local guidance on evacuation and flooding.

If water reaches the unit, leave it off once power returns and have it inspected before use.

Neither is better for everyone. Both are established brands; the better choice is the model that fits your home, fuel and budget.

Generators and transfer switches are typically matched within a brand, so switching usually means replacing more than the generator.

Yes. Kelm installs and services both Generac and Kohler standby generators.

The manufacturers publish current specifications and warranty details on their websites; we’ll go through the relevant ones with you.

In most cases a standby generator should stay in automatic mode. If flooding is expected to reach the unit or you’re evacuating, ask us about your situation.

Run time depends on fuel supply and load. Natural gas units can run as long as gas service continues; LP-gas run time depends on tank size.

Yes. Long runs use up oil life quickly. Call us to schedule service after extended use.

Installs take planning, permits and inspections, so it’s rarely possible on short notice. Plan ahead.

Financing is through Synchrony, subject to credit approval.

Terms are set by Synchrony based on your application. Apply online or ask us when you call.

Use the Synchrony apply link on this page, or call Kelm at 409-316-9834 and we’ll point you to it.

No. Financing is optional.