Whole house generators

[turd]

Those of you that have one, what brand? How did you choose? What considerations do I need to worry about? How far from house, what side of house, did you shade it or screen it? How often do you check it, etc., etc.? Looking at doing this, would run on natural gas with an auto on/off. So much to consider, but brand is a big deal because I want someone local to be able to install and service it when/if needed.

 

[hittman]

Generac brand around here. A family member owns a local HVAC business but I dont own one.

 

[Watertender]

Generac is a good brand. Get one with enough amperage to run the entire house with a transfer switch for the whole panel. Locate it close to the gas meter and incoming wiring by the electric meter.
The one I have runs 12 minutes every week and the transfer time from the utility power dropping out to the generator starting is under 15 seconds.
I put it in myself in 2010 because I could be stuck at work for several days in an emergency and my 1st wife didn't drive. My current wife has medical needs where a generator is almost mandatory to have.
Ours is a 10KW model that runs most of the house. I backfed 2 circuits out of the double pole 40 amp stove circuit into 2 single pole 15 amp breakers so our neighbors can plug in some essential things if they need to.

 

[Dan in MI]

When I looked into the biggest unknown hit was upgrading my gas meter size to accommodate the genny, furnace, water heater, and stove. Added nearly $1000 to the quote.

I'm still running my 12000Watt portable.

 

[kentucky yeti]

Those of you that have one, what brand? How did you choose? What considerations do I need to worry about? How far from house, what side of house, did you shade it or screen it? How often do you check it, etc., etc.? Looking at doing this, would run on natural gas with an auto on/off. So much to consider, but brand is a big deal because I want someone local to be able to install and service it when/if needed.

We have a 24k Generac. Nationwide chain, so service shouldn't be an issue. Mine is 100 feet or so from my house, but that is where my 400 amp service is. I poured a pad 3' from my service. The Generac starts automatically for a self-test every Friday afternoon. I didn't fence or shade it. Generally, generators are installed close to your meter with a transfer box mounted by the meter connection. If you try to run everything in your house with it, they are gas hogs.

 

[Mobuck]

If I was going to install a 'whole house' sized genset, it would be a Generac with the automatic switch from line voltage to generator. Fueled from the 500 gallon LP tank that runs our 'auxillary' needs (kitchen range and wall heaters) it would run for a long time if necessary.
At this point, I'm NOT going to do that. What I am going to do when things get sorted out from all the fire loss claims is buy a bigger portable generator than I have now. My current one is not big enough to run the 'whole house' and is fueled by refillable bottles(20# and 100#).
Many/most of the hard wired whole house generators have a periodic run that assures it will go when needed.
How far from the house? At least 30' if possible but depends on whether you can live with a bit of noise during a power outage. I'd rather have it close enough to know it hasn't been carried off by a looter.
Location? Not under a tree, roof overhang, or where water might pool in a heavy downpour. Most have a hard shell weather resistant cover but I'm guessing snow would filter in if located where drifting might occur. The closer to the power entrance panel, the better. As yeti said, demanding that 'whole house' power will use lots of fuel.
We've been w/o power several times over the years. It's not difficult to rotate things like fridges and freezers to maintain cold while always having heat. Which brings up another question: do you have electric heat? If so, that changes the power demand entirely. Our heat is a very low electric energy draw which is one reason our generator size requirement is fairly low.

 

[turd]

Heat and cooktop are NG, thus the NG generator idea, I wouldn't have to worry about fuel. I am learning so much here about this, wow. This my wife's real idea, we sold her land, so she wants this backup permanently. We are still discussing this. We really don't have a place near the electric meter, for instance.
We really don't live in a place where power losses are all that common or last that long, but we almost never go out to eat, so there are 2 refrigerators and a small freezer which we would like to keep going if things go bad. There was an ice storm here about 7 years ago where power was out in the whole area for 2 or 3 days, I think. Lines down all over. We lived really close to a power distribution pole, and had our own short connection, so we did have power through that.
Thank you for the replies, it really helps.

 

[Conman]

We have a Generac. We had it installed in 2007 after being out of power due to an ice storm for eight days. It runs on a four cylinder Mitsubishi car engine. It is installed near the house on concrete, feeds from LP tank and comes on automatically after 15 seconds. We have a company do PM annually just before Winter. Finding a reliable maintenance company has been tough. The last one FORGOT us two different years! We just signed with another one this year! No major issues.

 

[Threespears]

I have a KOHLER 20kw generator.
I have installed over 100 generators since Y2K.
While Generac is a decent unit, I think that Kohler is a better overall unit.
The Generac is less money than the Kohler.
However I feel it is worth it to me to spend my money on the Kohler
FWIW,

 

[Conman]

I have a KOHLER 20kw generator.
I have installed over 100 generators since Y2K.
While Generac is a decent unit, I think that Kohler is a better overall unit.
The Generac is less money than the Kohler.
However I feel it is worth it to me to spend my money on the Kohler
FWIW,

Thank you for the info.

 

[Jeepnik]

I went with Generac for both generator and ATS (automatic transfer switch). I'd have to look at the log to see how many times it's kicked in, but so far no issues.

 

[Johnnu2]

We almost never have power outages here; however, many of my neighbors put in transfer switches but they use "portable" whole house generators....not sure why. I do know that our town requires a "building dept" permit to install a natural gas generator so maybe that's why many went with portable (they don't realize yet that they may not be able to move those babies out of their garage(s) or sheds without help most are over 70. Personally, I just keep two small portables (35 lbs); a Honda and a Champion dual fuel. Over the past 15 years, I think I used the Honda a total of 30 hours run time; the Champion never. I do have a small transfer switch to run our hot air (110 v) furnace if we lose power in the winter (never so far).
J.

 

[blume357]

I would research the installation company... I have a customer who is getting her second one.. the first one broke and was going to cost about as much to fix as a new install...this was partially because she did not keep up the maintenance on it. But what impressed me with the company she has chosen is they are connected via the internet to the ones they install and will know not only when the power goes out and the generator comes on but if there is an issue with it and will send someone out to repair it even before you call them. She said they had about 200 installed here in my area when Helene hit and something like 16 or 20 had problems and all but one they had up and running by the first afternoon.

What I have is a Champion "portable" one that will take me abut 10 minutes to hook up and get running. It is on wheels but weighs in at I think about 300lbs and so is semi-portable. It is made in China. (spit)... but it's what I could find at a price I could afford .... is only 7,000 kilo watts but ran out house during Helene and this included two mini-splits, a refrigerator and a freezer and most lights... actually also two small refrigerators too. (one for cheese and the other for beer).... as for the transfer switch... how hard is it to just throwthe main disconnect on the breaker panel and feed the generator through a separate breaker rated for the max it can produce? Of course you need a serious extension cord and plug to do this with.

 

[lipofsky]

Regardless of which Generator you get have the hook-up to the house installed by a licensed electrician. Insurance company did spot check and saw generator. Wanted to see installation order and electricians license or they would cancel.
i had an electrician install the hook-up with a Manual lock-out. Insurance company happy and said thank you.

 

[Kevin]

Kohler is a good brand. Doesn't Home Depot sell the Generac brand? I think they do down in Galveston anyway. They would be able to service it if they do sell them at least.

 

[eveled]

We instal Generac. I only do gas or propane piping. Nobody ever complains about Generac. They are usually less than 10 feet from the house.

 

[Dan in MI]

It's funny what drives the need for people. I've been in my house since '85. Back then the only time you even saw a generator was on a jobsite.

I came home one day back then and the garage door didn't open. I got out of the truck and heard a generator. Then I realized it was more than one. I counted five. That was a big clue back in that era.

Until about 2010 we lost power over 25 times a year. From hours to 3 or 4 days. The worst was winter of '90. 12 days.

Roughly 2010 they upgraded the lines and it dropped to about 10 times average. A few years later another upgrade and now we are at about 5-7 a year but nothing more than 48 hours.

My genny is mounted inside the garage with the exhaust going outside using an automotive exhaust. Quiet for the neighbors but not me.

I've spent $2600 In generators since '85.

 

[gunzo]

I guess when I win the lotto will I'd think about a whole house gen set. Likely never I'd want to use a blow dryer & run a toaster oven at the same time.
A bit of thought of what ya really need might be the diff between a whole house for 15K vs, a perfectly adequate stand by for half or less. Giving basic electrical needs without being able to run the jacuzzi, the sauna, & the pool pump at the same time

 

[kentucky yeti]

I guess when I win the lotto will I'd think about a whole house gen set. Likely never I'd want to use a blow dryer & run a toaster oven at the same time.
A bit of thought of what ya really need might be the diff between a whole house for 15K vs, a perfectly adequate stand by for half or less. Giving basic electrical needs without being able to run the jacuzzi, the sauna, & the pool pump at the same time

My whole house gen cost $7400 installed back in July. I bought it at a lumber store ($5800) and brought it home. 24k Generac with transfer. If you hire a "pro installer" around here they charge the same as the cost of your generator. I did all the basic install stuff and just hired an electrician to break the meter seal (misdemeanor here if you aren't a registered electrician with the electric company co-op) to actually wire in the transfer breaker box and run that wire to the generator.

 

[Bad Barlow]

My whole house gen cost $7400 installed back in July. I bought it at a lumber store ($5800) and brought it home. 24k Generac with transfer. If you hire a "pro installer" around here they charge the same as the cost of your generator. I did all the basic install stuff and just hired an electrician to break the meter seal (misdemeanor here if you aren't a registered electrician with the electric company co-op) to actually wire in the transfer breaker box and run that wire to the generator.

I used to run a whole house gen but 3 years ago I went solar with 2 batteries, best thing I ever did. Zero maintenance, saves me money, silent ,I never even know the power has gone out.