Standby generators
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Yes whole house . 3000 Sq feet .
From what I can tell it's gonna be around 10,000 .
I have a Generac and notice the cost changes since I had it installed has increased. Genreac is considered #1 in the world of generators. I know nothing about a Kohler but I'm sure it's just as good.
If your home is 2,500 square feet or less, a generator with 20kW should suit your backup power needs well, particularly if you have gas heat and hot water. If the range top is also gas, all the better. Any house bigger than that will need at least 25kW to 30kW.
A typical Generac generator installation can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $20,000. The larger the generator, the more expensive the installation will be. Generac home generator prices and installation cost average $8,700, but it can range from $6,500 to even $10,900 and more. Price is for a completely installed system including the generator and transfer switch.
The cost was a hell of a lot cheaper when I bought mine 12 years ago. But was one of the best investments I made for my home.
10,000 sounds about right but I would plan for a couple thousand extra just in case.
My home is mostly gas and the Gen Will be natural gas . Truly only need it for my deep freezers and lights . I've planned on one all year and figured 10g .
Started looking for a contractor and then started looking at Kohler. Both seem to be about the same in most areas except cost of operating, Kohler is cheaper to run more expensive to buy . Seems to be more generac dealers in my area.
I installed a Generac natural gas 22KW almost 2 years ago. Just under $6k in materials including the transfer switch, wiring, piping, etc., did all the install work myself. My house is about 2700 sq. ft. Two outdoor natural gas/AC HVAC package units, gas cook stove, 85 gallon gas hot water heater, natural gas BBQ. If you have any other gas appliances besides the genset you will definitely want to upgrade your meter. Mountaineer GC did it for no charge. Make sure you size your gas line to the gen set correctly and the closer to the meter the better. I put as T in right off the meter before going into the house. It's worked fine. Exercises once a week. Lost power about a year ago for almost two days in the summer. It ran both AC units with no problem. I did it for much the same reason as you, we have two full size upright freezers full of stuff plus two fridges.
Was going to do the install myself but was worried about warranty and maintenance. Not that I couldn't do it , but being home when it needed it .
I was looking at the 22 generac or the 20 Kohler. My house is truly a 1500 square foot with finished basement so it's called 3000 I'm told. Basement is nicely finished and has spare master bedroom and bar . It only gets used when I'm home .
As of right now no contractors has called back .
Most of what I post here originates from my year and a half as a Generac factory Sales Rep upwards of 20 years ago........
Generac has always dominated the home standby business, largely because of their first cost advantages over the rest of the industry.....along with their hundreds of installing dealers under the Guardian brand (which I'm not 100% sure really exists anymore). Their greatest cost advantages on the home standby side originated with the fact they manufactured their own OHC engines in-house (while everyone else bought their engines).
In those days, Kohler was generally viewed to build a genset superior in quality (and especially in reliability) to Generac; which they needed to do given Generac's far-advantaged cost structure. In fact, industry insiders often referred to Generac as "Gener-junk". But with across-the-board lower unit pricing....on a system viewed as expensive to begin with.....Generac dominated the home standby market. But, based solely on my experience alone, I'd myself would probably still focus on Kohler if I were in the market today. However, I'm honestly not sure how much of a premium I'd consider paying.
Since I left the Company, Generac's ownership team led by original founder.....Milwaukee engineering whiz (and inventor of the B&S Vanguard OHC engine) Bob Kern.....were bought out by a private equity firm in a billion dollar+ acquisition. The Company has been led by Aaron Jagdfeld, who was Controller (or possibly had been elevated to CFO before I left) during my tenure, and a guy who I thought exceptionally highly of (considering he was a Financial, rather than a Sales or Engineering, guy).
In conjunction with the new ownership, Jagdfeld has really exploded Generac's marketing....something Kern and his Engineering leadership cohorts largely ignored.....and product line. I couldn't tell you what Generac's Sales are these days, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they've fully doubled since the private equity folks took control something like 15 years ago.
Generac has always dominated the home standby business, largely because of their first cost advantages over the rest of the industry.....along with their hundreds of installing dealers under the Guardian brand (which I'm not 100% sure really exists anymore). Their greatest cost advantages on the home standby side originated with the fact they manufactured their own OHC engines in-house (while everyone else bought their engines).
In those days, Kohler was generally viewed to build a genset superior in quality (and especially in reliability) to Generac; which they needed to do given Generac's far-advantaged cost structure. In fact, industry insiders often referred to Generac as "Gener-junk". But with across-the-board lower unit pricing....on a system viewed as expensive to begin with.....Generac dominated the home standby market. But, based solely on my experience alone, I'd myself would probably still focus on Kohler if I were in the market today. However, I'm honestly not sure how much of a premium I'd consider paying.
Since I left the Company, Generac's ownership team led by original founder.....Milwaukee engineering whiz (and inventor of the B&S Vanguard OHC engine) Bob Kern.....were bought out by a private equity firm in a billion dollar+ acquisition. The Company has been led by Aaron Jagdfeld, who was Controller (or possibly had been elevated to CFO before I left) during my tenure, and a guy who I thought exceptionally highly of (considering he was a Financial, rather than a Sales or Engineering, guy).
In conjunction with the new ownership, Jagdfeld has really exploded Generac's marketing....something Kern and his Engineering leadership cohorts largely ignored.....and product line. I couldn't tell you what Generac's Sales are these days, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they've fully doubled since the private equity folks took control something like 15 years ago.
On phone, Didn’t see that. Just going to get electrician to wire up refrigerators etc
Thanks for the insight.
After watching videos of each I was leaning towards the Kohler even though it's a little more pricey to buy and install its cheaper to run and maintain. I have used the Kohler engine on jobs and welding machines with little to no problems. The problem with Kohler for me is not many dealers in my area. So it's looking like I may go with generac because of this .
After watching videos of each I was leaning towards the Kohler even though it's a little more pricey to buy and install its cheaper to run and maintain. I have used the Kohler engine on jobs and welding machines with little to no problems. The problem with Kohler for me is not many dealers in my area. So it's looking like I may go with generac because of this .
Soon as a contractor gets back ahold of me I'll be checking what all can be done and at what cost.
I have 10g burning a hole in my pocket and not counting wine,women and song I can't think of a better place to put it
Looks like you're going w/ Kohler, but I have nothing but good things to say about Generac. It came with the house so I can't say how much it cost, but I heard it was a *****, because they had to dig a trench in the backyard from the natural gas tank to where the generator was going and it was all granite and they needed to bring in a special machine.
We lose power 3-4x per winter and 2-3x per summer, and I've had no issues. Its connected right into the ConEd panel and powers up within seconds of the power going out. I wouldn't even know if the lights didn't flicker slightly. My neighbors are all bitching about the power going out when its 10 degrees outside, and we're sitting in side w/ internet, TV, etc.
I have a maintenance agreement w/ my oil company, pay less than $1k per year and have never had an issue.
I'd like to go with Kohler, don't believe I'm gonna get to because no dealers in my area. I had planned on generac until this morning when I started comparing the two . Main difference I could find was generac cheaper upfront Kohler cheaper in the long run . Kohler seems to have a better engine, so the videos say . I had two Lincoln welding machines with Kohler's and had zero problems. No experience with generac.
With the left's promise to shut down the use of carbon fuels you should prolly get an electric powered generator
Finding one to return my call would be nice .
I'm hesitant to install myself for warranty reasons and a maintenance contract. I travel a lot and don't always have time to keep up with maintenance on things that needs it . Contractors can be some phony bastards.
Generac now has a 7 year warranty.......when I got mine it was a one year. Mine had major problems in year one and year two.....cost me extra bucks because the dealer was clueless about what was wrong. Had another dealer diagnose and fix the problem and it has performed flawlessly for the last 10 years.
Knowledgeable dealers is hard to find . I don't mind paying for good service.
I can't find a Kohler dealer close to me so it's looking like a generac . I've called 3 in my area yesterday morning and haven't received a call back .
If I didn't travel I wouldn't get one . I have 2 portable generators not counting my 300amp welding machine. My wife cries about filling the portable up and running extension cords .
Are you sure you're not a ******* liberal pervert looking to suck a republicans dick.
After getting ahold of a contractor I've decided to go with a generac.
They are a Kohler and generac dealer. The lady said before "the rona" Kohler was the best of the two although generac was good Kohler was cheaper to operate after the purchase and was easier to deal with on warranty issues. Now Kohler is having major issues and fighting warranty claims.
Starting in August generac is offering a 10 year warranty for one month at no charge. Getting the 22 kw for 9600.00 installed. In today's world I don't think that's a awful price .
They are a Kohler and generac dealer. The lady said before "the rona" Kohler was the best of the two although generac was good Kohler was cheaper to operate after the purchase and was easier to deal with on warranty issues. Now Kohler is having major issues and fighting warranty claims.
Starting in August generac is offering a 10 year warranty for one month at no charge. Getting the 22 kw for 9600.00 installed. In today's world I don't think that's a awful price .
Does your home have a subpanel? I have 2,100 square feet PLUS a 1200 square foot finished basement that uses a subpanel for power. I'm not sure how a whole-home generator setup would work in that situation. I've never really looked in to it.
No it don't. Not sure but I would think it would just hook up the the main panel and the sub panel would not be fed. Worth looking into . I could have gotten by with a little smaller unit but figured I'd go next size up incase I added something. They are giving me a estimate on a duel fuel unit as well. I'm sure it will be more than I can afford but worth checking into .
I don't lose power often. Only once was it off more than a couple hours, and that was the big ice storm a few years ago. I have a 7500 running watt generator that runs what I need, but adding a stand alone would be something that a potential buyer may want if I was ever to put the house on the market.
If I was home I probably wouldn't get one . I did a little research and found it raises property value 3 to 5% . I bought the house 3 years ago and have lost power 3 times and twice for a couple days . Once the daughter had just had back surgery and once the wife just had surgery and both times I was in NJ...my camper has solar and a generator...lmao ..
I live on a rural area so I believe it's worth the investment.
That sounds like a good deal. I have two panels in my main level garage and another panel in my semi finished basement.
When they wired mine they relocated many breakers from all panels into one panel with all that I needed to be powered in a power outage.
Keep in mine you will never be using all available breakers at the same time.
My 22 K easily meets all my needs of my 3,800 finished upper two levels and my 1,800 semi-finished basement. I doubt your installer would try to power every breaker in all your panels.
I don't have near that much and if I'm not mistaken my 200amp panel is not full . So a 22k will do all I need and then some .