Table Of Content
Liquid-cooled generators tend to work best, particularly if you live in an area that often reaches temperatures of over 100 degrees, because they are much less likely to overheat. You should expect to pay between $1,500 and $7,500 for a whole house generator, including installation. The exact price will come down to what features you’re looking for and the cost of installation labor in your area. The Briggs & Stratton 12,000 Watt Generator packs quite the punch for a narrow footprint unit and ships at a solid price. Though one of the smallest generators on our best-of list, this product delivers a solid 12,000 watts and comes in as one of the best ranked generators by customer reviews.
Best Reviews: Generac Guardian 3-Phase 20kW Automatic Standby
Our generator buying guide can help you select the style that’s right for you. Our generator ratings include portable and inverter models in addition to home standby generators. CR members can read on for reviews of the best home standby generators in our ratings. If, for example, you wanted to power a window air conditioning unit, your immersion water heater and a microwave, you’d need a generator with a 10,000-watt output to be safe. You’ll want to assess your power demands to choose the ideal transfer switch for your whole house generator. The size of your generator dictates the transfer switch capacity you’ll require.
Solar
One of the best standby generators with about 20 to 24 kW can power most of a home’s appliances and costs $5,000 to $6,500. Another option is the portable generator, which can range in power from about 1 to 7.5 kW. These are less expensive but are limited to powering a couple of lights and appliances—they will keep the most basic electrical items running but won’t power the whole home. Generally, propane-powered home generators have short runtimes, which is not surprising since propane has far lower Btus than gasoline and thus provides less power. But we have seen reports of up to 8 hours runtime on propane (the manual specifies 5 hours) with this dual-fuel whole house generator, which also runs on gasoline. Its 10,500 watts should be more than sufficient to run a central air conditioner, as well as a refrigerator, so you can feel more confident about keeping your perishables cold.
Generac Air-Cooled Standby Generator
Unlike other generators on this list, you can operate this one on three different types of fuel. This Champion generator model delivers maximum power output when fueled with gasoline. It can produce up to 10,000 peak watts and 8,000 running watts using gasoline.
The best solar generators in 2024, tested by editors - CNN Underscored
The best solar generators in 2024, tested by editors.
Posted: Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
A Word About Wattage
Choosing the right whole house generator based on your budget involves careful consideration of your power needs and available options. While these generators offer excellent backup power solutions, your choice should align with your financial constraints. When you’ve determined what power level you need from your whole house generator, you should consider whether you want an air-cooled or liquid-cooled system. An air-cooled generator either passively uses the surrounding air to cool the engine or relies on a fan to maintain temperature. It’s important for a homeowner to ask a potential contractor some questions before hiring them. As always, homeowners will want to ask about licensing and insurance (and the licensing and insurance of any subcontractors or workers who are expected to take part in the project).
Warranty (20%)
Installing a transfer switch for a whole house generator costs $2,000. The cost range for installing a transfer switch starts at $1,435 and ranges up to $2,565. The price range for diesel-powered whole house generators is from $2,540 to $17,200.
To find the best generator for you, start by identifying the main purpose of your generator. From there, you can determine the necessary wattage and the fuel source that best works for you. Need to transport a generator you've purchased or rented to your home or job site?
Champion Power Equipment 10000-Watt Tri-Fuel Portable Generator
The Generac Guardian 20kW is a heavy-duty home backup generator with remote monitoring. Like the other Generac model on this list, it has a comprehensive five-year warranty and runs quiet self-tests to ensure peace of mind during a power outage. The price range for solar whole house generators is from $2,000 to $25,000. Ditch the hassle of pulling the string to start the generator and buy one that has an electric start. All generators mentioned on our list give you the option to choose between natural gas and liquid propane as fuel. The Generac 7210 is one of Generac’s reliable guardian series models that offer automatic power back up when you lose power in your home.
The disadvantages of natural gas are that it’s less energy-efficient than propane and will therefore produce less power and that the generator remains dependent on the gas grid for backup power. Many generator manufacturers have online wattage calculators to help you determine what size generator is the best fit for your home. You can also calculate this number yourself by finding the wattage rating label on each of your essential appliances. Many appliances will be labeled with “starting watts” and “running watts.” The former is the power draw when the appliance first turns on, while the latter is the draw once it’s running. A transfer switch, connected to your home's power box, automatically changes the power source from the electric utility to your backup. The system is designed to detect when the generator starts so your home can use its energy.
Generally, natural gas and propane are considered cleaner-burning sources of fuel and provide on-demand sources of power. Generators only operate outdoors, so it’s not surprising that they’ll need a little maintenance periodically. At the cost of $80 to $300, annual maintenance will keep a generator in excellent condition. A standby generator will monitor and maintain itself by running several times a week and reporting back any potential problems.
When you maintain your own home office, your income is dependent on keeping that office up and running, even during power outages. Maintenance for a whole house generator costs an average of $220 per service call. A transfer switch is required when connecting the whole house generator to the main utility line. This switch allows for a smooth transfer from utility power to independent power. Choose what your power needs are from the list below or select whole house if you want everything to run at the same time during a power outage.
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