How Much Does a Whole House Generator Cost?
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Unless you experience numerous power outages a year, you might not be willing to spring for the $10,000 or more it can cost to buy a home standby generator and have it installed. You can save thousands of dollars if you’re willing to pull your large inverter or portable generator out of a garage or shed and hook it up during the outage. You’ll still want to have a transfer switch installed and budget for that expense. If you have any of these and it’s essential for them to work in a power outage, be sure to have a transfer switch installed at your breaker box for a large portable or inverter generator.
How Much Does a Whole-House Generator Cost, and Should You Get One?
Portable generators are convenient but often need to be manually started with a pull cord. They also require refueling every 10 to 12 hours to keep running. The Wen GN6000 portable generator is durable and powerful but not as easy to transport as some of the other portable models on this list. It could work for you if you want a dual-fuel portable generator at a more affordable price.
Home generator costs by size
Portable and standby generators are good options to keep lights and appliances running during a power outage. A portable model requires you to take it out of storage, put fuel in it, and plug it into your home. You need to manually start the unit, which can take some effort, depending on the model. You need to keep an eye on the fuel level and refill the unit as needed. Depending on the fuel type, this can be dangerous because things like propane or gas should not be stored indoors. Therefore, you have the extra steps of retrieving and setting up the unit, as well as retrieving its fuel from a different source.
Whole-House Generator Installation: DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and an FHA 203k Consultant. I started PickGenerators.com to help people better understand whole-house and portable generators. The cost of installation is a cost that frustrates potential buyers. How is it possible that the generator’s cost can sometimes be equal to the cost of installing it?
Since deadly carbon monoxide is a byproduct of natural gas and propane combustion, outdoor installation is the safe choice. Generator manufacturers recommend installation at least six feet from any window or other opening such as a dryer vent or furnace air intake. Whole house generators either use liquid propane from a tank or natural gas from a utility line (or custom tank). Propane is cheaper and less contaminating, but using natural gas means you won’t have to refill a tank (although this isn’t an option if you’re looking to go off the grid). To determine how much power you’ll need for your generator, you can either use an online wattage calculator, the wattage information on your appliances or your electrical bill. We recommend multiplying the total wattage of your appliances by 1.5 to give yourself a safe margin of error.
Generator Cost by Size
You can also potentially get a capital gains or energy tax credit for a generator, depending on your region. Installing a whole-house generator is a complex project that most homeowners should leave to the pros. Installation involves complicated electrical work, and when done improperly, it can damage your city’s power lines. Extreme weather events that take down power lines are often the same events that send flood water into basements or cause groundwater to rise. Extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, blizzards, heavy rain, and intense heat can tax the power grid.
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Generator prices by fuel type
Their power output is the strongest of any other generator type, and they run on cleaner energy which makes them more efficient than propane or natural gas generators. Clean-burning liquid propane (LP) can be stored indefinitely if it’s stored properly. It can be a great option for homeowners who already have a liquid propane contract and a large tank to use with other appliances, such as a dryer or stove.
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Their costs do not include transfer switches or other parts necessary for installation. A whole house or standby generator ranges from $2,000 to $20,000 on average. They sit on their own pad and are connected to a fuel source at all times.
How Much Does A Home Generator Cost?
Large whole-house generators have an output of 10,000 watts or more, which means enough power for all your appliances. On average, they run from 140 to 200 hours on a propane tank, a shorter duration than their smaller counterparts. 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. Generac home backup generators are the most cost effective on the market.
Don't worry about having to be there to start and stop your Generac home backup generator. When budgeting for a generator, it’s helpful to consider a few factors. For instance, most whole-house generators need to sit on a concrete pad, which you’ll need to pay to install if you don’t already have one. Champion and Honda tend to offer some of the most affordable generators, while Generac generators are on the more expensive side.
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. A transfer switch that aligns with your generator’s output ensures efficient power distribution across your household circuits. If a portable generator is adequate, most homeowners can prepare the generator before an anticipated outage or get it running pretty quickly after an unanticipated one. However, a larger standby or backup generator is not a DIY installation.
The most crucial factor to consider when determining the whole house generator cost is the power capacity of the unit. Should you purchase a generator that does not meet your power requirements, it will put unnecessary stress on the unit and even cause damage to the devices connected to it. If you paid $10,000 for the generator, then the installation cost could be $7,500, that is to say if there are no electrical upgrades required before installation. Whole house generators need to connect to your home’s existing wiring. If the wiring needs to be corrected, should installing a subpanel and re-wiring be necessary, it could cost you an additional $500-$900, depending on the electrician.
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