Whole house generator

[Popgadget]

Depends on how hard the install was. GENERAC has just increased their prices about $500 on generators, which is a joke since it takes 8 months to get one from factory.

i used to install 22kw units for between 8-10 grand depending on difficulty. There’s a lot that goes into a proper installation, including lots of driving time where I live.

the 22 with switch is around 5100 plus tax or so. I’m not selling them anymore, so this is a rough cost.

GRS is correct about the install, I already had the propane tank, and a line trenched to the generator site, as well as buried conduits and wiring, as I was replacing a unit I built over 20 years ago. Also, my price did not include a transfer switch, as I reused my old one. I was also lucky in that I bought it just before availability started to become an issue.
So $8500 is not unreasonable. You might think about a larger unit though, as the increase is not that much, the installation costs won’t change much except for a heavier gauge wire.

 

[shooterdon]

GRS is correct about the install, I already had the propane tank, and a line trenched to the generator site, as well as buried conduits and wiring, as I was replacing a unit I built over 20 years ago. Also, my price did not include a transfer switch, as I reused my old one. I was also lucky in that I bought it just before availability started to become an issue.
So $8500 is not unreasonable. You might think about a larger unit though, as the increase is not that much, the installation costs won’t change much except for a heavier gauge wire.

The issue with a larger unit is the fuel consumption. Even at idle, these things can go through a lot of propane. It was why I went with a 13 kw unit.

In order for me to pass code, I had to say I was converting from an electric stove to propane...which I intend to do someday anyway. In an emergency, I do not need both ovens and three burners on anyway.

 

[tibadoe]

Getting a 13Kw propane unit installed in a few weeks. +10 yr warranty @ $8500. For the past 10 years been using a 17.5Kw portable for outages. Only needed a few times but was glad I had it.

 

[BeezFun]

We had a Generac 22kW installed about 5 years ago, it was $8000 but there was some cost in upgrading natural gas supply. Neither our meter nor our service line were large enough to supply the added demand of the generator, but to my surprise the gas company installed both of those for free because ours was 30 years old and considered due for replacement anyway. But the installers had to run a separate gas line from one end of the house to the other because the existing house lines wouldn't support the generator. We had no end of problems with the generator after the installation, but the installation company worked with Generac to eventually resolve things. I wish they had swapped out the system after we had so many problems, but by that point they had replaced nearly every part on the thing.

 

[bill9068]

Looks like $8500 isn’t out of line in today’s market. I’ve had no issues with my generac at the log home for 12 years. I change oil every two years and battery every 3-4. Runs off a 1000 gallon propane tank. Will power the whole place including air conditioning. The install at my other house will be a bit more expensive as the generator will sit on the opposite end of the junction box. I’ll have to either bury cable or run through the attic. That proprietary cable is expensive by the foot.

 

[ededic]

We installed a 400AMP panel and an Automatic Transfer switch when we built in 2016. Not sure how much as it was part of the overall electrical package. The Automatic Transfer switch becomes your main breaker in this scenario. We then purchased the Generac 22kw unit from Northern Tool in 2019 with Free Delivery and extended 10 year warranty. We hired the local Generac dealer who lives 5 miles away to do the install roughly $2,500 including Electric, Propane connections and inspections. Service each year is $150. This panel will also provide auxiliary power to the house when built and additional backup as the main house will be primarily powered by solar.

 

[grsthegreat]

I suspect they are all about the same price but we recently installed a 20KW Kohler generator for $8,500. Even got too test it when everyone else in the area had no power after a nasty lightning storm a few weeks ago. Worked great with just a 10 second outage before it started and we had power. Ran for about an hour and 30 minutes before electric company had power back on. Propane supplied by our 250 gallon tank. Our electrician said he used to sell and install Generac but had trouble with the company honoring the warranty so switched to Kohler and not even had to try to get a warranty claim yet and that's after 2 years worth of installs. I have no idea just how many that is though but sounded good to me. Wish I had done this a year sooner before we got hit by a tornado and had no power for 2 days.

I always hear about GENERAC not honoring warranty. But personally I have never, i mean never, had them refuse a warranty issue in all the years I have installed and serviced them. Just my personal experience.

 

[grsthegreat]

The issue with a larger unit is the fuel consumption. Even at idle, these things can go through a lot of propane. It was why I went with a 13 kw unit.

In order for me to pass code, I had to say I was converting from an electric stove to propane...which I intend to do someday anyway. In an emergency, I do not need both ovens and three burners on anyway.

Maybe, maybe not. My 22 KW uses less fuel than a 16 kw does. Reason why is it does not run full out to power my house. I have real world experience with long outages and I’m on propane. I have customers on 11 KW units that are running at 80% capacity and sucking down more fuel than I am with same load but running at 40% capacity.

 

[RalphVa]

Anyone recently install a generac whole house generator. Wondering if price differs in different places. Here in southern Indiana cost about $8500 to install a 17kw.

Did with about a $10k 12.5 kw Central Maine Isuzu diesel generator in Nov 2012 and A LOT of electrician work rewiring 2 200 amp panels. One was a new Gentron panel that has 4 to 6 side boxes that only allow those breakers to come on if room on the generator. Has worked flawlessly. Had a lot of experience with a 4.4 kw generator in use to know how big the "whole house" one needed to be. Some "Whole House" (a couple) wanted to put in about 30 kw diesels. This 12.5 kw one is a little gem, only using 0.25-0.3 gph of diesel.

Going out this morning to get more diesel. The Isuzu only uses about 2.5 gallons/yr doing its 15 minutes every other week. Been using diesel from its tank for the tractor to keep its fuel refreshed.

Getting older. Prefer to fill the containers with them sitting in the pickup bed. Plan to use some jumper cables to ground each container as I fill them. Plan to put the few ounces of PS additive into each container before we leave this morning.

 

[ededic]

I always hear about GENERAC not honoring warranty. But personally I have never, i mean never, had them refuse a warranty issue in all the years I have installed and serviced them. Just my personal experience.

Removed my stipulation on warranty requiring it to be installed by a GENERAC. I have been told this is BS. So, this statement still stands: Did not know a Generac Service guy was 5 miles away until I was looking for the service.