What to Look For in Whole House Generators

Buying Tips for Standby Generators

Whole house generators are becoming more and more popular.

They are becoming a bit more affordable; there are many brands and types to choose from and they give owners a bit more independence.

It is nice to not rely solely on commercial power to make it through natural disasters, or just regular power outages.

Perhaps it is time for you to get one as well.

The first thing to be decided when in the market for whole house generators (commonly known as a standby generator) is exactly what you want to power, in your house, in case of a power outage.

For some, a few essential appliances are enough while others may want the entire house to be powered. There are generators available for both types of people; the only difference being the cost involved.

The lower end of whole house generators, with 25kWatt output, will cost you about $7500. Calculating your need before you go to buy is very essential. Most of the houses in the United States have a 200Amp supply i.e. the house uses 200Amps at its peak.

Actual consumption at any given time is much lower than that.

A rough way of calculating would be to add up all the Amps and power wattages required by each appliance you want to power and add them up. This gives you an estimate and then you compare it to a potential generator's ability to produce.

These details are easily obtained on your devices (such as a fridge or microwave) or in the owner's manual. Whole house generators come in the range of 22 to 48kW. Pick the one closest to your power needs, but estimate a bit on the high side.

This is to ensure that you are covered should you pick up some new appliances, in the future.

The connecting of the generator is a one time job and is mostly done by the generator provider itself. It is hooked up to a power transfer switch which detects when your normal power supply is disrupted. It sends a signal to the generator to fire up.

The generator reaches its maximum speed in about a minute. Thus absolutely no human intervention is needed. Kind of nice!

Once your power need is calculated, the next thing you need to know is the features you want in your generator. Most whole house generator manufacturers offer a slew of features in different series of generators.

For example, some offer aluminium enclosures and better acoustic insulation at a premium.

For a common household avoid three phase generators. These are only for commercial use. If your budget permits it, always opt for an 1800RPM generator over a 3600RPM generator.

The reason is simple. The lower the speed the lesser the wear and tear. Your generator will last longer. Also if the generator is to be in the open, an aluminium enclosure is preferable, as it offers better protection against the elements of nature.

Here are a couple of generators that are typical of the choices you'll have available to you:

Kohler 30Res Emergency Standby Generator:

The Kohler 30Res runs on a GM Vortec engine at 3600RPM. It churns out 27kW maximum while on natural gas.

It features both 120 and 240V single phase supply. The transfer switch is not included so you may have to figure it into your cost.

On the performance side it is a good workhorse and will last pretty long. Not a high maintenance machine.

The regular exercise can be programmed and a monthly oil and battery water level checkup is all that is required.

• Clean and powerful GM Vortec engine. Meets E.P.A specifications.
• Powerboost technology aids in starting with heavy loads.
• Faster response time ensures power in very less time.
• Quiet operation at 68dB at 23 feet.
• No transfer switch included.
• Comes with a powder coated steel enclosure.
• Rodent-proof construction
• Weighs 474 kilograms (1046 Lbs.)

Generac Quietsource 27kW Standby Power Generator:

The Generac 27kW is quite similar to the 22kW model.

It is powered by a 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder Generac engine running at 1800RPM.

It can be fueled by natural gas or propane, with the user having the option to switch.

• High quality design
• Exercises at 61dB and runs at 70dB with a load at 23 feet
• In line 4 cylinder Generac engine
• Hour meter monitors total runtime for maintenance
• Automatic shutdown in emergency cases such as high coolant temperature or low oil pressure
• High quality aluminium enclosure
• Transfer switch not included in the package

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