Whole House Generator

Discussion in 'Energy & Fuel' started by Beth Gallagher, Mar 24, 2021.

  1. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    So for years after Hurricane Ike in 2008 left us without power for 2 weeks, I have been campaigning for a whole house generator. The better half was not convinced that we "need" this until February, where we were without power several miserable days in 10 degree weather. So today, we are getting our first bid on a Generac natural gas generator. I expect it will cost around $15,000 or so. (Of course, if we had gotten one in 2008 it would have been about half that much, but I'll take the high road. :D:D )

    Since our gas meter is on the opposite side of the house from the electric meter, there will be a lot of gas line to run, and my husband wants it routed underground which means tunneling under the driveway. The guy he spoke with on the phone recommended running the line up and through the attic instead. Hmmmmm. So we'll see how this discussion goes. We plan to get at least three bids on this before we take the plunge.

    Does anyone have a whole-house generator? I'm wondering what other brands we might consider other than Generac.
     
    #1
    Bruce Andrew and Marie Mallery like this.
  2. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    4,555
    Likes Received:
    8,377
    I have a generator. It's not whole house but services the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living room,garage. It cost me 9K back in 2009. It is a Kohler that puts about 9k watts. It works really well.My generator run on propane so I don't have to worry about old fossil fuels fowling it up. My oil supplier gave me the tank because I've been an oiler forever.
     
    #2
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2021
  3. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    May 13, 2015
    Messages:
    5,747
    Likes Received:
    7,721
    I wish I could contribute in a positive way to your decision but I know less than you do.
    I do wish you a good experience in your investigation.
     
    #3
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2021
    Marie Mallery and Beth Gallagher like this.
  4. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    That sounds pretty much like the "whole house," Al. :D I don't care about the garage, but I want the central air/heat, lights, and major appliances to have power. We lost 2 freezers of food in 2008, not to mention being in 100-degree heat and humidity for 2 weeks. We already have natural gas service so we won't need any tanks or storage. Exactly which "old fossil fuels" might foul it up?

    How's the maintenance on the Kohler? Do you have to have it serviced annually or what?
     
    #4
  5. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    4,555
    Likes Received:
    8,377
    I do the garage so that I don't have to try and lift door to get out. I have a large in window AC unit that is also on generator. I forgot the laundry/computer room.. That 9K included installation. An electrician friend found a place in SC that was way cheaper than anything local
     
    #5
    Marie Mallery and Beth Gallagher like this.
  6. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    We have a motorhome that has a gasoline generator; that thing needs a LOT of maintenance. We have to "exercise" it every month or so to keep it from gumming up, plus the annual cleaning maintenance, etc. I don't want to get into that mess for sure.
     
    #6
  7. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    4,555
    Likes Received:
    8,377
    My generator has a rest cycle that runs weekly to make sure all's OK
     
    #7
    Beth Gallagher likes this.
  8. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    Oh, OK. Our garage door is aluminum or some light-weight metal, plus it has those big springs on it so it's easy to open manually if the power goes off. We do have a refrigerator and a freezer in the garage, though... so I guess I do want that part powered. :D
     
    #8
  9. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    4,555
    Likes Received:
    8,377
    I have only one door for 2 car garage so i't a little more than easy for me to lift that. a 1 car door I could easily do
     
    #9
  10. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    I'm not really sure, but I "assumed" that when I say whole-house, the fact that it has connections directly to our electric meter will mean that when a power outage is sensed, it will automatically kick on the generator and we should have power to everything that is powered now. I guess I need to study up on this a bit more.
     
    #10
  11. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    Ours is a wide door, too. I didn't want that pillar in the middle of a 2-door; I can aim better with a wide open space. :D
     
    #11
  12. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    4,555
    Likes Received:
    8,377
    There's a whole panel added to regular panel for my generator. It's the extra wiring that recognizes a power failure and sends signal to generator to fire up.
     
    #12
    Beth Gallagher likes this.
  13. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    So why is yours not "whole house?" I must be missing something.
     
    #13
  14. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    4,555
    Likes Received:
    8,377
    not every outlet in every room is wired into the generator. When we had it done , we picked what we thought were reasonable choices in rooms other the Kitchen, bathroom. It just saved a little money.
     
    #14
    Don Alaska likes this.
  15. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    I still don't get it. Is that wiring all done at the existing electrical box and you select which circuits you want to have power to? I "assumed" it would be all or nothing.
     
    #15

Share This Page