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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. As the leading home generator brand, Generac’s Guardian series generators, once again, set them apart from competition. For instance, certain fuel types are more expensive to run than others, so they can drive up long-term maintenance costs.
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect Standby Generator
In addition, liquid-cooled generators generally offer a quieter operation. Portable generators are best suited for temporarily powering an appliance or two and smaller tools, or electric-powered items, like fans or lights. For limited power needs, use a portable generator like the WEN DF475T Portable Generator with 4,750 running watts. Portable generators typically operate using gasoline as their fuel source.
Rated Watts (Watts)
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Size options, as well as prices, may vary between these brands, so homeowners will want to find the unit that best fits their needs and budget. The starting costs of the best generator brands on the market are as follows. Standby generators can power select circuits or a whole home, depending on the generator's size in kilowatts (kW) and circuits in the transfer switch. With gas and propane generators, make sure to turn them off when it’s time to fill the tank. Solar power stations and inverters, on the other hand, can almost always be charged while in use. We appreciated the digital gauge at the top of the control panel that displays the voltage and current frequency being generated, as well as total hours of use—handy to keep track of maintenance schedules.
GUARDIAN 26KW GENERATOR FEATURES AND BENEFITS
The output of an electrical generator more or less determines the amount of fuel it will consume while operating. A 10-kW generator consumes around 100 to 120 cubic feet per hour of natural gas running at half capacity, while a 20-kW model requires between 190 and 290 cu ft/h at half load. Depending on the generator size and fuel cost, expect operating costs of between $50 and $210 per day.
What size generator do I need?
On average, a 21 kW natural gas generator costs about $90 per day to run, while propane and diesel units of the same size cost $220 and $175 per day, respectively. These units draw power either from the home’s panel or from a solar source to be stored until it is needed. These units can cost $10,000 to $25,000, plus an additional $800 to $1,500 for installation. Cummins standby generators cost $3,100 to $13,900 for models ranging from 13 to 40 kW. Cummins generators feature sound-insulated enclosures, remote diagnostics, and intelligent load management to balance power use across multiple appliances so a smaller generator can power an entire home. Whole-home generators are designed to power an entire house and all its systems.
Some houses have a permanent propane tank, but propane is also available in smaller containers at grocery stores, hardwood stores and even gas stations. The Briggs & Stratton 10kW generator is the loudest per kilowatt on our list, likely due to its smaller size. Furthermore, this Briggs & Stratton generator does not come with an Automatic Transfer Switch, which must be purchased separately.
For an alternative to conventional home generators, consider using a portable power station. The Goal Zero Yeti 1500X is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that can store up to 1,500 watts of power. Charge it up by connecting it to a solar panel, wall charger, or 12V car charger.
You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the home generators methodology for the ratings below. Note that this isn’t the same thing as an electric start, which powers up your generator with the push of a button rather than the recoil start typical of most small motor machines. In the case of a generator equipped with an electronic start, you still need to manually start the generator to begin the flow of power. Items are usually ready for pickup the same day the online order is placed, but this will depend on order volume and time of day. When your order is ready, you will receive an email including specific pickup instructions. You should opt to have your items shipped if you cannot pick them up promptly.
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Additionally, if you’re installing a generator in a hard-to-reach area, it can drive up installation costs. Hire a top-rated generator installation service for your home to stay up and running even in the event of a power outage, blackouts or utility shortages. Learn more about Mobile Link24/7•365 Customer Support Team standing by all day, every day from our headquarters in Wisconsin to answer any questions you might have. 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). The following are some additional questions specific to generator installations that homeowners can ask about whole-home generator costs.
Load management is also essential for protecting smaller generators over time if too many requests for power are made while the generator is operating. The device that controls the generator’s load is programable and allows you to determine which items are crucial and which are not. Your generator will run a weekly, biweekly or monthly self-test and keep you updated about its condition whether you use an app or hire a monitoring service. Inquire with your manufacturer about remote monitoring options and specifics about its functions and prices.
This 10kW model offers Wi-Fi monitoring and is equipped for either natural gas or propane fuel sources. Pair it with a 100-amp, 16-circuit transfer switch or a 200-amp smart switch, depending on your needs. This generator boasts a sturdy aluminum casing with a powder-coated finish, ensuring its resistance to corrosion and suitability for use in any weather condition.
But most people would agree it is better to have adequate power than to be left in the dark or have to decide between running your refrigerator or keeping cool with a fan. The Generac Guardian Backup Generator ensures that it is always ready to supply power to the most important systems of your home by conducting a weekly self-test lasting either five or twelve minutes. This model is fuel-efficient and operates quietly, with a five-minute test cycle producing only 57 decibels of noise.
Larger-capacity generators like this are particularly useful as backup power during power outages. Connected to the home through a manual transfer switch, instead of running extension cords to individual appliances, the generator can run directly to the home’s critical circuits. This unit could also supply power at construction sites, or to large RVs that have significant power needs. This industrial-grade portable generator is designed for work sites, camping or backup power at home. Its 457 CC 4-stroke gas engine delivers a high power capacity of 12,000 watts for up to 12 hours. A portable generator you have to wheel out of the garage, run extension cables to and then pull a cord to start it up.
Once you’ve figured out your power needs, the next two major considerations are the physical footprint of the generator and the amount of noise it makes. Whether you have a small yard or many acres of land, you’ll likely need the generator near your home, so the size and sound matter. Unfortunately, with smaller size comes larger noise; the Briggs & Stratton 12kW generator is one of the loudest on our top five list. Additionally, neither Briggs & Stratton generator on our list comes with an Automatic Transfer Switch—those must be purchased separately. The investment you make in a generator is often backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. Most residential portable and inverter generators are protected by a 2- or 3-year warranty period that covers parts and labor.
Most portable generators have a pull cord, but some have an electrical switch. Generators with this added convenience come at a higher price point of $2,000 to $30,000. One of the most crucial considerations when choosing a generator is ensuring that the unit will provide sufficient power. Standby generators come in sizes ranging in power from 9 to 48 kilowatts (kW) and cost from $500 to $18,000. 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.
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