Your home needs a reliable power source that will never let you down even in the hardest times. That is why you need to be very careful in choosing the best whole house generator that fulfills the power needs whenever there is a shortage of power.
One major factor that plays a crucial role in picking up the correct generator for supporting whole house appliances and power needs is the overall essential power requirements.
Sometimes a house may not be equipped with heavy-duty appliances, in that condition you will only require a medium power generator. But when it comes to supporting the air conditioning systems, heavy-duty appliances there is always a need to have a heavy-duty well-supportive whole house generator for keeping things within control. A transfer switch, load balancing, safety, desired fuel source, and easier maintenance with lasting performance are few of the basic things we all need to look for in a generator.
Wondering how will you choose one of the best generators for your house, which things will you have to compare and which products are the best ones? No worries, we are here to guide you through the process. First, let us take a look at the best options available for your purchase then we’ll also give a brief account of the features that are important to compare when picking up your best choice.
Table of Contents
Best Whole House Generator Reviews
- #1, Generac 7043 generator with Whole House 200A Transfer Switch
- #2, Briggs & Stratton 40531 200A Generator Symphony II Transfer Switch
- #3, Westinghouse WGen7500 Generator Transfer Switch
- #4, DuroMax XP12000EH Dual Fuel Generator
- #5, Generac 7033 Guardian Series Air-Cooled generator
- #6, Kohler 20RESCL – 100LC16 Air-Cooled Generator
- #7,Briggs & Stratton 40445 Generator with 50A Automatic Transfer Switch
- Champion 100294 Home Generator
#1, Generac 7043 generator with Whole House 200A Transfer Switch
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The patented True power technology from Generac delivers the best quality electricity with THD less than 5%. It comes with a 200A NEMA 3 whole house Smart transfer switch. The transfer switch is rated for both indoor and outdoor use. The evolution controller of the natural gas-powered generator features lucrative LED indicators for monitoring the status of the equipment.
It also gives an objective indication about the utility power and also when the maintenance is due. It offers a power capacity of 22kW, which is quite good for medium scale home power needs. The equipment is durable and tough to sustain all sorts of weather conditions.
Thanks to the aluminum enclosure that offers three removable sides for easy access to the main equipment inside. The 7043 5819 battery is required to run this generator, which needs to be purchased separately.
#2, Briggs & Stratton 40531 200A Generator Symphony II Transfer Switch
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This unit offers clean and green power of 12kW to power a good range of appliances at your home without any interruption. It comes with a 200A Symphony II transfer switch, which is suitable for both outdoor and indoor installation.
The transfer switch is good enough to manage a home over 5,000 sq. ft. and having 4 ton AC. It will help you save a considerable amount as compared to the 20kW generator. The Symphony II switch manages high electricity demands of appliances as heavy as central air conditioners and electric oven etc.
You can install this generator close to your home as much as 18 inches only, where the generator complies with the National Fire Protection Agency standard (37). The operational noise is also quite low and this gives another reason to use this generator with confidence in the neighborhood.
#3, Westinghouse WGen7500 Generator Transfer Switch
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This is a great whole-house generator that suffices for basic electrical power backup needs. It offers a running wattage of 7500 watts and peak watts of 9500. It also offers remote start functionality that comes with Key Fob, Recoil, and Electric start options.
You will be serviced nonstop with a runtime of 16 hours that requires 6.6 gallons of fuel in the fuel tank. The generator features a pair of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) 5 – 20R 120 volts duplex receptacle. It also has 1 x L14 – 30R 120V/ 240V receptacle with a twist locking option.
The fuel tank capacity is 1.5 gallons that ensure 0 hours of nonstop operation. The engine displacement of this invertor is 171cc. The system offers 4 x household outlets, 1 x 12 volt 30Alocking outlet, DC charger, and 1 USB port.
#4, DuroMax XP12000EH Dual Fuel Generator
The DuroMax with this model offers a powerful engine with 18HP capacity and 457cc engine of OHV type. It is a dual fuel generator that runs on either gasoline or propane. It offers a good range of power with starting watts of 12,000 and running watts of 9,500.
This is a good level of power rating to handle heavy loads including refrigerators, air-conditioners, TVs, lights, and the other higher amperage tools. You will be able to extract the maximum power through each of the 120V receptacles of the generator.
You have the liberty of choosing from the 120V or 240V options simultaneously. 120V can be used alone only with full power. This generator is environment friendly and comes with CARB and EPA approval, applicable in all 50 states of the USA.
#5, Generac 7033 Guardian Series Air-Cooled generator
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Generac is the top brand when it comes to the best whole house generators. The 7033 is a kW generator that delivers top-quality energy with THD of lesser than 5%. It needs a connection to your home’s natural gas fuel supply and it kicks in within a matter of seconds, just when it sense loss of primary power.
The model is essentially designed to help you save money especially on installation and also offers reliability during operation. The features that make installation convenient include a base pad and removable door panels.
So, minimum ground preparation is required here. The engine design is quite innovative and has been rigorously tested for giving the most reliable performance. A 200A Smart transfer switch is included with the package. The battery unit specific to this generator needs to be purchased separately.
#6, Kohler 20RESCL – 100LC16 Air-Cooled Generator
Kohler provides a good midrange whole house generator that comes with an impressive wattage of 20,000. This automatic generator has an air-cooled mechanism that works like a charm. A 100A16-circuit transfer switch is included for seamless performance transfer of power from primary to the backup electricity source automatically.
The response of this generator is quite fast and it could power your home within a matter of 10 seconds only. On top of that, the operational noise is quite low and acceptable for a whole house generator. The casing of the generator is corrosion-proof that ensures full protection from severe weather conditions. It requires a Group 51 type battery to operate, which you need to purchase separately.
#7, Briggs & Stratton 40445 Generator with 50A Automatic Transfer Switch
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Briggs & Stratton offers a fantastic whole house generator here with excellent features to ensure limited power backup needs. The generator has a capacity of 800 watts, which is good for basic needs in powering different appliances at home, including refrigerator, TV, lighting, and a limited power air conditioner as well.
The manufacturer offers this with a useful 50A automatic transfer switch, which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations.
You can place the generator at a distance as little as 8 inches from your home. It is quite low with its operational noise, which wouldn’t bother you at all, while it is running. The equipment is also durable and manufactured with Galvanneal steel, which is normally used in the automotive industry. A comprehensive warranty cover parts and labor is also offered for 4 years.
#8, Champion 100294 Home Generator
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This whole house generator has got the potential to provide you with electricity backup needs 24/7/365. The 200A transfer switch is good to meet the midrange electricity demands in a very managed and organized manner.
Another great thing about this powerhouse is that it is quietest among many of its generators, yet giving a powerful performance.
The generator is dual fuel and operates with propane or natural gas, which gives great flexibility in terms of fuel options. It has a power capacity of 14kW and generated 14,000W on the propane fuel source and 12,500W on natural gas. It doesn’t require any extension cords, manual operation, or even refueling. All you need to ensure is to have a dedicated connection with the fuel source at home.
Things to consider when buying a whole house generator
Getting the best electric generator to serve as a power backup is a tussle between your electrical needs and the prospective whole house generator. The preferred whole house generator should come ideally with a top-quality automotive engine.
It is desirable to have a liquid-cooled model over air-cooled, where the latter is mostly associated with the standby home generators. You will benefit a lot from the longer maintenance intervals and lower noise levels of whole house generators as compared to the standard generators offering full-house electricity backup. There are a few other critical features that you need to check for ensuring the best whole house generator purchase.
Fuel Source
Finding a specific fuel source in remote and coastal areas could be problematic. Therefore, the most popular and easily accessible fuel source of your desired generator should be considered.
Apart from the liquid propane, gasoline, and natural gas options, the whole house generators also come with a diesel-powered engine, which is quite accessible. You also have bi-fuel and even tri-fuel options available, which are for high-end generators and offer great flexibility with the fuel source.
Size
The right size generator is vital to the success of the generator’s installation. When choosing the output requirements of your desirable generator, pick a rating, which is roughly 20 to 25 percent more than the peak load. As an example, if the total required wattage is calculated at 22,000 watts, then go for a 25,000 watts whole house generator.
It is important in the sense that a generator with higher wattage would operate easily at approx. 80% of the full capacity. This will have a margin in terms of flexibility in case if the load increases in the future.
Transfer Switch
The whole house transfer switch supplies the power of the generator to the circuit breaker panel. This produces electricity through the generator for your whole house. The transfer switch is installed right in between the circuit panel and the electricity meter.
Just when it detects a power outage, then the transfer switch automatically connects to the generator, while disconnecting from the utility grid. In a selection of the transfer switch, you need to consider its rating, which depends on that of the circuit breaker panel. If the circuit breaker panel has a rating of 200A main then you will require an automatic transfer switch of 200A.
Safety Features
You need to have some critical safety features in your whole house generator to protect both your generator and your home. You must look for specific safety features such as automatic cutoff for low oil levels or low oil fuels and automatic shutoff for higher temperatures.
Noise Levels
Depending on your neighborhood, there might be some noise restrictions enforced by your local authorities for the generators you use. You must consult with your Homeowners Association to find out about the permissible noise levels. The best whole house generators from top manufacturers are usually around 65 decibels, which is quite acceptable for a noise level. However, some models can be as high as 90 to 100 decibels and this could be extremely frustrating not just for you but your neighbors as well.
Long-Lasting
You don’t want to have a whole house generator with a recurring maintenance cost. You can shop well to find a generator that is corrosion resistant for its exteriors and durable.
Remote Monitoring
Many models come with a remote monitoring feature. This helps you in keeping track of the performance of your generator and also when servicing is warranted by giving periodic alerts.
Licensing
The whole house generator installation and usage are subject to licensing. In the USA, you will require to get the subject license or permit from your local municipality. There are various types of permits available and your specific type requires you to check with your building authority or the local town hall.
Warranty
The whole house generators call for heavy investment and this is why you want your investment to be made for the right product. The best whole house generators from the best manufacturers come with a warranty of 3 to 5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
The requirement for every homeowner is different and the size required depends on the electrical load that it will carry. The size depends that want you to want to run during a power outage where wattage need for individual appliances and electrical gadgets needs to be considered.
An automatic whole house generator automatically initiates in case the primary electrical power source gets down. It ensures uninterrupted electrical supply at all times, whether you are at home or not.
A whole house generator depending on the model could be loud in the range of 65 to 100 dB. You need to be smart here to pick the quietly operating model as 100 dB could be very loud and frustrating.
You can get an average whole house generator anywhere in the range of 7,000 to 50,000 watts.
It is recommended to seek professional help with whole house generators installation. The installation service providers are well equipped with the installation guidelines and local codes, which homeowners are generally not aware of.
As a good practice, you should consider servicing your generator once every year. The specific product does come with its maintenance guide, which will give you a good idea about precise maintenance requirements.
Unlike the conventional portable generators, the whole house generators don’t come with a battery. You need to purchase a battery separately. Manufacturers recommend the battery needs, which you need to consider.
You can expect the liquid-cooled generators to be roughly around 400 to 500 pounds.
You can expect the liquid-cooled generators to be roughly around 400 to 500 pounds.
What is the average cost to have a whole house generator installed?
Most homeowners can expect to pay around $5,000 for generator installation. There are many factors that affect the actual price such as location, size, brand, etc.
What size generator is needed to run a whole house?
A typical household requires about 5-7 kW to run appliances such as lights, fans, air conditioners, etc. Standby generators should be rated at least 9 kW (10,000 W) or higher. Most generators sold today are rated at 10 kW or more.
Can I install a whole house generator myself?
Installing a whole house generator is not an easy DIY job. You need to hire a professional electrician or plumber to do this work. Safety precautions must be taken during the process.
Portable or standby whole house generator – which one should you get?
A power outage could be caused by any number of things. Power lines could fall, or a storm could cause a tree branch to break. There could also be an issue with the wiring inside your house. Most likely though, you’ll need to call a professional electrician to fix it.
What size generator is needed to power a house?
You should buy a generator with at least ten thousand watts. This type of generator will be enough to power all the essential household items.
What are the three types of generators?
Generators are used by many households as well as businesses. Home standby generators are typically found inside homes while portable generators are usually carried around by individuals. Inverters are considered a sub-type of portable generators because they use batteries instead of fuel cells. Portable power stations are stationary devices that produce electricity and are often used for industrial purposes such as factories.
Do I need a permit for a home generator?
Most cities require permits for generators. Make sure you get one if you need it.
What size generator do I need for my house?
To determine the necessary power rating, add up the wattages of all the appliances you plan to use during an electrical outage. A generator should be at least a 5, 000-watt capacity to provide enough power to operate essential appliances.
What is the quietest whole house generator?
Champion Power Equipment 100519 6220-Watt Open Frame generates 69 dB of noise (an average vacuum cleaner). However, it also produces 5,000 Watts of power. Therefore, this product is very loud but powerful.
Do generators have to be maintained?
Generators require regular maintenance. You should change the oil every 20 hours when using a new generator, and every 100 hours if you’ve been running it for several years. Clean the air filter after 100hrs of operation, and ensure you run it for 20 minutes at least once every 3 months.
Where should a whole house generator be located?
Generators should be placed at least 5 feet away from doors, windows, and other combustible materials. Local laws may dictate where generators are allowed to be placed.
How long does it take to install a whole-house generator?
On average, it will take two days to install a whole-house generator. This is because you need to do some test runs before installing the generator properly. You also need to make sure that there are no power outages or other problems during the installation process.
How long do whole house generators last?
A whole house generator lasts approximately 1500-3000 hours.
The best whole house generators are good for their automatic setting in taking effect as soon as the primary source of electricity goes down. To have the best purchase, you should estimate your electricity needs to determine the size of the generator.
As discussed above we cans ay that noise levels, transfer switch, and durability also plays a strong role in selecting the perfect whole house generator for your needs.
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