Standby generator installation cost

But, with a standby system you do not have to do anything. It is all done for you automatically. When the power goes out you will only see a flash of lights and then bam the power is right back on.

Over the past few weeks I have been writing numerous articles on standby generators. One of the most common questions I see is exactly how much these units cost and how much to expect for installation.

Throughout my research I have found that most folks say that the installation cost will be about the same as your purchase price. So, if you bought a five-thousand dollar standby generator then you can expect to pay about five-thousand dollars for installation as well. Now, this rule may not hold as true as you start going up into the more expensive standby units. For example, if you bought a fifteen or twenty-thousand dollar system then you are not going to pay twenty-thousand dollars for install.

It will be lower… but the cost will still be significant. Installing these systems is not an easy feat and requires multiple people to come to your home. The first is a technician from the actual dealer that you bought the generator from.

These guys should know generators front and backwards. Smart circuit generators power most of the home - or even all, if you limit your electricity use. Most home generators fall in this price range. Whole house generators, which provide 22 to 48 kilowatts of power, are the most expensive.

Because home standby generators are permanent fixtures in the home, they require professional installation. Most are mounted outside on a cement pad. A large portion of those installation costs are due to the electrical wiring. Automatic transfer switches are optimal for standby generators and automatically turn on a generator during a power outage. Prices depend on the amperage and don't include installation. The transfer switch amps must match the main breaker in the electrical panel.

Otherwise, transfer switches that only power select circuits should be sized by an electrician according to the power requirements. An interlock kit allows a portable generator to connect to the electrical panel without a transfer switch and eliminates a dangerous direct connection. An interlock covers the panel's main cutoff switch so it can't switch on while the backup generator is running. Not all interlocks meet local building codes or work with every electrical system.

Standby generators are permanently installed outside the home, start automatically when the power goes out, and run for several weeks. Portable generators connect to a home's electrical panel with a transfer switch or interlock kit. This allows the generator to power lights and essential appliances for outages lasting less than two days.

Total installation costs depend on the generator's size kW , whether it's standby vs. Professional installers offer free home energy assessments to determine the proper size backup generator depending on your power needs. Use the watt usage chart for generators below to calculate the size required for a house. In general:. Some appliances startup wattage can be double the running wattage. Homes in the northern half of the U. Generators require regular maintenance with periodic oil and filter changes to ensure maximum performance and reliability.

The other circuit breaker panel will hold non-essential loads like the upstairs circuits, the upstairs air conditioning and, perhaps, your laundry equipment. Those circuits will not be energized by the generator. So--in the above illustration, you would need just one 1 ATS appropriately sized to match the size of the circuit breaker panel it is connected.

If your 2-story home has just one circuit breaker panel rated at Amps, there is no need to install a second panel for this installation. You just need a Amp ATS that is also service-entrance rated. Most manufacturers include ways to load-shed the non-essential loads, such as a second air conditioner or hot-water heater.

Keep in mind the generator is rated at 20kW when using LP as the fuel source, and 18kW for natural gas. Most manufacturers now offer a 5-year limited warranty generally, 5-years on parts and 2-years on labor with an optional 5-year comprehensive warranty.

It happens to be the quietest air-cooled generator on the market and Cummins has been awarded "Brand Leader" recognition for each of the past five years at Builder magazine. If you live in the northern half of the USA, you will need a cold-weather kit.