Generac Quote Review | What does it cost?

What to expect from a Generac Quote, and example cost detailed out in the quote.
00:00 Introduction
00:49 Cost of the unit
01:44 Total cost
02:34 Purchase Agreement

[richardbenson]

My experience in New Jersey. Cost of installation was 3 times the cost of the generator. Getting local government approvals took weeks. The mobile link does not work because I can't get connection. Requested help from installer, mobile link, and Generac but no response. Paying for service that doesn't work. Neighbor has same setup with similar problems. Any service form Install company of Generac is excessive in cost. Everything displayed is accurate as far as I can tell looking at my contract. My COPD requires oxygen that I get from respirator machines that I need 24 hrs a day. Since I don't think I can rely on the utility company. I bought the Generac. All three of the companies involved in the installation and Maintenace will not respond to any calls for help. I can't say if the other vendors of systems like this are any better or worse. Such have our companies become in this country. We are left with recourse but to accept the situation.

[kenherrera]

Your information is spot-on! We had an 18KW system installed two years ago, we have natural gas everything so didn't need as much power, the Generac-authorized dealer handled everything, from permits to supplies to complete install and our price was just a few dollars over 14K. We just wrote a check and they did everything else, it was a complete turn-key transaction! Here is something that was a pleasant surprise for us. Shortly after the install we had the house re-appraised and the appraisal sheet gave us an additional 7-thousand dollars in value for the Generac generator! When considering comparables our home was given a 7-thousand dollars credit for having a generator when the comparables had no such back up power system. In effect, while the generator cost 14-thousand thanks to the added value of our home I feel as though we got the whole thing done for 7-thosuand! I know, We DID pay 14k, but it was wonderful to see that half of that price was tacked onto the value of our home. Everything works perfectly, including Mobile Link and the generator has served us well during several blackouts!

[nhojcam]

we were without power after a hurricane for 8 days. we checked into a generac whole-house standby generator afterwards and absolutely could NOT cost-justify it. $18k. absolutely rip off on installation. i decided to put in a 10-circuit transfer switch myself ($400) and a portable 6500 watt generac ($500) gasoline generator for a grand total of less than $1000 (2023 pricing). did the 30 amp outlet and everything myself. sure, i've got to cart around and go get gas for the generator, but the hassle factor is well worth the $17k difference.

[mongo]

We put in a 26 kW Generac about a year and a half ago. It was a fairly complex installation given that we already had a number of underground utilities in the area (french drain, power, cable, well, irrigation line) and wanted everything perfect. Generator, ATS, a dedicated 1000-gallon propane tank, heat pump soft-start, backup propane lines (in case we wanted to run anything from the house off the big propane tank), trenching, underground and above-ground propane lines and tie-ins), permits, inspections, a big, beautiful cedar fence to hide the big propane tank from my wife’s disapproving eye…and fixing the landscaping to make it look as if none of the installation side-effects had ever occurred). I would’ve buried the big propane tank, but I didn’t want to deal with the excavation.

$43, 000. I shit you not.

But it is perfect. Absolutely perfect. And if it ever goes TU and I want to move to a Kohler or Cummins or whatever I can just swap in the new generator easy-peasy.

[magooracing]

10 years ago we had a 22kw Generac with ATS installed in Houston for $9500. Our neighborhood experiences random power outages a few times a month. After hurricane Harvey we decided to get a whole house generator. We had a small Yamaha 3k watt inverter generator, but setting it up and refueling it was a bit of a hassle. We never thought we would need the generator for winter, but the ice storm a few years ago with a 2 week power outage, proved that wrong.

[mattc]

Estimated Costs
Generac 26KW Generator: $5, 000 - $6, 000
200 Amp ATS: $500 - $800
Concrete Pad: $200 - $400
Wiring and Conduit: $400 - $700
Connectors and Fittings: $50 - $100
Flexible Conduit: $50 - $100
Grounding Rods and Wire: $50 - $100
Generator Battery: $100 - $150
Fuel Supply Components: $200 - $400
Total Estimated Cost
Low End: $6, 550
High End: $8, 750

[jmb-cmmr]

I have a 18k Generac. The nice thing about it is you can shut it off if you don't want it running continuously to save on NG. My husband and I had it installed mostly because when we are not heating with wood we heat with electric and we needed something to come on Automatically when we travel in the winter months, we live in Upstate NY.

[trith]

That's about spot on for my install cost I had done last September. I only had 1 ATS and I went with the 24kw because I have gas heat and gas hot water heaters and gas dryer so I didn't need the extra few watts. I did have to pay a little extra because my gas and electric were on opposite sides of the house so I had to pay for the cable run across the attic. I have an elderly dad who has dementia, and I work from home in IT so I have to have power at all times, so for me 14k was a solid expense vs having to worry about my dad's health when temps in the home get to 100-120 degrees with no power. We have a lot of power outages down here in Louisiana because our grid is so old and out of date and power companies will not invest in upgrades in this state. Natural gas is dirt cheap and abundant so this was a good trade for the cost, and we've already used it for about 30 hours since install....it's nice to be able to get up, work, and go to bed in a nice warm or cool home while you neighbors are packing everything they own and trying to find a place to stay or a hotel that hasn't filled up. I can see the 14k being a tough pill to swallow if you circumstances don't 100% require it like mine did. I also have no issues with Mobilelink, it works great and never drops or goes down. My Installer is Johnny on the spot too, and they have come by twice since install just to check on things. I think a lot of it is a crap shoot on whether you get a reputable company or a fly by night. The one i went with has been around here for 30 years and is family owned. There are a lot of "pop up" installers unfortunately (especially after bad weather) who disappear like steam after the install is done, and they usually botch several things in the process. I got lucky and did my research.

[williamray]

Very informative and helpful for comparison to quoting my installation. Thank you!

[jc]

We live in Florida and my wife and I are both 79 years old, we decided that we needed a backup generator. Like you say the price is outrageous, but living in florida everything is way way over priced, but what can you do, you either pay or go without. At our age going without was not an option. I wish we did this years ago. I agree with this guy.

[nctrailcam]

I was wondering how prices had changed. I got my 20kw unit installed about 10 years ago for just under 10k. But that did not include the LP run which for me was ~80ft and cost around 2k because I had the propane people do it. If you have a long LP run you should keep that in mind and if possible get the trench done yourself. Perfect excuse to rent and play with a Ditch Witch.

[pedalforsanity]

I’ve had one for 6 years and it’s been great. Money spent well worth it. My install all totaled was $8k and I’d gladly spend it again

[X]

That is ballpark of what I spent last year in mid-Michigan. Only other add was $700 for a larger gas meter. Nearly a year later, it has ran a total of 56 hours over 3 separate outages. If your individual circumstances can justify the cost...it is a nice luxury. As you would expect with a generator of this size...a power outage is a non-event, power to spare for EVERYTHING. If not for the 'lawn mower' noise outside ...you wouldn't know utilities were down. But yes...very expensive.

[yfdfireman]

We are similar, 4.3k sqft with electric stove, double oven, electric dryer and a 4 ton ac. I was quoted a 26kw generator with similar costs. We went with a 14kw that runs everything including the ac for about 1/2 the cost. The trick is to use a soft start on the ac which drops inrush from just over 100amps to just under 40. We could actually get by with a 6000 watt generator now. Might be something to look into with your current setup if you want ac.

[dartow]

My experience in Tennessee was, the Generator itself was about $5k but the installation was double that.

[noeltomas]

Well I had this bright idea that I was going to get a home back up generator like this Generac here, since most of my neighbors have it and the last time we had a hurricane outage, it lasted 21 days. But then my wife has a brighter idea. She says why not go for solar panels instead. So I did. For a net cost of $16, 500 I now have a 12 kilowatt system that generates power every day. There are at least four months of the year where my electric bill is negative (I pay zero) and the utility saves the KWHrs for me. I love it. We haven't had a power outage since I got the panels so I'm way ahead. Ha.

[danlah]

Yep, the companies that specialize in generator installs are making money hand over fist. I got Honeywell-branded Generac at Costco and then found a electrical company that could install it for me including gas hookup which they dug about 6 ft underground using CSST in a conduit. The companies that specialize in generators won't install one if you buy it yourself. So I had to spend a fair amount of time finding a contractor that would. I did the generator sizing myself, which isn't hard if you can do a little bit of research and have a technical-mind. I had to do the work with the gas company to get my meter upgraded, which was a pain. I got 20kw done for about $7-8K back in 2019. I was lucky! I don't know if I could justify $15K.

[DJL]

I thought about one of there when we moved into our house 27 years ago. Then I came to my senses.

[anthonydooley]

I agree. $15, 000 is way too much. I don't know why you would need two ATS. I would buy the generator and ATS. Then get a few quotes from local electricians for installation. You can save a bunch of money on installation this way. They added a lot of small things that aren't necessary. like carbon monoxide detector? The generator is outside. A friend of mine bought a brand new propane generator 22kw on marketplace for about half price. It had never been installed and was still in the box. He hooked it up himself and it works fine.

[mattc]

2261.10 for basic install materials? Really? That's BS. The labor is 4K with his quote. The price of the generator is has another 1K added. You can get both the ATS and Generator for under 7K.