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Started By
Message
Looking at getting a whole home generator.
Posted on 6/2/25 at 10:11 pm
Posted on 6/2/25 at 10:11 pm
So I did whole home 24kw Generac at my house in Baton Rouge and paid to have most of the prep work done during construction. I think I remember paying $1500 for transfer switch install and s few other prep fees. Then I paid a generator company $8600 for the generator and installation.
Got quote today for the same 24kw generac and got sticker shock when they came in at $18,200. Is it that much more expensive to retro fit an older home with a generator?
I’m also waiting on a quote for a liquid cooled 30kw Generac that I’m guessing will be about 24,000. The one recommend 24kw and the other 30kw. I have 400 amp service to my house.
Got quote today for the same 24kw generac and got sticker shock when they came in at $18,200. Is it that much more expensive to retro fit an older home with a generator?
I’m also waiting on a quote for a liquid cooled 30kw Generac that I’m guessing will be about 24,000. The one recommend 24kw and the other 30kw. I have 400 amp service to my house.
Posted on 6/2/25 at 10:28 pm to Rize
If the transfer switch is already in, it’s not a hard process afterwards. Power doesn’t even need to be disconnected to hook up the generator.
I had the transfer switch hooked up when we built just like you. Built a pad myself and ordered the generator from Norwall Power on the Internet. Plenty of videos on YouTube on how to run the gas, which hopefully is installed next to each other.
I didn’t hook up the generator to the transfer switch myself because I didn’t want to shock myself, but after watching the guy my wife paid to install it I’m mad I didn’t do it myself. My buddy used to install generators and was supposed to hook it up but we could never get a weekend together and she got tired of waiting.
We paid him $200 for less than an hour of work, since I built the pad, ran the gas, and bought all the materials.
I had the transfer switch hooked up when we built just like you. Built a pad myself and ordered the generator from Norwall Power on the Internet. Plenty of videos on YouTube on how to run the gas, which hopefully is installed next to each other.
I didn’t hook up the generator to the transfer switch myself because I didn’t want to shock myself, but after watching the guy my wife paid to install it I’m mad I didn’t do it myself. My buddy used to install generators and was supposed to hook it up but we could never get a weekend together and she got tired of waiting.
We paid him $200 for less than an hour of work, since I built the pad, ran the gas, and bought all the materials.
Posted on 6/3/25 at 8:41 am to Rize
I had the same experience 2 years ago. I was ready to spend $10–$12k for a turn key system but when all 3 estimates I got came back in the 17-18k range I was surprised. None of my estimates were itemized and when I asked for a break down I could not get one from them. The generator would have to be about 15 feet from the breaker box and maybe 18’ from the gas meter. No digging, all ran in conduit along the bottom of the foundation. They told me that was some of the extra cost, because it was far away. I even showed one person that came out that I could get the generator and transfer switch myself for around $6k and asked what the extra cost was from. He would not answer.
Posted on 6/3/25 at 9:52 am to Rize
I had a 27kw Generac installed last year in my old house. Generator, switch and install was $12k. I then bought a new house in Aug and had it moved to new house for $3500. I'm in so Ga.
Posted on 6/3/25 at 11:11 am to 2geaux
quote:
I had a 27kw Generac installed last year in my old house. Generator, switch and install was $12k. I then bought a new house in Aug and had it moved to new house for $3500. I'm in so Ga.
How far away from the electric and gas? I’ve got about a 25 foot gas run and 40 foot electric run.
Posted on 6/3/25 at 1:29 pm to Rize
my 26k air cooled was about 11.5k installed. Bought it myself after the Derecho on Memorial day sale from Home Depot and found a guy to come install it.
Posted on 6/3/25 at 2:57 pm to Rize
The new problem is all of the BS codes, distance from fences, distance from neighbor, etc... My two quotes were roughly $20,000 and $26,000. Majority of that was running the gas line.
Posted on 6/3/25 at 4:38 pm to billjamin
quote:
my 26k air cooled was about 11.5k installed. Bought it myself after the Derecho on Memorial day sale from Home Depot and found a guy to come install it.
Send me his contact iinfo if you don’t mind.
Username23@yahoo.com
This post was edited on 6/3/25 at 4:41 pm
Posted on 6/4/25 at 7:43 am to Rize
quote:
I have 400 amp service to my house.
Subtle brag

Posted on 6/4/25 at 2:25 pm to Rize
Northern Tool has 26kw Generac for $6800 that's with the switch, though it isn't automatic
Northern Tool
Northern Tool
Posted on 6/4/25 at 9:29 pm to bbvdd
quote:
Northern Tool has 26kw Generac for $6800 that's with the switch, though it isn't automatic Northern Tool
I’ll need two 200 amp switches or 1 400 amp. Thinking of going the route of buying what I want and getting a price to install from an electrician and plumber.
I think it’s nuts that I’m getting quotes from 18k to 23k for a 20 foot run of gas and electric plus pad. I know folks gotta make money but that seems excessive when I can get any 26kw for $8000 to $11,000.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 1:04 pm to Rize
quote:
I have 400 amp service to my house.
Same. I want to say the 400A switch for my cummins was 3x the price of the 200A.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 7:19 pm to southern686
quote:
Subtle brag
I had it done in a 2100 square foot build. Builder couldn't understand why I wanted it.
The minimum bill for a secondary meter on the shop is $18.
...it'll pay for itself in 16 years or so

Posted on 6/6/25 at 10:30 am to Rize
quote:
I’ll need two 200 amp switches or 1 400 amp. Thinking of going the route of buying what I want and getting a price to install from an electrician and plumber.
This?
Northern Tool
Posted on 6/6/25 at 11:04 am to bbvdd
That’s it.
I’m probably going to buy the switch and generator myself and hire a plumber and Electrican to hook it up.
Just got another quote for 33k for a Generac 30kw liquid cooled
I’m probably going to buy the switch and generator myself and hire a plumber and Electrican to hook it up.
Just got another quote for 33k for a Generac 30kw liquid cooled

Posted on 6/6/25 at 11:17 am to Rize
I stressed about the $8k 22kw air cooled, all said and done, I spent 8 years ago. My god...
Posted on 6/6/25 at 11:20 am to Rize
I need one on my house as well but not as bad as you all on the coast. More of a luxury for me for when the few times we our electricity goes out.
But, I just bought an expensive toy, (mini excavator).
But, I just bought an expensive toy, (mini excavator).
This post was edited on 6/6/25 at 11:22 am
Posted on 6/6/25 at 11:24 am to bbvdd
Having gone through it in more economical times I would probably sub it out. My brother and I could do site prep, slap, and pull the permit. I think it would be a good idea to bring in a generator tech at some point to do an installation inspection, hardware setup, firmware updates, startup, software setup, full testing. That way you don't get them putting you behind all the people that hired them to do the whole job. It might pay off down the road
Posted on 6/7/25 at 12:35 am to Rize
Kohler 26kw ng. 21k. 185 run for electric. Keller TX.
Posted on 6/7/25 at 7:08 am to Rize
quote:
I’m also waiting on a quote for a liquid cooled 30kw Generac that I’m guessing will be about 24,000. The one recommend 24kw and the other 30kw. I have 400 amp service to my house.
I have 400amp service and the required transfer switch box is huge due to new codes. I'm in Baton Rouge. Also much more expensive due to its size. I have the 37 kw liquid cooled Kohler and it as about $31,000 or so 2 years ago.
This post was edited on 6/7/25 at 7:14 am
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