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Started By
Message
Home generator owners,I am interested in your experience.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:07 am
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:07 am
My electricity was out for 10 days and I was ready to bite the bullet and get one installed,now I’m not so sure.Guy a mile up the road had new Generac that worked 2 days and crapped out.Another person in the community had 1 that only lasted 15 minutes before it bit the dust,when electricity came back on his central air wouldn’t work.
I’m hearing horror stories all over about them failing.
What it seems to me is that the people that have had them several years have had pretty good luck with them,it’s the ones installed last couple of years that are junk.
I’ve about decided to get 2 Honda 7000 kw units with parallel connector and have electrician wire my panel to just plug in the generator,I’ll just have to turn breaker switches on and off for what I want to run.I’ll still have to get gasoline but I won’t have extension cords all over the place.
I’m hearing horror stories all over about them failing.
What it seems to me is that the people that have had them several years have had pretty good luck with them,it’s the ones installed last couple of years that are junk.
I’ve about decided to get 2 Honda 7000 kw units with parallel connector and have electrician wire my panel to just plug in the generator,I’ll just have to turn breaker switches on and off for what I want to run.I’ll still have to get gasoline but I won’t have extension cords all over the place.
14
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:17 am to LSUA 75
I have a Generac 22kW and have had no issues with it. And really, the people I know who also have a Generac have never mentioned any of the problems you're mentioning.
Granted, I haven't had to use it for longer than a few hours (knock on wood). But it is definitely a game changer in the stress level any time a storm is heading our way. If you have the money and are ready to buy it, go for it.
All the bullshite that came with Gustav is what made me want one.
Granted, I haven't had to use it for longer than a few hours (knock on wood). But it is definitely a game changer in the stress level any time a storm is heading our way. If you have the money and are ready to buy it, go for it.
All the bullshite that came with Gustav is what made me want one.
This post was edited on 9/14/20 at 10:19 am
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:19 am to RealityTiger
+1
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:29 am to RealityTiger
My units older and I’ve replaced majority of the parts on it now.
This summer stung and was $2k for a stator and rotor, but previously I haven’t spent much except a battery here and there.
I also use a service company to maintain it which gives me a priority response if it breaks during a storm - which is when everyone calls.
This summer stung and was $2k for a stator and rotor, but previously I haven’t spent much except a battery here and there.
I also use a service company to maintain it which gives me a priority response if it breaks during a storm - which is when everyone calls.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:33 am to LSUA 75
Not my experience, but a friend on Cotile Lake, west of Alexandra, just had power restored from Hurricane Laura a few days ago. He ran 24/7 for nearly 2 weeks on a whole house air-cooled Generac generator with no issues, other than a $1500 propane bill. 
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:37 am to eng08
quote:
I also use a service company to maintain it which gives me a priority response if it breaks during a storm - which is when everyone calls.
What is the cost of this? Fixing to have a water cooled 22KW installed. I will not be able to service it.
This post was edited on 9/14/20 at 10:38 am
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:47 am to LSUA 75
When I purchased my home, it had a standby generator already installed. I’ve not had to run it for more than a few hours at a time. The only issue I’ve had, and it’s been a pretty big one, is that Ive lost one of my AC blower motors on 2 separate outage occasions. AC guy and generator company can’t find anything out of spec. Hvac guy installed a surge protector of some sort, but we’ve also been careful to turn off that AC since motor #2.
This post was edited on 9/14/20 at 10:50 am
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:59 am to fishfighter
Like $350 a year, they check it twice, replace oil, filters, etc and full checkout.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 11:01 am to LSUA 75
My mom (no pics) lives in Pineville. She got a natural gas whole house generator with ATS installed by Cals in 2013/2014. It's a GE brand, which is now Briggs and Stratton. I set it to do it's weekly run, for 20 minutes, on Sundays after she gets home from church so she knows it's running. A few months ago it didn't come on and she heard a loud pop noise. It was the battery that "cracked." Cal has since passed away, so she called Atlas to come look at it. The mother/control board also went out and needed replacing and was out of warranty, of course. In the time she's had it, that was the 2nd time the battery has been replaced. She signed up for a service contract with Atlas where they come twice a year (I think) to change oil, etc.
For Laura, it ran perfect. I estimate it ran for about 60-65 hours before her power was restored. I was there when CLECO was across the street and said your power should be back on. I said give it a few seconds for the generator to kick off, and it did. I'd like to see what her NG bill will be. She wasn't there most of that time so just a fridge/freezer, an upright freezer, and the central AC (set at 78 or 80) would have been all that ran from early that Thursday morning until we got back around 10 am that Saturday and turned down AC and ran some lights, etc. and power came back on around 3:20 that Saturday afternoon.
Like $350 a year, they check it twice, replace oil, filters, etc and full checkout.
I think that's what she told me her service contract cost.
For Laura, it ran perfect. I estimate it ran for about 60-65 hours before her power was restored. I was there when CLECO was across the street and said your power should be back on. I said give it a few seconds for the generator to kick off, and it did. I'd like to see what her NG bill will be. She wasn't there most of that time so just a fridge/freezer, an upright freezer, and the central AC (set at 78 or 80) would have been all that ran from early that Thursday morning until we got back around 10 am that Saturday and turned down AC and ran some lights, etc. and power came back on around 3:20 that Saturday afternoon.
Like $350 a year, they check it twice, replace oil, filters, etc and full checkout.
I think that's what she told me her service contract cost.
This post was edited on 9/14/20 at 11:03 am
Posted on 9/14/20 at 11:25 am to LSUA 75
I look at it this way and this in general applies to a lot of situations like this.
You will hear and see the bad stories but not the countless good ones. If Generacs were total junk these stories would be wide spread and people would not be buying them. Surely as with any product you will have some bad ones that shite the bed, and those stories circulate easy/quick, but I wouldn't just turn away from said product because of that. I am also sure if those stories are true, and they were installed correctly, Generac had some sort of remedy for the consumer via warranty.
That said, I would do more research prior to pulling the trigger on a decision. Just keep in mind most every satisfied owner will not feel as compelled to write/tell about it as the owner that had an issue.
FWIW:
My father had one put in 2 years ago, his seems to be doing great. I do know he has some sort of service contract on it where they come and service it on a set interval. He did this to ensure warranty coverage in the event of something happening. He didn't want them questioning service or lack of.
You will hear and see the bad stories but not the countless good ones. If Generacs were total junk these stories would be wide spread and people would not be buying them. Surely as with any product you will have some bad ones that shite the bed, and those stories circulate easy/quick, but I wouldn't just turn away from said product because of that. I am also sure if those stories are true, and they were installed correctly, Generac had some sort of remedy for the consumer via warranty.
That said, I would do more research prior to pulling the trigger on a decision. Just keep in mind most every satisfied owner will not feel as compelled to write/tell about it as the owner that had an issue.
FWIW:
My father had one put in 2 years ago, his seems to be doing great. I do know he has some sort of service contract on it where they come and service it on a set interval. He did this to ensure warranty coverage in the event of something happening. He didn't want them questioning service or lack of.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 12:08 pm to LSUA 75
quote:
2 Honda 7000 kw units
you could probly put centerpoint out of business with those
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:46 pm to LSUA 75
Have a 14kw Generac. Zero complaints. Probably gonna sell or trade in for a 22 or 25 kw
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:54 pm to mfiredog
I'm thinking about getting a PTO driven generator for the house. My father has one for his place and it runs the house, the shop and his grain bin dryer if needed.
He already has a spare one that does not quite work right, we are trying to fix it. If we manage to do that I may buy it from him and get a transfer switch wired up to my house. That way I can just switch it and plug in the cables and have my house and shop back up if need be.
He already has a spare one that does not quite work right, we are trying to fix it. If we manage to do that I may buy it from him and get a transfer switch wired up to my house. That way I can just switch it and plug in the cables and have my house and shop back up if need be.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 4:07 pm to LSUA 75
I have an Eaton 36kw natural gas generator, which is just a rebadged Generac. Have had it for around 8 years and the biggest issue was when my dumbass let the oil get low. Fortunately it shut off to prevent any real damage, but trying to add oil during a power outage at night in the rain kind of sucks. It ran for a few days after either Gustav or Isaac, can’t remember which. Gas bill only increased around $30 per day. I haven’t had any weird electrical issues after power outages.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 4:14 pm to LSUA 75
Check with M&L Engine in Houma. I picked up a 3 Cyl. Isuzu Diesel after Katrina and mounted it on a covered trailer. It's 13.5KW and burns about 15 Gallons every 24 hrs at load. If I happen not to need it I can set up at someone elses house. Also no waiting in gas lines is a plus for me. Runs my 5 ton Central Unit with no problem, Just gotta be mindful of other 220 load as I'm all electric.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 6:12 pm to eng08
You would be shocked at how easy it is to do routine maintenance to the generator. I am still under a service plan (paid for) for this year, but I'm considering doing the oil change/plug change/filter change myself from here on out. Save the $300. Amazon sells a kit for about $60 with everything you need.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 6:51 pm to LSUA 75
quote:
I’m hearing horror stories all over about them failing.
What it seems to me is that the people that have had them several years have had pretty good luck with them,it’s the ones installed last couple of years that are junk.
Did these people crank them and let them warm up monthly? Did they do any maintenance whatsoever prior to losing power?
I’d bet anything that they didn’t.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 8:10 pm to RealityTiger
Do mine every April run Royal Purple Full Synthetic . I figure take care of it it take care of me!
Posted on 9/14/20 at 10:31 pm to mfiredog
Quote:
———————————————————————————
Did these people crank them and let them warm up monthly.
———————————————————————————
Well yes ,I imagine they did.They typically are set to come on for about 15 minutes once a week to keep the starting battery charged.
The guy up the road had a total of 6 hours on his before losing power from Laura and then it lasted 2 days.The other guy I mentioned had a new one,this was his first outage and it lasted 15 minutes.
This was kinda the point of my post,people I talk to that have had them several years have had good luck with them,all the failures I’m hearing about are fairly new.
———————————————————————————
Did these people crank them and let them warm up monthly.
———————————————————————————
Well yes ,I imagine they did.They typically are set to come on for about 15 minutes once a week to keep the starting battery charged.
The guy up the road had a total of 6 hours on his before losing power from Laura and then it lasted 2 days.The other guy I mentioned had a new one,this was his first outage and it lasted 15 minutes.
This was kinda the point of my post,people I talk to that have had them several years have had good luck with them,all the failures I’m hearing about are fairly new.
Posted on 9/15/20 at 5:36 am to LSUA 75
Have a 22kw generac and have not ever had an issue. It ran for 4-5 days straight during the flood no problem
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