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re: Stand-by Generator for home. Worth it?
Posted on 5/29/26 at 1:15 pm to Ingeniero
Posted on 5/29/26 at 1:15 pm to Ingeniero
quote:
Instead of a stand-by generator, I had an electrician wire me up with an interlock
This is the way.
I've done the same thing here in rural west Georgia where power is susceptible to going out when a gnat farts. It has worked flawlessly providing sufficient power with a large-sized portable generator to heat or cool the downstairs portion of our home and keep the fridge running - along with having enough power to keep a couple other rooms running with lights or TV/internet. It won't run the entire house at once, but it does close enough without spending $10,000 or more for a full house generator.
0
Posted on 5/29/26 at 1:18 pm to tide06
This thread is about whole home generators. Yes smaller ones are generally gas.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 1:47 pm to hassan whiteside
I got one 3 years ago and, so far, it has been advantageous! Would definitely recommend!
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:14 pm to hassan whiteside
How much they cost (including install) these days?
Edit: referring to the whole home natural gas powered systems
Edit: referring to the whole home natural gas powered systems
This post was edited on 5/29/26 at 2:15 pm
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:15 pm to 2geaux
Question for anyone. I live in a small house, small city, with no natural gas run to my house. What are my options on getting one installed? Would I have to have a natural gas/propane tank installed?
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:22 pm to Festus
quote:
Question for anyone. I live in a small house, small city, with no natural gas run to my house. What are my options on getting one installed? Would I have to have a natural gas/propane tank installed?
Propane or you would need a gas/diesel and a way to store enough of that. Thats why i went solar + storage at the ranch because i didn't want to use up all my propane on a generator and we routinely lose power for a week +.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:24 pm to hassan whiteside
I just signed up for a standby battery from Base Power that also has a generator plug in for long term outages. Ran the 15-20 year cost curve and it blows a gas generator out of the water since I need a propane tank on my property for it anyway...we don't have NG.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:28 pm to MadtownTiger
quote:
I just signed up for a standby battery from Base Power
Keep an eye on your back up reserve with them. They pimp those things out for virtual power plants and if an outage hits when they're sold 80% of your storage you're kinda fricked but thats how they offer them so cheap.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:29 pm to hassan whiteside
I didn’t have power for a week after Ida. I just stayed home and sweat it out. Girlfriend lives with me now. Hard to justify spending 20k for something that’ll likely go several years without use. I’ll just get a portable gas generator or go to a hotel. Since 2013 I have probably been out of power for 2 weeks total. Not worth it in my opinion
This post was edited on 5/29/26 at 6:42 pm
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:32 pm to billjamin
Thanks Bill. I just downsized into a garden home. Very small backyard with a huge oak tree and roots. My main panel is on the side of my garage. There is a small concrete pad on that side, maybe 4-5 feet wide, but long. I assume that’s where I could put the generator. And I’m assuming I would have to get a large tank that would go next to it. Very easy to service there from the street, as I’m the last house, with a cross street behind it.
I really don’t wanna mess with gas or diesel if possible. I assume it would suck that down in no time. Right now I use a portable with the hook up direct to my panel. It works, but basically only get a window unit in one room. And have to find and store shite tons of 5 gallon gas containers.
I really don’t wanna mess with gas or diesel if possible. I assume it would suck that down in no time. Right now I use a portable with the hook up direct to my panel. It works, but basically only get a window unit in one room. And have to find and store shite tons of 5 gallon gas containers.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:33 pm to hassan whiteside
Total ripoff, until the power goes out for days.
I would consider a liquid cooled one. I had air and now have a liquid, Much quieter and less concern of it overheating.
I would consider a liquid cooled one. I had air and now have a liquid, Much quieter and less concern of it overheating.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:56 pm to danilo
quote:
How much they cost (including install) these days? Edit: referring to the whole home natural gas powered systems
I paid around $16,000 two years for my Kohler. That’s for install, they handle all the permits, soft start kit for my A/C unit, upgraded gas meter, and a 12” concrete slab
Posted on 5/29/26 at 3:01 pm to Festus
quote:
Thanks Bill. I just downsized into a garden home. Very small backyard with a huge oak tree and roots. My main panel is on the side of my garage. There is a small concrete pad on that side, maybe 4-5 feet wide, but long. I assume that’s where I could put the generator. And I’m assuming I would have to get a large tank that would go next to it. Very easy to service there from the street, as I’m the last house, with a cross street behind it.
That would be an ideal spot. I would do a leased propane tank with a monitor if i were you. Also you could run a grill or other things off it if you wanted.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 3:05 pm to hassan whiteside
quote:It absolutely is for us.
Worth it?
Sometimes for reasons you'd not even think of.
The electric company was doing work on our neighbor's home. We ended up with brown-out surges the following day (Saturday), and the electric company was slow to respond. Did a ton of damage, but would have been far worse had we not been able to switch from mainline to generator power when we recognized the problem.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 3:16 pm to hassan whiteside
quote:
Stand-by Generator for home.
Yes
Fed by gas so always works
Posted on 5/29/26 at 3:19 pm to hassan whiteside
Just live close to the hospital or the police headquarters and you won’t be down very long. High priority locations.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 3:32 pm to hassan whiteside
quote:
Stand-by Generator for home. Worth it?
That depends on your priorities. As I see it it’s totally situational. None one that has one will ever tell you it is not a good idea, because they like the idea of being self sufficient.
For my situation however, I didn’t see it as “worth it” at all. I ran the numbers and found that in the event of a long-term outage, I am much better off to throw all of the shite in my freezer away and go somewhere to stay in a nice hotel for the duration. That is not even including up-front costs.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 3:33 pm to Codythetiger
What’s your gas bill on one of those if you have to run it for a few days?
I’ve toyed with the idea of it before
I’ve toyed with the idea of it before
Posted on 5/29/26 at 3:35 pm to OneSaintsFan
Ours is one of those natural gas lines piped right into it, we had a tornado that ripped through little rock 2 or 3 years ago and power was down probably 10 days in my neighborhood atleast, maybe even longer but I don't remember the bill being that expensive. Maybe like 180 or something like that
Posted on 5/29/26 at 4:02 pm to OneSaintsFan
quote:
What’s your gas bill on one of those if you have to run it for a few days?
My 26kW is about $200 a week.
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