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Started By
Message
Whole House Generator Location?
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:29 am
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:29 am
Have a meeting with generator guy tomorrow. Electric meter on one side of house and gas on the other side. One story house.
I know I am screwed in terms of installation cost. I’m assuming they will want the generator next to the gas meter then run the electric up the wall, through the attic, then back out to the electric meter?
They have boring equipment so if I’m going to be screwed, I wonder if they can put it all behind by house so I don’t see all the equipment and panel.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance for the help!
I know I am screwed in terms of installation cost. I’m assuming they will want the generator next to the gas meter then run the electric up the wall, through the attic, then back out to the electric meter?
They have boring equipment so if I’m going to be screwed, I wonder if they can put it all behind by house so I don’t see all the equipment and panel.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance for the help!
9
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:31 am to captainahab
quote:
I’m assuming they will want the generator next to the gas meter
The gas meter distance should not be a factor.
This post was edited on 7/14/19 at 8:36 am
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:39 am to Geauxtiga
Same situation on my house. It was pretty much same price to run power to one side or gas to the other. Ended up going close to gas meter as it would hide generator better for aesthetics.
Also need to take into account doors and windows, each parish is different but has to be so many feet from door and windows which may designate location.
Also need to take into account doors and windows, each parish is different but has to be so many feet from door and windows which may designate location.
This post was edited on 7/14/19 at 8:42 am
Posted on 7/14/19 at 9:17 am to captainahab
Gas pipe is cheap. Wire, not cheap at all.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 9:57 am to captainahab
I’d say keep it further from bedrooms so it’s not loud when you sleep.
Piping is quite less expensive than wire heavy enough for power run at any considerable distance, plumbers labor tends to be higher than electricians generally speaking so there’s a trade off.
Piping is quite less expensive than wire heavy enough for power run at any considerable distance, plumbers labor tends to be higher than electricians generally speaking so there’s a trade off.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 10:01 am to Gatorgar
I had the same situation but have a pool between the electric and the gas service. It was cheaper for me to install the generator near the gas service and run the wiring through the attic to the electrical than to run a new gas line all the way around my yard. We used aluminum wire so it was not that expensive. Aesthetics really had no part in my decision as both areas are hidden behind a fence and rested as service areas.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 10:03 am to captainahab
Since in this case you will be running through an attic or boring, pick the side that doesn’t mess up aesthetics.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 11:03 am to Capital Cajun
Another thing to strongly consider is carbon monoxide. We never know what direction wind is going to blow from but think about the proximity of the exhaust and any doors or windows.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 11:30 am to captainahab
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/11/21 at 1:33 pm
Posted on 7/14/19 at 12:01 pm to footballdude
installed in covington @6 years ago code needed to be 20-25 feet from house- was on same side as gas- hid generator with azaleas
Posted on 7/14/19 at 2:06 pm to captainahab
(no message)
This post was edited on 7/14/19 at 2:48 pm
Posted on 7/14/19 at 2:09 pm to captainahab
it runs on nat gas but put it close to the electrical meter to reduce cost
gas line is easy and much cheaper to run then electrical lines
gas line is easy and much cheaper to run then electrical lines
Posted on 7/14/19 at 3:18 pm to captainahab
All you need to know...
quote:
Bring the gas to the electric,
There is NO loss of pressure no matter how long the gas pipe is.
There IS loss of voltage on a long electric wire.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 3:26 pm to Ron Popeil
Thanks for all the replies.
After reading the comments, doing some measuring and taking into account aesthetics, windows, noise, etc, I think I’m going to get bent over in install costs.
Looks like my best option is to bore a gas line to my back yard then run electrical from there (thru the attic). My electrical run will be close to the same either way (putting the generator by existing gas meter vs back yard).
Not sure how deep they typically bore as I have patio, flower beds, sprinkler system, etc.
Thanks again for the advice!
After reading the comments, doing some measuring and taking into account aesthetics, windows, noise, etc, I think I’m going to get bent over in install costs.
Looks like my best option is to bore a gas line to my back yard then run electrical from there (thru the attic). My electrical run will be close to the same either way (putting the generator by existing gas meter vs back yard).
Not sure how deep they typically bore as I have patio, flower beds, sprinkler system, etc.
Thanks again for the advice!
Posted on 7/14/19 at 9:50 pm to captainahab
Gas line will need to be a minimum of 12” deep on private property. I have dug them up shallower than this so YMMV.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 12:42 pm to Ron Popeil
A follow-up to close this thread out.....
When I called to schedule an appt. with the generator guy last week, he told me over the phone that a "typical" install (gas line, power, etc.) runs between $3K and $5K. Since my gas was on the opposite side of my power, I was prepared for the high end.
After meeting with him and looking at all options, I decided to locate the generator in the backyard (due to aesthetics, noise, windows, etc.). Ended up being slightly over the high end of his estimate as I am doing a 2 foot deep bore about 90' long. The electrical was a wash because I was having to go in the attic with a fairly long run anyway. Windows all around my electric meter prevented me from sticking the unit there (plus, it would have been ugly and noisy).
Not sure if the 2 foot is code or that is just what they do.
Thanks again for all the suggestions/advice!
When I called to schedule an appt. with the generator guy last week, he told me over the phone that a "typical" install (gas line, power, etc.) runs between $3K and $5K. Since my gas was on the opposite side of my power, I was prepared for the high end.
After meeting with him and looking at all options, I decided to locate the generator in the backyard (due to aesthetics, noise, windows, etc.). Ended up being slightly over the high end of his estimate as I am doing a 2 foot deep bore about 90' long. The electrical was a wash because I was having to go in the attic with a fairly long run anyway. Windows all around my electric meter prevented me from sticking the unit there (plus, it would have been ugly and noisy).
Not sure if the 2 foot is code or that is just what they do.
Thanks again for all the suggestions/advice!
Posted on 7/15/19 at 12:56 pm to captainahab
Mine is near the gas meter (my power is also on the other side of the house). But I decided to put it there because it is farther away from my bedroom. I didnt know how loud it was going to be, but with the cover closed it isnt much louder than a truck. I think the quote was about the same to either trench a gas line around house to the power meter or push wire through the attic to the gas meter...
I have two AC units as well and I have one that is large enough to run everything at the same time. I think it is a 20-22kW. Ran it for 8 days straight after the Tuscaloosa tornado and it increased my gas bill by $100 which I didnt that was that bad.
The main reason I have it is due to the terrain around my house. I have french drains that drain into a sump pump in the basement stairwell. That water then gets pumped away. If the power goes off and I am not at home to hook up a portable generator I would get water into my basement. And the money spent is worth it to me for peace of mind. Plus we have above ground utilities in an older neighborhood with lots of trees and the power goes off for an hour or so when storms come through because my a-hole neighbors wont let Alabama Power cut their trees to keep lines off them.
I have two AC units as well and I have one that is large enough to run everything at the same time. I think it is a 20-22kW. Ran it for 8 days straight after the Tuscaloosa tornado and it increased my gas bill by $100 which I didnt that was that bad.
The main reason I have it is due to the terrain around my house. I have french drains that drain into a sump pump in the basement stairwell. That water then gets pumped away. If the power goes off and I am not at home to hook up a portable generator I would get water into my basement. And the money spent is worth it to me for peace of mind. Plus we have above ground utilities in an older neighborhood with lots of trees and the power goes off for an hour or so when storms come through because my a-hole neighbors wont let Alabama Power cut their trees to keep lines off them.
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