Nothing feels bad like experiencing a blackout. In this 21st century when almost everything is driven by electricity, you would not like it to be in the dark. Your food in the fridges and microwaves will go bad, children will panic in the dark and miss to do their homework, you will miss to finish your office work, and the worst is when a blackout occurs in a hospital. With improvement in technology and innovation, generators have been developed to counter the problem of blackouts and to a provide power to those people who are far away from the main grid or those who live in places that experience strong winds and excessive snow fall.
In the recent past, generators had been limited only to hospitals and government buildings, but now there are large generators in many homesteads. These generators have really countered the problem of blackouts and have assisted many people who live away from the grid.
In the use of whole house generators, serious caution must be taken in order to avoid unnecessary accidents. Never operate your whole house generator inside the same house that you stay, not even when your window and doors are open. These whole house generators release carbon monoxide that can accumulate very fast in the body and it is very lethal. Home whole house generators are beneficial, but as a home owner you must take precautions and ensure proper ventilation and air circulation around the whole house generator so as to provide warm, bright and healthy environment.
Whole House Generator Cost
The known average cost of a whole house generator is $4,841. In addition to that, there are other several factors that can raise or lower the cost of generators. It is very common to experience a spike in prices of generators to spike after an extended blackout because of the increased demand at that time. It is advisable that you measure the size and demand of power in your household so that you do not buy power that exceeds your usage.
Let us now have a closer look at some of the factors that can affect the cost of a generator, all the way from the cost of purchase to the cost of installation.
Generator Size
A whole house generator comes in different sizes that range from 9 to 48 kilowatts(kW) and the cost ranges from $500 to $18,000. The whole-house generators are permanently installed into your homestead and be connected to your gas line or electric panel.
Generator Brand
There are many different companies and brands that offer you different generators. Different brands come with whole house generators of different sizes, prices and power output. it is good to go through all brands and determine the best whole house generator that fits both your budget and power needs.
Here are some of the brands that offer you different generators.
|
Brand |
Starting Cost |
|
Honda |
$1310 |
|
Briggs & Stratton |
$3149 |
|
Cummins |
$3707 |
|
Generac |
$5997 |
|
Champion |
$2000 |
Fuel Source
Generators are designed to operate on a number of fuels. They can be powered by gasoline, liquid propane, diesel fuel, and natural gas. Some, which are among the latest versions, are powered by solar, which is very cost friendly. This cost of fuel does not affect the cost of purchase of the whole house generator, but rather affects the cost of maintenance, purchasing fuels and storing the fuel.
Start Type
All generators, be it portable or standby, have a manual start option. The automatic start up option is an added advantage to make it easier to operate them. Mostly, portable generators have a manual pull cord similar to a lawn mower starter while others have an electric switch. Most whole-house generators have an additional technology that senses the power interruption to your house and automatically turn on. This ensures minimal loss of power and reduced potential of damage. These automatic generators range from $2,000 to $30,000 while the manual start switch generators range from $500 to $2,000.
Natural Gas Whole House Generator Vs Solar Battery
A natural gas whole house generator is an ideal option if you are not bothered by its noise and the regular maintenance required. The gas generators can work bets for you if you are looking for a solution in case of an abrupt blackout. If also you have no intention of installing solar panels in future. You will be lucky if your home will be near an existing natural line, you will only have to install it and begin using it.
Solar battery system is another great option you can opt to use. You simply connect the battery to the solar panel and make use of the free sunlight. The batteries store extra energy produced by solar panels and save it for later use. Some of the common types of battery backups include; Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, Panasonic, and Generac. The solar battery comes with many advantages such as:
- Silent operations
- It runs on renewable energy; you do not have to spend money on fuels.
- It requires low maintenance and has a long lifespan.
- It operates seamlessly during grid outages.
Some of its drawbacks is that it has a limited power capacity and higher upfront cost.
Let us now have a look at the costs of the whole house generators when considering their sizes:
|
Generator size |
Price range |
Coverage area |
|
2 to 5 kW |
$300 - $1,500 |
One appliance, a few lights |
|
7 to 10 kW |
$2,300 - $3500 |
Several appliances, sump pump, 10 lights |
|
13 to 16 kW |
$3,500 - $4,800 |
Up to 1,500 sq ft home |
|
17 to 20 kW |
$4,000 - $6,200 |
1,500 to 3,000 sq ft home |
|
22 to 25 kW |
$4,500 - $12,500 |
3,000 to 5,000 sq ft home |
|
30 to 48 kW |
$10,000 - $25,000 |
5,000 plus sq ft home or commercial building |
FAQs About the Cost of Whole House Generator
What Is The Average Cost of A Whole House Generator?
The cost of a whole house generator can vary significantly depending on factors like the generator's size, brand, and features. On average, you can expect to pay between $5,000 to $15,000 for the generator itself, excluding installation costs.
What Factors Influence the Price of a Whole House Generator?
Several factors can impact the cost, including the generator's power output (measured in kilowatts), whether it runs on natural gas or propane, brand reputation, and any additional features such as automatic transfer switches.
Do Installation Costs Add Significantly To the Overall Expense?
Yes, installation costs can be a substantial part of the total expense. The complexity of the installation, such as the need for electrical work and permits, can increase the overall cost. It's essential to get quotes from professional installers to understand the total installation cost.
Are Standby Whole House Generators More Expensive than Portable Ones?
Yes, standby generators, which are designed to power your entire home automatically during a blackout, are generally more expensive than portable generators. Portable generators are a more affordable option but provide limited power and require manual operation.
BLUETTI AC500 + B300S Solar Battery Backup
The BLUETTI AC500 + B300S is an alternative power source for your whole house that perfectly comes to your rescues in case of a blackout or when you have gone for camping away from the main grid. It is very powerful with a power output of 5,000 watts, which can sustain you for a long time. The battery has an expandable capacity from 3,072Wh to 18,432Wh, which gives you freedom of flexibility.
It is very easy to use it since you can connect and control it from your phone through a smart app that it establishes its connection via WIFI & Bluetooth. It has six alternative ways to charge it:
- Alternating current
- Solar
- Car
- Generator
- Lead-acid battery
- Dual charging (AC/AC + Solar)
The BLUETTI AC500 + B300S retails at $4,799 and you are offered a warranty of 4 years.
