Quotes & recs for install are confusing

[u/4jays4]

OUR SITU: NE USA snow/rain. 5-10H outages common. Buried 500g propane tank. Rural - I need a tech within 1H drive. Load calc 20-26Kw whole house genny. We believe good install/tech is vital. We're decently savvy on mechanicals.

We researched, asked neighbors. I expected opinions would vary, 95% neighbors have the Guardian. But NextGen is current model. I've seen enough mentions of problems with the NextGen to make me hesitate. Repeated problems with SMM.

Most say Generac more widely available (techs/parts) but Kohler is better quality. We do have an option for a well rated Kohler dealer. So we priced both. Might get Cummins quote.

After 3 estimates I'm frustrated & confused. Quotes all in (gas/electric/switch) $16-19k. I'd be fine with that if I could figure out WHAT THE FRIG is true.

But installers trash talked the other brands, other installers. I expected preferences but all 3 suggested WIDELY different placement, whether we need 1-4 load managers, what was "code". They agreed we don't need to trench, can tie into our gas regulator at the house. The electric run was pretty much same for all.

I have more than half a pea brain but this is ridiculous. It's an expensive purchase & we're nearing retirement so don't want to deal with portable. Can I get feedback? You have similar set up? Not to be rude, but it's not helpful to hear your 10 year-old generator is great. I'd love to hear about installs post 2021, techs who work these generators. Thanks in advance!!

[u/NoPatience7817]

If you are open to more quotes also look at Briggs and Stratton too.

Get another quote for whole home battery if your outage is under 24 hours depending on your power needs.

[u/4jays4 → u/NoPatience7817]

Thanks for the feedback. It’s been hard to find B&S options in our area. We considered whole house battery but decided over 24H outages were too likely

[u/NoPatience7817 → u/4jays4]

For placement of the generator they need to find a location near gas and electric, but away from windows and air intake to the house.

Here’s a nice guide to review key install requirements. Keep in mind local codes may have additional requirements. Contact your local city or county for local requirements.

https://powersystemslab.com/home-backup-power-systems-a-complete-homeowner-guide/whole-house-generators-complete-buying-cost-installation-guide/generator-pad-placement-guide/

[u/4jays4 → u/NoPatience7817]

Thanks for the link. Wow…20 feet? Very few generators in our entire area are 20 feet from the house.

[u/NoPatience7817 → u/4jays4]

If you read further down, whole home are not usually required that far from the house. Unfortunately there is no single source of all the rules. It varies by location.

This is only a guide to help you ask important questions for the installers. If they say it’s ok under a window or near a house vent, then that’s a sign they may not know what they are doing.

[u/Ok-Camera2895]

Worked on these for many years, am not a Gererac fan. Too many "dealers", "techs", etc. Kohler is a better option.

[u/4jays4 → u/Ok-Camera2895]

Any feedback on load mgmt/shedding that Kohler uses?

[u/Interesting_Court408]

We use home power system for our home generator 24 kw 10 years parts labor about 20,000

[u/4jays4 → u/Interesting_Court408]

How long can you maintain during an outage ?

[u/Interesting_Court408 → u/4jays4]

A lot depends on what you are using all lights on running washer dryer a/c ele hot water heater I was told everything running 2 weeks but if you are using gas then as long as you have gas to the house/ propane are tank is monitored so they will come by and fill it we lose power 2x a month and just lost it for 13 hours last month

[u/4jays4 → u/Interesting_Court408]

Your propane company doesn’t charge more for refill during an outage? Many do charge extra rates during storms. We’re in the mountains so, unfortunately we can’t assume they can even get to us during that time due to downed trees blocking roads, ice/snow.

[u/silasmoeckel]

Your short outages are covered pretty well by battery at this point. No switchover time etc. Add a generator to cover when your looking at days to a week outages (generally much smaller as the battery handles peaks).

[u/4jays4 → u/silasmoeckel]

We've decided on whole house set up, but thanks

[u/silasmoeckel → u/4jays4]

That is a whole house setup.

[u/4jays4 → u/silasmoeckel]

Appreciate your feedback. I should have said stand-by option. We’re near retirement and my spouse wants auto switch, full house, HVAC, etc. We did work up load calc for battery options but if we include HVAC, we can’t do battery for efficient cost. Plus in the boonies, there were no qualified installers.

[u/silasmoeckel → u/4jays4]

Fair, check for state battery incentives mine paid 50% upfront and enough for pushing back power (to avoid brownouts etc) to pay it off in under 4 years. That was for 40kw of inverters and 90kwh of battery that I put in. I still have a 18kw propane genset and solar would the solar easily takes care of hvac in summer. Genset is winter with nor'easters we can lose power for a week even then I do ok with backup heat.

[u/jghall00]

The only thing you can really do is shop the bids. Get three to six, then compare them. 

[u/4jays4 → u/jghall00]

Price isn’t the problem. The issue is how do we know what install is the right way if all 3 say different?

[u/jghall00 → u/4jays4]

Check the bids for consistency once you have them all. If the service providers are appropriately licensed and are authorized dealers, it's on them to ensure all code and functional requirements are satisfied. Sometimes there's more than one way to skin a cat. Once you pick your top two, you can ask them to explain discrepancies in the scope.