Why the Generac Generator?

“I endorse Generac because generators are their primary business – it’s what they do best,” says Tobias Sommer, president of Generators for Sale. “H. Kohler, Briggs and everyone else make engines, toilets and other things, so their primary purpose isn’t generating power.”

Generac has made home generators since 1959. After 60 years, it’s the largest line of automatic home backup generators available to meet your power needs.

Portable or standby?

Generac makes portable, two-wheel generators with gas fuel tanks, as well as installed standby generators.

The portables range in size from 800 watts to 7,500 watts. Construction sites, food trucks, fire departments, workshops and anyone who needs temporary, portable power benefit from these generators.

Generac’s standby generators start at about 7,500 watts and go to 1 MW. They hook up to your house or business and kick in when power is lost.

For houses, standby generators range from 7,500 watts to 150 KW. They’re permanently mounted in outdoor enclosures and connected to a Generac transfer switch that automatically turns them on and off as needed.

The automatic transfer switch lets the generator work properly. Without it, the unit is attached to a manual transfer switch that drains the battery and voids its warranty.

Cost of installation

A generator must be properly installed and include some additional parts to function properly

“That’s why prices can vary greatly, depending on the type of generator you purchase,” Tobias says.

For the home installation of a Generac generator, the average cost for an air-cooled model is between $8,000 and $10,000. That which includes the generator, accessories, pad, cold weather kit, battery, transfer switch, electrical install and gas install.

If you purchase a liquid-cooled model, the price jumps to about $17,000 to $20,000, which is why Tobias recommends air-cooled generators whenever possible.

Portable generators are much more affordable. They typically cost between $1,200 and $2,500. But they don’t automatically kick in when the power goes out, and they’re usually for shorter-term use.

Generac’s benefits?

Generac has made generators for six decades and holds many of the patents on standby generators. Their core business is power generation, so they focus all of their efforts there.

In addition, dealers can access many resources they can’t with other brands.

“Generac does a really good job of getting us parts and warranties, they have 24/7 service, and they go above and beyond the other manufacturers,” Tobias says.

It’s an issue of personal confidence for the buyer.

“The way I look at it, I sell trust,” he says. “The customer trusts that when they spend $8,000 with me, their generator will work when the power goes out.”