I am getting quotes and surveys for this as we speak. There are only two brand names for whole house generators that I am aware of. Kohler and Generac. If anyone has experience, advice, or other alternatives, please post.
Had a Kohler installed last year...ours has separate electrical (or whatever it is)...had independent electric co install it...they were excellent...hub did not like Kohler ppl...
I'm not a big fan of these "whole house" generators because they run on natural/LP gas, and require a lot of maintenance. In Texas, we've actually had the natural gas stop flowing during a big freeze. I'm a big fan of water-cooled low RPM diesel generators. As I said, I've been playing the "generator game" for decades. Here's what I finally ended up with, and couldn't be happier:
https://www.auroragenerators.com/product-page/agi13p
I live about 22 miles west of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee and have had a 36KW water cooled Generac generator, all house, fully automatic, for about five years. My house is all electric and that generator is designed to cover both running and starting; hence, its large size. It runs off a 500 gallon tank of propane, which is completely filled with 400 gallons. The hourly fuel consumption rate is about 1 gallon per hour. Propane was my choice because it doesn’t go stale the way gasoline and diesel can. The total cost for the entire installation was about $29,000. I grant you, I went the Cadillac way. However, I wanted, I could afford it, and I bought it. I’ve never had any regrets.
Have a neighbor who uses an old Lincoln diesel welder. He has a manual disconnect to keep it in the house only. Kinda loud though.
I’ve got a 14.5 KW Generac that I’m happy with. Runs my house and well pump without needing to shed loads. I don’t have A/C here where I live. Runs on natural gas or propane.
Generac and Onan are the two we’re choosing from for our new house that were building at our rural compound. We get around the noise problem with Mr. NATO 5.56.
Right now we have a 5500w Champion dual fuel inverter generator that plugs right into our 38ft RV and runs the whole thing AC and all. Its very quiet. You can’t even hear it 100 ft away. We’re on 5.5 acres so we don’t worry too much about it.
I have been told to stay away from Generac and get a Kohler. That was a few years ago, but I trust the guy who told me.
Extremely happy with my Generac. Runs the whole house and automatically comes on with 20 seconds of a black out. Self runs once per week to keep engine in good condition. Change oil once per year. In fact, runs like a small car engine.
According to scuttlebutt in my neck of the woods, Generac has maintenance issues.
Go with Kohler.
We have a whole house Generac 11kw. A Generac rep will bring a tablet over and analyze every electrical use you have and sell you a generator that is just enough, not overkill. That is only a waste of fuel. It will switch over automatically. Works flawlessly now for 4 years. Our house uses lp, we have a 300 gallon tank. When the generator is running we know exactly how much lp it will use.