Generac whole house generators

[BSMoran]

We are interested in purchasing and installing a whole house generator system at our home out here in Mazama. I have noticed that quite a few people out here appear to have the Generac systems, so am interested in recommendations from people who have them, as to your experiences and who I should contact for this project that will be willing to service our location here in the Valley.
Thanks,
Bruce Moran

[WEARETHESTONES]

I got one for free last summer. It had 15hrs on it and doesn't run....can't figure what's wrong with it. Carb and fuel lines have been replaced. Mechanic in Brewster said it was the timing. I didn't know they had timing...
Also have one at work and it runs great

[wildramble]

Installed a older model Generac stand-by propane generator with an OVHI engine in a project back east. To knock down on fuel use (said to run 6 days on 250 gallon propane + its regular exercising) only installed an ATS (automatic transfer switch) on the necessities plus all lights in the home - fridge, water pump and such. It worked fine though its exercising bothered me with the noise of engine running on clear stellar days. Battery maintenance and checking it will be part of your upkeep - though not terribly often but certainly before weather hits - as well changing the oil as needed and spark plug maintenance... Hey, there's work inline with the no free lunch chore list.
You may well want to price out Bluetti and others that manufacture home battery back-up kits and crunch every little number [ maintenance/your time or paying others', cost of propane, noise as a factor, install and all the other yada's versus a higher buy-in with back-up batteries (maybe down the road a small solar array to charge it during long extended outages) that have a very stout warranty and lower manufacture/fuel footprint ]. Other than clicks and whirs - they are church mice. A tech check every now and then or learn to do it yourself (less PIA than maintenance on a generator lemme tell ya) will get you through with far superior results - my 2¢

[BSMoran]

Thanks for the feedback. Any recommendations as to who I should call regarding installation here in the Valley? Thanks, Bruce

[Reapward]

We're very happy with our Generac. It's solid. Tells you when to service it. Maintenance is basic, oil changes, spark plug, etc. We got it new in 2018. It will run our whole house but we don't use it for that. For emergency use, which we have had to use sometimes.
The people in the Valley that we used are no longer installing. Someone around here must.

[Slade]

We installed a whole house Generac in 2018 and it has been solid. Flow Electric here in the valley specializes in generator electrical installation and overall maintenance. We have him come and do our annual service.

Bob

[wildramble]

Bruce - research fishing for me would start with a phone call to the electric coop for any leads they might have otherwise an internet search (I used Google and did not dive deep) spit out Washington Generators LLC (installing Sunpower and Generac back-up batteries), and several others that install Powerwall and others (out of Spokane, Wenatchee, WA/OR). Next, I'd fire up the search on backup batteries (for a __sq ft __ house), take notes on brands and look at their websites for authorized installers in our area.

It's worthy research really - just like driving an electric car. AI gives this summary: When comparing backup batteries to generators, backup batteries generally offer advantages like quieter operation, lower maintenance needs, no fuel costs, and a cleaner energy source, making them a preferable option for most home backup power situations, even though the initial purchase price might be higher than a generator; however, the long-term cost of ownership is often lower with batteries due to reduced operational costs.

Worth a look!

[mtber]

I have a Kohler 20Kw whole house generator with an automatic transfer switch that I purchased on the recommendation of a local electrician. I wish I had done my own homework. The engine on my Kohler threw a rod and had to be replaced after 47 hours on the clock. It was just out of warranty on labor. It cost me $1200 to have the warrantied engine replaced. But, I've also heard some negative things about Generac from generator dealers and electricians so do lots of Googling. Some other things to think about- location. You'll need a pad, maybe a covered shelter, and it has to be a certain distance from your propane tank and the electrical box. You'll need an automatic transfer switch which will probably require some rewiring of your electrical box. Make sure you get a bid on electrician cost for installation and hookup. Know the cost of delivery and setup. If you are not going to service the generator yourself, make sure you know who will be doing the annual service. Generac is the only generator brand that gets serviced by someone located in the valley. My Kohler tech is located in Sedro-Wolley and makes an annual trip to Winthrop to service a few clients. We split the travel cost, but it's expensive. I was doing the service myself, but ended up buying a ten-year warranty on the generator after the engine blew up so now I have the tech do it to keep the warranty in effect. If I was a full-time resident, I would have a gasoline powered portable generator to use in emergencies that would power most of the house. As a part-time resident, I've paid way more than I intended for some peace of mind that my house won't freeze in the winter should the power go out. For the total expense these days, probably not worth it.

[cwesthoff40]

I just wanted to chime in a thank you to everyone! I'm looking into getting a propane whole house generator to fit the last puzzle piece of our solar setup and all of these posts have been very helpful!

Chris

[sergey]

These folks nstalled 3 generator for me this fall.

Elite Electric Power Solutions LLC
PO Box 28 Omak, WA 98841-0028
+15094294981eliteelectric509@gmail.com

The cheapest installation was $6500. Not including the generator that was another 6000. The most expensive was 10k, which involved moving a meter.

As far as I am concerned, electricians in Methow Valley don't exist.

Sergey