How Much Does It Cost To Install A Generac Whole House Generator (Generator And Installation Costs)

No one should have to experience unexpected power outages that are prolonged due to natural disasters or even issues with the power lines, but sometimes they can happen quite frequently, especially if you live in a more rural area, or somewhere that experiences seasonal storms and hurricanes. 

A whole house generator will provide your family and your home with enough power to supply your entire household for a prolonged period until your regular power returns.

This means, even amid a turbulent storm, you should be able to run appliances like your refrigerator and your freezer and keep your lighting on, all at the same time. 

There are a whole load of generator options you can choose from out there, and if you’re not clued up then you could have difficulty trying to choose the right one. 

Generac is a great option for a whole house generator, but how much does it cost to install a unit and how much will the unit cost itself?

We’ll be answering these questions and more within this article. 

Generators Costs

The cost of your generator will depend on what size unit you choose to buy, with small-sized generators being enough to power a few lights and one important appliance like a refrigerator to huge generators which are powerful enough to supply power to a large home for an extended period.

Generac’s whole house generators start from prices of $1,949 and can range up to over $35,000 but the higher-priced generators are more commonly used in commercial environments or emergencies rather than a home environment. 

Generac Generator Costs

If you’re unsure of how big a Generac generator you’ll need in your home, then you can get a free quote from Generac and they’ll be able to advise you on what would be an appropriate size based on the size of your home and your power requirements, e.g. what you intend to run in a power outage and also how long your average power outages are.

At the same time, they’ll also be able to let you know how much the installation will cost. 

Shipping Costs

You’ll need to take into account the cost of shipping your generator to your home which will depend on the dealership that you buy your generator from and also where you live in the country. 

Running Your Generator

As whole house generators will provide enough power for your entire home, then they can quickly use up a lot of fuel, especially if you’re using and running demanding appliances in your home.

The cost of running a whole house generator can range between $50 to $150 every day and can provide power to your home for around 3 weeks, which means you could be spending anywhere from $1,000 to over $3,000 to fuel your generator for a prolonged period in a power outage.

Installation Costs

Some of Generac’s lower cost (smaller) generators come with installation included in the price of the generator, which means you won’t have to pay additional fees, however, their more expensive generators do not come with installation included in the price.

The cost of installation can vary depending on if you use an electrician from the Generac brand or if you choose to hire an independent contractor to do the job.

Typically, the installation will cost 75% of the cost of the generator, and the larger the generator and more complex the installation the more expensive it will be. 

So if it’s going to cost you $10,000 for a generator, you can expect to have installation costs of around $7,500 which will bring the total cost to $17,500. 

As backup generators are electrically wired to your existing wiring in your home for automatic power when it goes out, an electrician may have to make electrical upgrades or changes to the existing power panel which could increase the installation cost to over 75% of the cost of the generator. 

Some tasks that may be required for whole-house generator installation:

• Upgrading the electrical panel
• Creating a concrete pad/surface to place the generator
• Installing fuel tank
• Connecting existing lines
• Installation of a transfer switch (depends on generator) 
• Getting the correct permits and permission for local building codes
• Buying materials and equipment for installation

Installation costs can seem extortionate, but it takes a certified electrician and generator installer to be able to do the job safely and correctly.

In no way should you attempt to install a whole house generator by yourself unless you have the correct skills and certification. 

Final Words

As a general idea, you could be looking at paying anywhere in the region of $3,000 to over $30,000 to buy and install a whole house generator in your home, but as we said, this will vary depending on what unit you buy, where you live, your home’s existing electrical structure and also who you pick to install your generator.