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A Comprehensive List Of The Best Whole House Generator Today
Power surges and blackouts are among those unexpected inconveniences that can be dealt with right away if your house is equipped with a reliable generator. Storms and typhoons are some of the unexpected events that can happen any time and if they do, they’ll leave behind dark cold houses due to the absence of electricity.
Power interruptions are unforeseen events which are common in any place around the globe. In this article, we’ll be talking about the advantages of having the best whole house generator for your home. Also, we’ll share some of the considerations to make when buying one and a few of the top choices in the market today.
What To Consider When Buying A Whole House Generator
Since most of the equipment, tools and devices that we use in our homes today require electricity, having a whole house generator is definitely essential. To help you out in choosing the ideal generator that suits your needs, we’ve lined up a few considerations that you should make.
These considerations are as follows:
1. Cost
Just like when buying almost anything in the market, you always have to consider the price of your item or equipment. When it comes to whole house generators, you need to bear in mind that if you’re trying to get more power out of your unit, you’ll also be getting a bit more costs.
At the same time, if you’re looking for more features on your generator, you’ll also have to deal with increased fees. Before you make that purchase, you need to establish a definite budget and features that you really desire.
2. Runtime
Another thing to consider before cashing in on that whole house generator is the runtime. The runtime refers to the duration when the generator can keep generating power. In this regard, you need to make sure that the fuel can provide a good runtime for the generator to continuously generate electricity.
3. Fuel Type
Among those fuel types that you can choose for your whole house generator include propane, gas, and diesel with propane or diesel as the most affordable as well as most fuel efficient. When considering the fuel type for your generator, find one that is easy to obtain in your area in case your generator would require refueling.
4. Noise Reduction Feature
A common problem with using generators is that they produce loud noise which may not be very pleasing to the ear. Modern generators, however, are equipped with noise reduction features that lessen the noise that is being produced by a generator on operation.
With zero decibels as the sound for no noise, modern whole house generators today can operate quietly with only 50-80 decibel levels.
5. Installation And Set Up
You may also want to make sure that the whole house generator you are looking to buy isn’t that complicated to set up or install. The last thing you’ll want is to hire a professional to do the installation for you since you are not knowledgeable enough to do it on your own.
Make sure that your generator has a readable manual or guide on how to install or set up the equipment.
6. Durability
Of course, if you want your generator to last for a long time you need to make sure it is durable and is made out of high-quality materials. Check its casing and other components to make sure they are not prone to breakage, damage or leaks.
Also, since your whole house generator will be mostly set up outside of your home, make sure that it can withstand severe weather conditions as well as rust and corrosion.
7. Portability
You won’t always need your whole house generator and oftentimes you will need to store them. In this regard, it would be best to have a generator that is easy to carry and move around.
Make sure that your whole house generator is easy to move and comes with a set of wheels to make moving the equipment a lot easier.
Rank | Product Name | Image | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  |
97
/
100
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2 |  |
93
/
100
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3 |  |
88
/
100
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4 |  |
83
/
100
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5 |  |
80
/
100
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**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
A Comprehensive List Of The Best Whole House Generator Today
Top 5 Whole House Generators In The Market Today
Having to know the considerations prior to buying a whole house generator will provide you with more confidence in making a purchase. Unfortunately, there are a ton of whole house generators that you’ll find in the market and having to choose from them would be quite a challenge.
So, to help you narrow down your choices we’ve already made the research for you. Listed below are the top 5 whole house generators in the market today with each guaranteed to provide you with everything that you are looking for out of your whole house generator.
1. Generac 70311
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DTN9K74
The Generac 70311 is one of the best options for a whole house generator, especially if you want a generator with hands-free operation. This standby generator is gas-powered and features WiFI connectivity so that you always know the status of your home’s generator.
The best thing about this generator is that you never need to worry about manually starting it. Instead, it senses power loss and activates automatically within mere seconds. Since it runs so smoothly, you can actually use your house appliances, devices, phones and other electronic gadgets at home continuously without noticing the power outage. Even sensitive electronics run perfectly with the Generac 70311.
With this home generator, you never need to worry about weather damage or vandalism. The sturdy aluminum construction protects your generator from everything the world can throw at it. Also, this product is CARB-compliant and is covered by a five-year limited warranty for repairs and replacement parts.
If you don’t want to get your hands dirty with manually starting and also refueling your generator, then this whole house generator could be your ideal choice.
PROS
- Sturdy aluminum construction
- Activates right away upon power outage
- Less than 5-percent harmonic distortion
- CARB-compliant
- Works quietly
CONS
- Some models may be manufactured with faulty pistons
- Some customers experienced battery issues
2. Kohler 20RESCL-200SELS
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046AS0JS
Another whole house generator that deserves a spot on our top 5 list is the Kohler 20RESCL-200SELS. This comprehensive transfer switch system and generator are available in either a 100 Amp or 200 Amp model. However, keep in mind that this is one of the most expensive generators featured on our list.
It features a compact design which is carefully planned in order to lessen maintenance, upkeep, and serviceability. Also since it is compact, it is easy to store and place on tight spots outside the home.
The Kohler 20RESCL-200SELS is a fully automatic generator capable of restoring power within 10 seconds of an outage. Plus, this generator protects all of your sensitive electronic devices with clean power and low distortion.
With the backlit LCD and clock, you can easily read local data in all conditions instead of interpreting codes with the help of a flashlight. And even if you live in a harsh, seaside environment, you can rest easy knowing your generator will never rust.
PROS
- Works quietly
- Easily to install and maintain
- Restores power in 10 seconds
- Includes a live-year limited warranty
CONS
- Quite expensive
- Not compatible with off-grid projects
3. Generac 70361
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DR9HJ33
If you’re looking for a whole house generator that packs a punch, the Generac 70361 might be right up your alley. This 16KW backup generator offers protection for everything in your home, from just the essentials to your entire household.
With Generac’s G-Force Engine, the 70361 is more reliable and requires less maintenance than most other whole home generator options currently on the market. Plus, like the other Generac model on our list, this generator comes with a five-year limited warranty and has less than five-percent total harmonic distortion for your most sensitive electronics.
The 70361 effectively provides power to 16 circuits within your home or your business. And just like its predecessors, this generator is also equipped with a hands-free operation feature that lets you operate the generator without refueling.
This model is rated for both indoor and outdoor use with a NEMA 3R transfer switch and sturdy aluminum enclosure. Plus, Generac’s RhinoCoat formula protects your generator from corrosion and all types of weather conditions.
PROS
- Includes patented True Power Technology
- Powers 16 circuits within the home
- Comes with WiFi connectivity
- CARB compliant
- Low maintenance
- Automatic start-up
CONS
- Requires both an internal and external regulator
- More expensive than other models
4. Kohler 20RESCL-200SELS Generator
https://www.amazon.com/Kohler-20RESCL-200SELS-Air-Cooled-Generator-Whole-House/dp/B0046AS0JS/
First on this list of top 5 whole house generators is the Kohler 20RESCL-200SELS Generator which is a common favorite because of its quick response when the power shuts off.
The moment power runs out, this generator quickly activates within 10 seconds to provide you with immediate backup power. It is designed with a motor-starting feature along with an enclosure that is corrosion proof to ensure that the generator lasts long.
The generator also comes with hydraulic valve filters along with a power boost system for substantial loads. This product is also designed with minimal THD (distortion) which ensures the safety of sensitive gadgets and devices such as computers and cellphones when being plugged into the generator.
One good popular thing about this product is that it operates much quietly compared to other whole house generators. This is due to the silencer technology that comes along with this generator.
Also, it is designed with LED lighting that provides convenience in monitoring the ATS status of the equipment. Moreover, this product comes with a 5-year warranty.
PROS
- Operates quietly
- Easy to install and set up
- Portable and easy to move around through the handling holes
- Durable
CONS
- Weak throttle
- Expensive
5. Briggs & Stratton 40346
https://www.amazon.com/Briggs-Stratton-40346-20000-Watt-Generator/dp/B009GYCIEM/
You can also refer to the Briggs & Stratton 40346 if you want a whole house generator that is trusted and proven effective. Briggs & Stratton is a well-known company that delivers durable, effective and cost-efficient home equipment such as whole house generators.
This choice of generator is ideal for heavy-duty applications and is recommended for big houses with bigger power requirements. Just like the previous options, this generator also activates within just a few seconds after the power outage.
This product is also proved to be durable and can withstand extreme weather conditions and even fires. Also, its exterior is made from rust-resistant materials such as Galvanneal steel to ensure its long life and its dependability against pressure.
This generator is equipped with the power to supply 20,000 watts which can be controlled through 200 amp transfer switch. With this power, you can already run 2 air conditioners and at the same time power up a number of appliances within your home.
Another good thing to note about this product is that it comes with a 4-year limited warranty to cover repairs, damages and replacements within the covered years upon purchase.
PROS
- Automatically activates within a few seconds after power outage
- Designed with commercial-grade engine
- Durable exterior
CONS
- Inconvenient oil fill location
- Expensive
- Heavy
Final Verdict
As for our final verdict, you can choose any of these whole house generators if you’re looking for efficient as well as a durable solution to power outages. As a personal recommendation, we would like to point out that the Generac 6244 would be the best choice in this top 5 list.
This equipment features a hand-free operation which relieves you from manually starting the generator. Also, you don’t have to fuel the generator by hand as it can be fueled by connecting it to your gas or propane source from your home.
How did you find our top 5 list of best whole house generators today? If you have suggestions, questions, or comments about this content, feel free to message us through our comment box below.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about it.
About the Author Emily Taylor
My name is Emily Taylor, gardening is my passion and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone. I know that there are millions of people out there want their backyard and garden be attractive just like their front yard, so I am here to help you create your own backyard paradise.