After a salesman proposed a $19,500 whole-home generator package for an elderly father's house, one shopper started questioning whether the quote matched the job or was an oversized recommendation.
Other generator owners in Reddit's r/Generator forum said the next step was to scrutinize both the proposed system size and the installation price before moving forward.
Here's what to know
The issue surfaced in a Reddit post, where the original poster wrote, "Our first Generac dealer quote came in at $19.5k for a 22kW unit after a heavy-handed sales pitch," adding that the dealer also tried "charging extra for a warranty that's currently free online."
OP said that his dad's property was an approximately 1,100-square-foot crawl-space home with natural gas, a 2.5-ton split HVAC system and fairly modest electricity use. In pricing out alternatives, OP said Lowe's offered a 22-kilowatt Generac for about $6,000 with a military discount, while Costco had a 26-kilowatt Kohler at about $7,000, leaving him hopeful that separate electrical and gas work could keep the total below $12,000.
Many replies in the Reddit generator community treated the dealer's sizing recommendation as aggressive for a house that small. Several commenters said a better approach was to measure the air conditioner's startup demand before picking a generator, rather than accepting a sales pitch at face value.
As one commenter explained, "Sales guys are sales guys, most get commission and will sell the biggest system they can. I would speak with a local electrician if you have one you trust." Another wrote, "honestly, all of that sounds like overkill for the size of his house/ac unit." A third added, "22kw is way too big for your needs it sounds like. I suggest you call the Kohler toll free line and tell them you'd like a couple quotes from their installers."
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Readers also disputed the idea that the home's electrical arrangement automatically called for a major upgrade. As one put it, "Also a 200amp ats feeding a 125 amp panel is fine, your panel can't draw more amperage than the panel is rated for."
More background
With home backup power, the generator itself may make up only part of the expense, while installation, permitting, gas work, and panel upgrades can drive the total thousands of dollars higher.
And a generator that is larger than necessary can increase the upfront cost, use more fuel, and create more noise without offering much added value for a smaller home.
Examples from the thread showed how wide the pricing range can be. One commenter said a 14-kilowatt system with an automatic transfer switch was quoted at $10,200 for an easy install. Another said a Generac 26-kilowatt setup cost about $8,500 in 2022 as part of a larger remodel. Someone else reported paying $15,000 for a 24-kilowatt Generac package that included a 200-foot run to a propane tank plus two replacement regulators.
Price-shopping the labor separately was another common suggestion. That means comparing dealer packages with bids from a licensed electrician and licensed gas contractor, while also making sure whoever handles the job understands standby-generator code and startup requirements.
Where can I learn more?
If a steep standby-generator quote has you looking at other backup options, these stories dig into some of the same cost, safety, and home-power tradeoffs.
• More homeowners are replacing gas generators with safer home battery systems that avoid fumes and fuel storage.
• Across the U.S., homeowners are ditching aging generators for quieter solar-and-battery backup setups.
• After storm outages, families are confronting the health risks of generators and seeking cleaner backups.
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