Choosing a standby generator suddenly became more complicated for one homeowner after estimates came back thousands of dollars apart and with conflicting advice.
The bids also raised an essential question: Could a 20-kilowatt generator cover a 2,400-square-foot house with two air-conditioning systems?
Here's what to know
On Reddit's r/Generator, the homeowner described a 2,400-square-foot house with "two AC units (3ton & 2ton), electric kitchen appliances, gas heat, and a tankless gas water heater."
According to the post, some contractors were pushing "a 22 or 24Kw Generac Next Gen," while others suggested "either a 22Kw Briggs & Stratton or a 20Kw Kohler," citing an "issue" with the Next Gen model.
While the original poster leaned toward the Kohler, they were unsure whether 20 kilowatts would meet their needs. Upsizing to the 26-kilowatt Kohler "won't fit in the budget," especially with the cold weather kit proposed by one installer already making the Kohler setup "several thousand dollars more than the others."
What commenters said
Among commenters, brand preferences were mixed, but several replies looked past the manufacturer and focused on practical questions such as sizing and how the system would be set up. After doing rough load math, one commenter determined that "20 kW handles your house fine as long as the ACs have soft starts."
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Another agreed,"20 kW should be perfectly fine with gas heating."
Others noted the disparity between the estimates, saying the same home can get very different recommendations depending on whether an installer prioritizes surge capacity, winter performance, warranty coverage, or total project cost.
Elsewhere in the comments, Redditors cautioned that sticker price was only one part of the total expense. One commenter offered a detailed example to show how total project cost can break down: their Kohler 20 kW natural-gas unit, installed in April 2016, came to $9,230 altogether. They said that total included $2,580 for labor, delivery, permits, and license fees, $506 in taxes, and $6,144 for the generator and materials.
Over 10 years, that commenter said maintenance added another $360 to $420 annually. They listed annual oil-and-filter service, spark-plug replacement every other year, a new 12-volt battery every three years, and yearly inspections of the electronics and transfer station as part of that upkeep.
Other commenters provided similar examples, showing just how wide the price spread can be. One person said they had seen a "26kW Kohler $4,999 at Costco with ATS."
"We have a 24 kw generac 10 year parts/labor included 20,000," shared another.
As commenters noted, estimates can vary widely because some include line items others leave out. For example, some quotes may include labor, permits, service plans, or longer warranties, while others may largely reflect the equipment alone.
Where can I learn more?
The following stories take a deeper look at how backup-power quotes can vary based on the equipment, installation details, and service plans included.
• One homeowner found a smaller setup under $12,000 instead of a $19,500 bid.
• Electricians said a cheaper fix may exist after a $6,000 panel-swap hookup quote.
• A shopper comparing Generac and Briggs learned service can outweigh warranty when prices remained close.
• After outages in Canada, one homeowner weighed a $15,000 standby generator against a $4,000 portable.
• After burst pool pipes, a homeowner weighed a $22,436 whole-home generator against a $3,110 portable.
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