Standby Generator Recommendations

[Mark356]

Morning everyone! I'm looking to get a standby generator in the 20kwh range. I'm curious about a few things:
-Anyone have a recommendation on a particular contractor
-What brand of generator do you have? Any that you'd recommend?
-If you don't mind---how much did you spend?
-Anything you would have asked/changed in hindsight?

Things about my installation:
-I have a perfect spot already for the generator---gas line available on the side of my house
-unobstructed installation
-Open for a concrete pad to go under it

[bombermwc]

I had looked into this before and decided not to do it, but here are a few things i learned from friends that have them and from getting the bigger guys for work.

1 - consider natural gas/gasoline. Think about what your purpose for it is because it changes a lot of where you go from here. The benefit for natural gas is that the line is always there and the engine doesn't require as much maintenance. Good for winter storm issues...not so much for tornado time. For tornado time, the gas lines might be ruptured, so the feed would be cut off. Although you might not have a house either at that point if you were that close. Morbid, yes. But just look at that first.

2 - engines require maintenance just like your car. You're going to have to do something to remind yourself to test it regularly and do maintenance. Dont want it to seize up when you need it to kick in. If you go with gasoline, that means regularly making sure it has a tank of GOOD gas, not years old. That means you'll have to dump it every couple of years too.

3 - It will need a concrete pad, but you've got that covered.

4 - for simplicity sake, the Generac type units from Home Depot and Lowe's can be your friend. Only because they are sold more often so more people are familiar with their service. They're pretty compact too and dont look half bad. But in saying that, i've got family in LA that has one that regularly has problems finding someone to work on it. The bigger units (corporate size) can get worked on by groups like United Engines. But they're not going to look at a little home guy. This can be the #1 trip up....and it's not cheap either.

#4 is where i decided that i wasn't going to go with it because the number of days in the last 5 years that I would have used it, didn't make up for the amount of annual cost that it would have put me out (plus the initial purchase/install).

[BLJR]

Genrac has a really good product. As mentioned above though, you need to keep up with the preventative maintenance (gas, oil changes, occasional testing, etc...)

[Mark356]

Thank you so much for the info! One more question---does anyone have a good contractor/company they would recommend?

[bombermwc]

I believe that if you purchase the ones at Home Depot/Lowe's they actually have recommended subcontractors for the job. Sort of like when you buy a water heater, they can offer suggestions of companies. You dont have to use that company, but it at least helps rather than inie-meenie-miney-moeing from google. I ended up using PlumbTech from the recommendation from the Lowe's in MWC. I actually got their name from the Lowe's guy, but ended up buying the heater from Plumbtech directly because i liked the brand/options/price better than what i could get at Lowe's or Home Depot. So it ended up being a double win for me. But they did remind me at Lowe's about code changes as well that prompted re-inspection.

I think most any electrician can do the hookup. But this will be a multiphase job. Gotta get the slab poured first not matter what, but have someone in the know check out thickness/location/etc. Then the electrical hookup could probably be done by any electrician.....I've used Jesco for generator/UPS tie ins corporately, but i bet they do the small stuff too. Ive used King as well, but was far less happy with them.

[BLJR]

There is a company called Holland Electric. They did the wiring for our pool last year, and did a very good and clean job. May not be the cheapest, but they were extremely helpful!!!

[OKCRT]

They set the installed ones to self check every so often to keep everything running smooth. They will come on once a week or once every 2 weeks and run for a bit and shut themself off. CNG is the way to go.

[Mark356]

Hi hopefully someone can help me on a follow up question. When an installer puts in a standby generator that uses natural gas...what permits if any should they get? I assume you should get permits as required just in case there's a fire or something and the insurance company wants to validate it? Any help is great and thank u!!!

[BLJR]

Hi hopefully someone can help me on a follow up question. When an installer puts in a standby generator that uses natural gas...what permits if any should they get? I assume you should get permits as required just in case there's a fire or something and the insurance company wants to validate it? Any help is great and thank u!!!

A good professional installer should know what permits to get. If your doing it yourself, then I would guess to call ONG. They would probably be better help than the city.

[mkjeeves]

Hi hopefully someone can help me on a follow up question. When an installer puts in a standby generator that uses natural gas...what permits if any should they get? I assume you should get permits as required just in case there's a fire or something and the insurance company wants to validate it? Any help is great and thank u!!!

In OKC? The installer is supposed to get an electrical and gas permit. The electrical part has to be done by a licensed electrical contractor and the gas connection has to be done by licensed mechanical contractor. (That could be the same contractor, as some hold multiple trade licenses.) There isn't a generator permit in either category of permits. It will be something like a residential miscellaneous wiring permit, and a gas extension permit, but it depends on details of the installation. Permit types are listed under "fees" on this page.

https://www.okc.gov/departments/deve...center/permits

You can do a permit search using several filters by the link on this page if you want to verify status of permits.

https://access.okc.gov/aca/

[Mark356]

Thank you! I should have said I live in Edmond...the OKC site was helpful---I tried to google an Edmond equivalent but could not find it...does anyone else know?

[mkjeeves]

Thank you! I should have said I live in Edmond...the OKC site was helpful---I tried to google an Edmond equivalent but could not find it...does anyone else know?

You can call the city and ask. Building code services: 405) 359-4780 It will be similar. Here's the electrical fee page. It will probably will fall under misc unless there is much service work required.

http://edmondok.com/index.aspx?NID=196

Mechanical

http://edmondok.com/index.aspx?NID=198

[Mark356]

Thank u!!!