A whole house generator could easily be considered as one of the most important purchases a homeowner can make so it is important to look at the best rated whole house generators. When the power goes out, having one of these machines is essential. A generator will keep the power on so you don’t have to suffer in miserable heat or freeze in colder temps. How do you know which generator is right for you and your home? It is important to look at all the features, have a budget and read reviews.
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Whole home generators come in a wide variety of shapes, styles and prices. Every make and model will have features you need or want and features you don’t. Before reading about the best whole house generators below, figure out your budget and what features you need in a generator. The five generators below were chosen based on what we feel an average homeowner is looking for. We have also considered the consumer ratings for each product and taken into account the price. The reviews below will allow you to find the right generator for your home.
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Best Rated Whole House Generators
Generac Guardian 24kW Home Standby Generator Review
One of the top contenders on our list of best rated whole house generators is the Generac Guardian 24kW Home Standby Generator. Generac is a well-known, reliable brand in the generator industry and they service over 2 million homes. The Guardian 24kW is one of the largest air-cooled generators on the market in 2024. Even though it’s the largest, it comes in a small package. This is one of Generac’s newest generators. It can save you up to $8,000 dollars in installation costs when compared to other standby generators.
The 24kW Guardian takes up 70% less space than competitors. It includes PWRview which is Generac’s home energy management system. This system allows you to monitor your home’s energy usage and can help you reduce your electricity bill by 20%. The savings could help you pay for the entire unit over a 15 year period. If you want to save money while having peace of mind, then consider installing the Generac Guardian 24kW Home Standby Generator.
Best Standby Generator System for Home
Briggs & Stratton 40621 Symphony II Standby Generator Review
A good standby generator can give you peace of mind during storms and other natural disasters. The Briggs & Stratton 40621 Symphony II Standby Generator can give you that peace for your family. This standby generator has a ton of great features which puts it at the top of our list. An amplify feature allows you to set and change the priorities of high wattage appliances. You can also keep track of your generator’s status with the push of a button.
The alternator is extremely efficient so you can get optimal performance out of your generator. A smart automatic voltage regulator will control the voltage so it is less than 5%THD for sensitive electronics.
The Briggs & Stratton 40621 includes a state-of-the-art commercial Vanguard engine so you can trust that you will get excellent power performance. A simple control system gives you the option to run on low speed to save fuel and lower noise output. The Briggs & Stratton 40621 Symphony II Standby Generator is one of the best standby generator systems for home use.
Best Whole Home Generator for Power Outages
Generac 7042 Standby Generator Review
If you want the best whole home generator for power outages, then take a look at the Generac 7042 Standby Generator. This generator is a beast. It delivers true power technology that is best-in class and less than 5% thd. You’ll be able to power all of your sensitive electronics and appliances. An automatic transfer switch is available but is sold separately. The Generac evolution controller uses LED indicators to show you the power status, utility power presence or if any maintenance is required.
Protecting all of this powerful equipment is a durable, tough, weather-resistant aluminum enclosure. The enclosure provides 3 removable sides for easy access when doing maintenance or installation. A Rhino Coat powder-coating is applied to the aluminum enclosure to provide rust protection.
The engine included in this generator is a Generac G-Force Engine. It is purpose-built and pressure-lubricated which is designed to handle the harsh elements of generator use. All Generac generators are engineered and built in the USA (but parts may be from foreign countries).
Other amazing features of the Generac 7042 Standby Generator are a quiet-test self-test mode, user-friendly controls and mobile remote link monitoring so you can check on your generator anywhere in the world. This generator is amazing and is one of the best rated whole house generators on the market in 2024.
Best Gas Powered Standby Whole House Generator
Champion Power Equipment 100416 Tri Fuel Natural Gas Generator Review
The Champion Power Equipment 100416 Tri Fuel Natural Gas Generator is a great option for those wanting portability in their whole home generator. This generator produces 8,000 watts running and operates on either natural gas, gasoline or propane. Natural gas and propane hoses are included so you can use those fuel options as soon as the generator is installed.
Start up the powerful 459cc Champion engine with the convenient rocker switch. A battery is included. The control panel allows you to track voltage, frequency, total run time and session run time. It has an LED indicator to alert you of elevated CO output and automatic shutoff. On gasoline, it produces 8,000 running watts. When running on propane, it produces 7200 running watts and while on natural gas, it produces 7,000 running watts. All three fuel options provide enough power to run your home during a power outage. It will last 12.4 hours on gas and up to 5 hours on propane with a 8.5 gallon fuel tank.
If you are looking for something that is ready to go, then the Champion Power Equipment 100416 Tri Fuel Generator is what you want. It comes with a 3 year limited warranty and free lifetime help desk support. Overall, this is one of the best gas powered standby whole house generators you can buy today.
Top Rated Standby Home Generator with Transfer Switch
Champion 100177 8.5-kW Home Standby Generator Review
The last generator on our list to help you find the best rated whole house generator is the Champion 100177 8.5-kW Home Standby Generator. This generator uses an ATS50 outdoor rated automatic transfer switch to provide you with continuous power during a power outage. The automatic transfer switch will give you and your family peace of mind during hurricanes, floods, heat waves, storms and other emergencies. As soon as the power goes out, the generator will start running and will turn off once power has been restored.
The Champion 100177 works well in temperatures as low as 22 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit. No warming kit is necessary in cold weather. The transfer switch is a sub-panel style and contains 8 circuits. An onboard battery charger maintains a charge at all times so you will be prepared when an emergency strikes. This generator runs on propane or natural gas which can be installed right from your home system.
A weather-resistant, composite mounting pad is included and makes installation easy. The generator is enclosed in stainless steel to protect it from the elements and the enclosure is rated NEMA 3R for outdoor use. One unique feature is the gull-wing design which provides easy access to the engine and control panel. If you are searching for a quiet home standby generator, then the Champion 100177 fits the bill. It contains a sound-dampening lining and a low-tone muffler to reduce noise to a quiet 59.5 dBA. This makes it the quietest whole house generator on the market. The Champion 100177 8.5-kW Home Standby Generator has so many features that we can’t list them all. It can easily be considered the top rated standby home generator with a transfer switch.
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Final Thoughts: Best Rated Whole House Generator
So there you have it, the five best rated whole house generators on the market in 2024. Each of these generators have everything you need to avoid disruption during a power outage. If you are in tornado alley or experience hurricanes each summer, then you know the importance of having a reliable source of backup power. Portable generators are fine for camping or at the worksite but you will need a standby generator for a home. Standby generators run on propane or natural gas and are hooked up directly to your home’s supply of either of these. They are much more powerful than portable generators and are designed to run all of your lights, appliances and even your air conditioner.
The main things to look for when purchasing a generator for your house is reliability, ease of use and price. You want a machine that will reliable kick on whenever the power goes out. It should be easy to use and have a control panel that you can use without having to call customer support or by reading a long instruction manual. Finally, the best rated whole house generator will be sold for a reasonable price that is within your budget. Each of the generators we reviewed above fits this criteria and you will be happy with whichever one you decide to purchase.
