Deciding between a natural gas, propane, or diesel fuel system makes all the difference in how much the first-of-installation will cost, and how much the long-term overall expense will end up being. Total market pricing now suggests an average whole house generator installation will cost $6000 to $11000, depending on the fuel type used (LP or NG) and how that add value to your home in addition to between the equipment purchase itself. Typically gas is the least expensive long-term system for homes with gas lines, with propane being a great solution for rural properties with no gas lines and diesel is the most outcomes for large homes requiring 30+ kw capacity. By comparing these cost differentials, as well as other installation and maintenance considerations, owners can decide how to balance the immediate need for backup power given their budget with their need for reliable backup power in the years to come. When evaluating options, understanding the whole house generator cost installed can provide clearer expectations for budgeting and long-term planning.
Estimations for Whole House Generator Installation Prices
The whole house generator installation cost involves a number of factors that vary according to the features of the machine, installation, and elements of the materials. Nothing are available for $3,000 to $6,000 merely for the generator unit and $6,000 to $11,000 for a complete installation with labor, permits and electrical work. Yet, these beginnings costs can easily be 2 or 3 times that, believe it or not, some systems can run even as much as $25,000 for a huge luxury homes that require massive electrical work to be done.
Cost to Install Labour
Cost to Install Labour is a huge part of the price – it generally costs anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 to install a hot tub. This includes obtaining permits, site preparation such as pouring a concrete pad, making electrical panel changes, installing the automatic transfer switch and connecting the fuel source. More involved setups that need major electrical work or difficult site conditions may cause labor to exceed $12,0003.
Unit Size and Installation Costs
The size of the unit will translate directly into installation costs, as larger units require beefier electrical systems and possibly larger gas lines or a larger propane tank. Less-powerful 7-10 kW models for essential circuits only run from $2,000 to $3,000 without installation one of the best whole house standby generators, 22-25 kW units that are more expensive to purchase and maintain, but keep all lights, appliances, and outages powered in most of a large home will be much higher (from $4,500 to $12,000).
Natural Gas Generator Cost and Benefits
Whole House Natural Gas Generators are by far the lowest long term cost solution for any home with natural gas service already in place—the lowest initial cost, and the lowest operating cost! The generator units alone generally are priced at 10-15% below similar propane models – Most sizes for residential use are from about $3,000 to $8,000 depending on how much power capacity you need.
Natural gas system installations enjoy the added advantage of straightforward fuel hook-ups when sufficient capacity exists along pre-installed gas lines. Standard installations only for gas extension lines and pressure regulation, no concrete pad/tank installation necessary as with propane systems. But households and businesses without existing natural gas service, or with lines that are too small, could see extra costs of between $1,500 and $5,000 to install new gas lines or expand existing ones.
The benefits of natural gas in operation can add up over time, ranging from 40%−60% less expensive compared to the price of propane gas based on the equivalent energy. During longer outages this difference can result in significant savings, especially for larger generators running for days. Natural gas also allows you to never have to worry about refueling or storage, as well as never have to schedule deliveries during an emergency and have enough capacity on the delivery truck to power your generator during an extended power outage.
Natural gas generators are well suited to urban and suburban areas where utility supply infrastructure is dependable, but are susceptible to fuel being cut off during natural disasters that cause damage to utility gas lines. Occasionally, but not generically, integrated safety systems will now be available such as automatic gas shut off and detection of leakage which increases safety in use compared to previous installations.
Costs and Benefits of a Propane Generator
Propane Whole House Generators propane whole house generators are high-dollar production generators for unit and labor costs, but they are the most dependable and makes the most sense if there is no propane in the area. Generator units usually cost 10 to 20 percent more than their natural gas counterparts, with models for the home priced between $3,500 and $10,000, depending on size and features.
Installation complexity plays a major role in determining the cost of propane systems, since the pressure tank and fuel lines need to be installed. For underground propane tank installation, costs are $2,000 to $4,000, which cover excavation, setting the tank, and any necessary permits and other local requirements. Above-ground systems save $1,000 to $2,000 off of the bottom line, but require clearance — and can be less esthetic, or even violate local zoning in some communities.
Sizing of tanks is a very important cost factor; if they are too small the tank will have to be refilled every time due to a prolonged power outage and, if too large, the customer has a significant investment in capital without a corresponding benefit. Backyard Residential installs typically are 250-500 gallon tanks at a cost of $1,200 to $3,000 installed or 1,000 gallon systems with costs of $2,000 to $4,000 (for larger homes).
Propane is also a stable, safe energy source in the event of a natural disaster since stored fuel on user’s property does not rely on any external utility for supply. This freedom is particularly useful to have in rural areas, where power failures may last for a long time, or areas where the natural gas supply is unreliable. Propane is a cleaner-burning fuel than diesel, minimizing service intervals and extending the life of your generator as contrasted to other alternative fuel options.
The cost benefits of Diesel Generators
Diesel whole house generatorsDiesel whole house generators are sold to the top per cent of the resident consumer and are priced 20-40% higher over natural gas models because they are heavier duty and have more complex fuel setups. If you are in need of a whole-home generator for your house, you can expect to spend $5,000 and up for a diesel generator for your home.While industrial sized options can have price tags well above $20K
The diesel installation cost; including the cost of the fuel tank, fuel lines and often improved ventilation systems will add between $3,000 to $6,000 to the price of a base installation.” Installation of an underground diesel tank requires specific contractors and environmental requirements that complicate and add cost to the installation compared to the propane options.
The power output and efficiency of diesel generators are much better and hence better for large homes above 30 KW where the natural gas pipeline is not so efficient. Fuel efficiency benefits are magnified during long duration outages, as diesel generators tend to burn 40-50% less fuel per kWh produced versus propane units of same output.
Diesel system maintenance requirements require increased maintenance and expense, with recommended service intervals at every 100-200 hours of use versus 200-300 hours for natural gas installations. Diesel fuel storage is known to be problematic for fuel degradation, water entrapment, and the need to clean the tanks periodically are costly for ongoing operation.
Installation Cost Factors
There are a number of key components of the whole house generator systems installation price beyond the base cost of appliance and labor, and that accounts for the wide price differences between even what looks like the same job. Panel capacity and retrofitting costs are the primary factors here, as features from older homes with poor electrical service can necessitate costly panel upgrades which can easily fall within the $2,000 to $5,000 range.
Site Prep costs fluctuate wildly from place to place due to accessibility, soil conditions, and utility conflicts. No preparations are a breeze on flat ground with electrical and utility hookups in close proximity and can add $5,000 to $15,000 to project costs for difficult sites that need a lot of excavation, retaining walls, or utility relocation.
Permit and inspection fees add $500 to $2,000 to installation costs, depending on local complexity and generator size. More On S.TIP Overburdensome and costly engineering drawings and a multitude of inspection stages are required by many municipalities in connection with project time lines along with professional service costs.
ATS selection has a major affect on function, as well as price, with simple transfer switches starting at ~ $800, and advanced load management systems at $3000 and more. The improved convenience and systems optimization offered by these sophisticated systems that focus on critical circuits and are equipped with remote monitoring justifies the increased expense.
Cost Comparison by Home Size
Knowing house generator cost installed needs based on your home size helps with budgeting and eliminates over-specification which can lead to waste of money on oversizing. Houses to 1,500 SF that are compact need 13-16 KW generators that sell for $3,000 to $4,500 for the generator itself and installation costs of $7,000 to $10,000.
Medium to large homes in the range of 1500 to 3000 square feet require around 17-20 kW of power, with generators in the range of $4000 to $6000 and a total installed cost of $8000 to $12,000. These do not provide enough power to run all the circuits, but provide power for essential circuits plus comfortable features such as central A/C, all the major appliances and more.
Big homes over 3,000 square feet need more power, often 22-25 kW costing $4,500-$12,000 for the unit and total cost installed can range from $10,000 to $18,000. Larger, higher end homes, that have significant electric needs, may require 30kW+ commercial-grade systems which will take the whole cost over $25,000.
The cost of a kW of electricity also tends to fall with the size of the unit, so bigger generators are usually more cost-effective per kW of capacity. But the down-side of over-sizing is wasted money, since out of that maximum size, only maybe 1/4 of that in 24/7 operation time, and the rest is junk unused capacity, but under-sizing leaves you frustrated at outages when critical systems can’t all run at once.
Long-term Operating Costs
Lifetime costs of operation can be higher than the initial installation cost over the 15-25 year life of generators and thus the fuel type and maintenance scheduling and costs are of significant concern. Natural gas fuel is the least expensive to operate and during normal outages costs $2-$4 an hour to operate depending on size for residential units.
Operating a generator on propane is 40-60% more expensive than running it off natural gas, with hourly fuel costs of $4-8 per hour depending on the size of the generator and the pay rate of propane in the area. Propane systems are, likewise, capable of reduced maintenance requirements today that don’t require regular fuel volume and sufÞce with annual visual inspections and diagnostics.It has the slightly lower energy content compared to conventional propane formulations, it is less stable but can store longer than can diesel.
Diesel powered generators although very efficient have the expense of the fuel at $5-10 per hour plus some other fuel when stored for long periods of time, fuel stabilizers, tank maintenance, and periodic refilling. Oil changes and filter changes also must be changed more frequently on diesel system adding maintenance costs of $200-400 per year over natural gas systems.
The frequency at which maintenance is performed is quite different depending upon the fuel source, with natural gas generators generally serviced at 200-300 hour intervals, versus 100-200 for diesel. Plan on $300-600/year in professional maintenance visits and get it scheduled right for budgeting and reliability.
Conclusion
Installed whole house generator price is dependent on fuel choices, sizing, and work necessary to install rather than the generator itself, needing to have an assessment of the cost of both initial infrastructure expenses and on-going usage costs. The natural gas system is the low cost solution for homes relying on an existing natural gas service line with competitively priced installation paired with the lowest monthly fuel costs. Propane: If solid reliability and a gas supply independent from utility infrastructure are your top priorities, propane generators are a great answer for higher prices due to the extra equipment and tank install needs. Diesel systems are the most expensive up front, but offer the best power density and efficiency for large houses with large backup loads.
Costs according to current market prices can be estimated based on recent online quotes to be between $6-$11K for a standard residential installation with some max installs as high as $25,000 based on the size and complexity of the installation. To ensure proper generator set selection and optimal total project cost – for a successful generator installation – the following factors must be taken into account during the project initiation phase: Electrical needs Fuel availability Site work requirements SYSTEM SELECTION The proportional relationship of system size to overall cost must be weighed against the benefits of a properly sized system. The significant investment in the whole house backup power is the reason for a well-planned installation by a professional in order to have many great years of a full house operation during the power loss while having the return of the full house when it is a matter of correct decisions in the fuel type or sizing of it.
