EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STANDBY GENERATORS

This depends on whether you want to power your whole house, essential circuits or somewhere in between. It’s a good idea to make a list of the items that you feel are essential and itemize them in order of importance. One size does not fit all.

The generator should be placed at least 5 feet from any opening such as a door, window, and exhaust or intake air vent. It should also be placed at least 10 feet away from propane tanks. Place the generator (this depends on the manufacture) 2 feet to 5 feet away from any combustible material, such as your house, a deck or porch, and vegetation.

70% of all automatic standby generators in the state of Maine run on Propane Gas. The remaining 30% are run on natural gas. There are diesel generators but I have not seen many. As a side note, 90% of the automatic generators out there can be converted from propane to natural gas easily. No need to purchase a new generator if natural gas becomes available.

Generators typically draw around 1.5 gallons per hour. Propane tanks vary on size but the most common size is a 110 gallon tank.

You are always welcome to hear a unit run here at our office, or as one customer put it “it sounds like a lawn mower.” As a reference point she was standing three feet away from the unit.

All the brands have their different strengths and weaknesses. We represent Generac, Briggs and Stratton, GE, and Kohler. I will share with you all of the brands and you can choose which is best for you. We represent all of the brands because it is not about what I want it is about what is best for you and only you know what is best for you.

We are not appraisal experts by any stretch of the imagination. However, there have been studies that demonstrate a standby generator does add value to your home. This is typically true in areas where power goes out frequently due to storms. If your potential buyer has a choice between a house with a generator and one without, there’s a good chance the generator will be a strong selling point. (study referenced: https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2016/west-north-central/)

In order to determine cost, we need to plan a site visit to assess your particular needs. Installation of a typical air cooled home standby generator can run from $4,999 to $11,999 depending on the size of the generator and the difficulty (or ease) of the installation.

Yes! We have financing programs that range from 6 months to 24 months, interest deferred. If you pay the generator off in this time period, you will never pay a dime of interest.