This article is here to focus on how consumers can pick the best backup generator company for their needs. There are plenty of contractors/companies out there, but the truth of the matter is that they’re not all created equally in terms of sales, installation and maintenance. 

There are many generator manufacturers to choose from including Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Champion, Cummins, and Generac, with Generac as the heaviest hitter in terms of the best quality and service. 

This article will also cover how homes are unique from one another and should have a backup generator consultant/contractor assess their power needs for a partial-home or whole home backup generator.

What to Consider

One of the main things you should consider when evaluating a potential generator company is to first make sure the company you’re considering will offer a free assessment and consultation.

Any generator sales and installation company that’s worth potentially hiring should always offer a free assessment in the early stages of getting you a generator for your home, commercial property, or industrial complex. Companies willing to sell you a generator without first assessing your specific needs and doing so at no cost to you should definitely be avoided.

You want to make sure that the two of you will be a good fit, and that the generator they can provide is a good match for your lifestyle and the place in which it’s going to be installed.

When picking what company to buy your backup generator from, there are a few facets of the process that you must keep in mind. You can always buy one from your local hardware store, but it’s important to remember installation – who’s going to do it? When considering installation, it’s always best to keep generator companies on the forefront of your mind. It’s not always about the best generator you can find (although that is important).

Something else besides standby generator installation that you might not be able to handle on your own are installation permits – permits don’t count as DIY type of projects. There are specific permits involving generators and their installation that are specific to your town and region. Not all permits are created equal, and they differ in all areas of the United States. In order to have a generator that’s up to code, you must abide by these permits. When going through a trusted manufacturer, it’s ensured that your generator will come with the necessary permits to allow it to run for your home. 

And what about ongoing maintenance? By independently buying a generator and choosing not to go through a trusted company, there’s no guaranteed maintenance on your device. When going through a generator company, you can always count on the skilled team of professionals and installers to help you with whatever your generator may need, along with providing routine checks. 

When picking a company to get your backup generator from, here are a few key things to consider: 

  • Assessing your KW rating needs for your home, commercial, or industrial backup generator
  • Providing a free quote for sales and installation of a new standby generator
  • Getting all of the appropriate permits from local governments, HOAs, etc.
  • Installation of your new generator
  • Product backed up by a multi-year warranty
  • Ongoing maintenance of your new generator to ensure it lasts for 10-15+ years
  • Backup generator manufacturers or companies that don’t offer guarantees/warranties for their products should at all times be avoided. Luckily, Generac is not one of these manufacturers. 

Generac generators, as covered above, have the best warranty for their products and provide amazing customer service vs. their competition.

When you have a generator installed, always make sure the company you bought it from can provide ongoing maintenance as a part of their ongoing support post sale and installation. Nothing is worse than having a generator fail when the power goes out simply because it wasn’t properly maintained. Then, you’ll be stuck in the dark – quite literally. 

Manufacturers

The top five most popular brands of backup generators are: Generac, Kohler, Champion, Briggs & Stratton, and Cummins. 

Kohler specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling standard generator sets of 1 kVA to 3000 kVA. It also offers a vast range of portable generators and industrial generators.

Champion has years of experience providing dependable and durable power products designed and engineered in the US for the North American and world markets.

Briggs & Stratton makes work easier and improves lives by providing innovative products, diverse power solutions and a superior support network.

Cummins designs and manufactures power generation equipment, including generator sets with a power potential of 2.5kW – 3,500 kW.

Generac, the top choice, was the first company to design affordable home standby generators. It manufactures a vast range of power equipment, including portable, industrial, residential, and commercial generators. It is one of the only major generator manufacturers that truly back their product with a three-year guarantee which, based on our experience, is seldom needed due to the exceptional quality of their products. Their generator power has the efficiency and power to fuel your entire house.

Your Home is Unique

The energy that your home needs won’t be the same as what your friend’s needs, or what your neighbor’s needs. Your home is an entity of its own, which means that it should be treated as such by the generator company that you choose. 

Before settling with a particular company, an electrician or consultant of the potential company that you choose should assess your home’s needs – whether that deals with the generator size that it calls for or whether it needs a partial-home or a whole home backup generator. 

Whole Home Generators

In the case of a power outage or blackout, whole home generators provide fail-over for the entire electric system of your home. They are ideal for primary residences and situations that call for continuous utility power throughout the entire home (like heat, if you live in a very cold climate, or air conditioner power if you live in an extremely hot one.) 

In general, for most customers, picking a whole home generator proves to be more efficient in relation to wattage than a partial home generator. Partial home generators typically call for more equipment usage and annual maintenance. They also involve the thought process of adding another breaker or outlet to the generator in the years to come, and in certain cases, that might not be possible. 

Try to avoid purchasing a system that’s only good for the current moment. Think into the future and what your whole house can always benefit from. 

Partial Home Generators

Partial home generators provide fail-over for certain parts of the home, things like select lights, appliances, and outlets. This choice is great for vacation homes and backup power for critical systems like elevators, the well pump, the water heater, the sump pump, and life support. 

There’s nothing wrong with purchasing a partial generator if you understand its capabilities and know that it’s what the power system of your home needs. In order to be sure of this decision, it’s a good idea to get a generator consultant out to your location to see what choice is best. 

Final Thoughts

Generator One is here to aid homeowners through their darkest times. Our goal is to provide you with the peace of mind that a backup generator promises. When your power goes out, you don’t want to be left stranded and without a lifeline, which is why you need a trustworthy backup generator that you can depend on – the right generator supplied by a trustworthy company that aligns with your needs and your values and that can match the quality of their product with the quality of your home.