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Started By
Message
Whole Home Generator Installation
Posted on 1/9/26 at 4:36 pm
Posted on 1/9/26 at 4:36 pm
I purchased a home late last year. It already has a Generac ATS installed. I spoke with original builder and he hooked that up when he built in 2011 but didn’t get a generator installed for budget reasons at the time and just never did it.
I had someone come over today and quote me. $12k. I already have the ATS, and we’d be running 8 feet of wire/conduit, and 8 feet of gas pipe to the generator.
I can buy the same 24kW at Lowes for $6k. What specifically do these companies offer where I can’t just get a private electrician and plumber and buy it myself and get hooked up to save a few thousand? Or is the juice not worth the squeeze?
I had someone come over today and quote me. $12k. I already have the ATS, and we’d be running 8 feet of wire/conduit, and 8 feet of gas pipe to the generator.
I can buy the same 24kW at Lowes for $6k. What specifically do these companies offer where I can’t just get a private electrician and plumber and buy it myself and get hooked up to save a few thousand? Or is the juice not worth the squeeze?
10
Posted on 1/9/26 at 5:28 pm to Tiger328
quote:nothing really. The high dollar work is at the electrical service and if you already have the ATS (is it terminated at the main?) then you are good to go. Call a plumber and have the gas line run and have the plumber terminate at the genset. Then electrician and you’re done
What specifically do these companies offer where I can’t just get a private electrician and plumber and buy it myself and get hooked up to save a few thousand?
Posted on 1/9/26 at 5:31 pm to Tiger328
quote:
What specifically do these companies offer where I can’t just get a private electrician and plumber and buy it myself and get hooked up to save a few thousand? Or is the juice not worth the squeeze?
I got a bunch of quotes last year and was wondering the same.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 8:01 pm to Tiger328
I bought my Generac online and it was drop shipped to my house. Me and a couple of friends unboxed it and put it on the pad I installed. We used movers straps due to the weight. I had a local plumber run a gas line from my gas meter to the generator and hook it up. Had a local electrician install the transfer switch and hook it into my panel and run a line to the generator.
The whole process was many thousands less than what these dealers are charging.
The whole process was many thousands less than what these dealers are charging.
This post was edited on 1/9/26 at 8:03 pm
Posted on 1/9/26 at 9:42 pm to Tiger328
I had a guy that works for a generator company come hook up the wires for $200. I installed a pad and ran the gas lines myself. It’s actually pretty easy to do.
If your transfer switch is already installed, then hooking up the generator to it is also pretty easy. Because the transfer switch is installed you don’t have to get the energy company to disconnect the power. I didn’t do it myself, because I wasn’t fully confident I could do it without electrocuting myself.
Bunch of YouTube videos you could learn from. Inevitably someone on the board will come on and say you’ll be an idiot for trying to do it yourself if you chose that route.
If you hire it out yourself, look for the smaller electricians and plumbers. They’re more than likely to take on this somewhat smaller job.
If your transfer switch is already installed, then hooking up the generator to it is also pretty easy. Because the transfer switch is installed you don’t have to get the energy company to disconnect the power. I didn’t do it myself, because I wasn’t fully confident I could do it without electrocuting myself.
Bunch of YouTube videos you could learn from. Inevitably someone on the board will come on and say you’ll be an idiot for trying to do it yourself if you chose that route.
If you hire it out yourself, look for the smaller electricians and plumbers. They’re more than likely to take on this somewhat smaller job.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 10:04 pm to Tiger328
I had the ATS installed when I built, I was pretty shocked myself when the quotes for the generator install was as much with the transfer switch already installed as it would have been to get the whole thing when we built in '21. I looked into doing it myself, but was told (by other people, not the installers) that Generac required a licensed installer to get the activation code, could be BS, but I went ahead and went through an installer.
They were a good resource, and definitely did some things I would not have been able to do on my own, like wiring a delay to my AC unit. It came with the first year service contract, with mobile link, and a 10 year warranty. They pulled permits through Ascension Parish, which is a money racket. You can also finance through the dealer if that's something you're interested in.
They were a good resource, and definitely did some things I would not have been able to do on my own, like wiring a delay to my AC unit. It came with the first year service contract, with mobile link, and a 10 year warranty. They pulled permits through Ascension Parish, which is a money racket. You can also finance through the dealer if that's something you're interested in.
Posted on 1/10/26 at 1:10 am to Citica8
It’s BS about having a licensed installer. I poured my pad for it, pulled the wire across my attic as gas and electrical were on opposite sides of my house. I bought the generac cable which was like $7 per foot which I thought was expensive but turns out it’s the same price as going get what wires I needed from Lowe’s. The generac wire is nice because it’s all in one cable and the transfer switch as well as generator or color coded for each wire. I connected everything and let my father in law install the transfer switch. He was an electrician. No licensed installer necessary and I have the full extended warranty. No issues ever.
Posted on 1/10/26 at 5:09 am to Tiger328
I think the biggest issue is getting warranty work done. Not saying it's completely voided but I could see the manu using it as an excuse to tell you to go jump in a lake if the motor takes a dump or something.
Posted on 1/10/26 at 9:54 am to Turnblad85
Is the same generator that the dealers provide the same that Lowe’s provides? Or should I buy off the Generac site?
Only asking because I know like lawnmowers for instance, if you buy a John Deere at a dealer it’s better quality and better made than if you buy at Lowe’s
Only asking because I know like lawnmowers for instance, if you buy a John Deere at a dealer it’s better quality and better made than if you buy at Lowe’s
Posted on 1/10/26 at 7:07 pm to Tiger328
I'm pretty sure all of the Generacs are the same, for a while Lowes was selling a Centurion by Generac, which was probably also the same.
quote:Good to know, it was way more work than I was willing to do in the middle of May
It’s BS about having a licensed installer. No licensed installer necessary and I have the full extended warranty. No issues ever.
Posted on 1/10/26 at 7:34 pm to Citica8
I reached out to Lowe’s and gonna get a quote from their private installer. Curious what price they can come in at
Posted on 1/10/26 at 8:52 pm to Tiger328
Not sure where you're at but I'm pretty sure Lowes uses ResCom as the installer in the greater Baton Rouge area. I'm in Ascension and went with HMC over ResCom
Posted on 1/11/26 at 1:48 pm to Citica8
I’m in Ascension and they’re sending out Gengatorz
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:25 am to Tiger328
Be sure you get a wholehouse surge protector installed with the generator.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:17 am to Tiger328
I got about the same quote here in Florida. My house is 2 years old and the quote was 12.5K for a 24K generac. Thats installed. The location for the unit is just outside my garage, very close to my panel. That seem to help the quote
I know things in Florida are a little higher than most other places.
Was gonna do it but my wife wants a whole house water filtration system first.
I know things in Florida are a little higher than most other places.
Was gonna do it but my wife wants a whole house water filtration system first.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 7:15 am to Turnblad85
quote:
I think the biggest issue is getting warranty work done. Not saying it's completely voided but I could see the manu using it as an excuse to tell you to go jump in a lake if the motor takes a dump or something.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 9:32 am to Tiger328
quote:
Me and a couple of friends unboxed it and put it on the pad I installed. We used movers straps due to the weight. I had a local plumber run a gas line from my gas meter to the generator and hook it up. Had a local electrician install the transfer switch and hook it into my panel and run a line to the generator.
This is what we did as well, bought it form Lowes.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 5:44 pm to jpainter6174
The fact the “tough” part is complete with the ATS already installed and wired in and my natural gas has a tap and upsized regulator tells me it should be a very simple tie in with someone that knows what they’re doing but not for $6-$7k more than the generator is worth. Just that minimal work doesn’t scream $6-$7k to me, even though I personally don’t have the skill set to do it
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 5:45 pm
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