About to push the button to buy a backup generator. I'm tight. I'm buying a 3kw Honda. Recommendation is a 7kw, but it's double the price and very large. I'm mostly getting the generator to make the other half happy, she worries about power out. We have oil heating and water heating, and gas for cooking. With led lighting, it's really only the fridges and the water pumps that use a lot of power. Oh, and the coffee machine. I can run most of that on 3kw. The key is that the oil heating and the gas cooktop won't run without a little bit of power for the igniters and the circulating pump.
So, yeah, whole house generators are expensive. Even small ones are still expensive.
I have a Honda generator and I hadn't used it in 7 or 8 months, and when I tried to start it, it wouldn't start. What I found out the hard way was that the modern gasoline goes bad quite quickly and that was the problem. Since then I have been adding a fuel stabilizer and making sure to start it every 2 or 3 months and exercise it.
I have a Honda powered 3500W Porter Cable.
It is a first class machine, but at the very threshold of running (starting) my 1HP 240V water pump.
I just ordered a 12,500 Westinghouse tri-fuel (I have natural gas) unit.
It will be an experiment ($1076 net).
Made in Vietnam and/or China, but has good reports.
I had a Honda EB5000 that I bought new during the ice storm of 1998 here. A devastating storm across the northeast. Anyway I had a issue with starting and a customer of mine a small engine guy pulled off the carb and took it apart and he showed me the green inside from the corn gas. He also told me running it dry was only so good as honda puts a tiny pet cock drain you open with a screw to fully drain the system. After I was shown that I always drained it. Never a issue. I recently replaced it with a chinaFreight super quiet 9500 generator. And sold mine. A friend on his way to Alaska just dropped it off in Minnesota to some family of his there. A testament to honda this one still started 1st pull. But use the drain screw.
I have a 6500W Honda, ......electric start, liquid cooled, OHV.
First class machine.
It has now mysteriously taken up residence at my son's house, however.
I also have a Honda powered Porter Cable unit, but it is only 3500W, and is difficult, with line loss, to start my 1HP 220V water pump,
Yesterday, I ordered a tri-fuel Westinghouse 12.5 KW unit from Home Depot.
I do have natural gas.
Made in China/Vietnam, has electric start, steel sleeve, and does have good reviews.
Cheap at $1076 OTD,.....only time will tell if it is a good value,......
I have taken much greater risks over my 83 years.
Edit:
I cancelled my Home Depot order, and bought an 8,500W dual fuel DuroMax instead.
I do NOT need a "standby" generator, only an "emergency" generator.
I have potential need for only the Summer (hurricane) months.
DuroMax unit has very good reviews, 3 year warranty on parts, and a local repair facility.
Made in Vietnam(?) $719 delivered.
Will use with Propane only!
We shall see......
Just got it,.....nice looking unit,.....not yet tested.