Anyone have one? Looking into one, but not sure the gas company runs lines to where the land is (and the home will eventually be built), which means I’d need a tank. Anyone have experience? Helpful hints? Advice?
We run a Kholer off of propane. Our house runs off of propane so we extended the line from the main propane tank to the generator. It has an auto switch so that when power drops the generator automatically kicks on. The barn power is also tied into the generator. The generator was a great investment as we have lost power for extended periods multiple times.
So from a propane tank standpoint, how big is it and how often do you have it filled? Is it buried underground or does it sit free standing? I want the home and barn tied into it as well. I want a gas oven, tankless gas hot water heater as well so that sounds like your solution could work for me:) Thanks for sharing!
We put in a 24 KW Kohler. Runs just about everything in the 1700sq house (including air conditioning), plus the 4 stall barn, plus the tank heaters in the pastures.
We don’t have gas lines out here, and when we built the farm 12 years ago, we only did electric. When we made the decision to install a whole-house generator, we also changed the heating system to run aux heat below 28 degrees. The house is now MUCh warmer in winter.
We signed a 7 year contract with Dixie Gas and Oil. They came out, buried a 500 gallon propane tank for free. We agreed to only use Dixie Gas for 7 years. If we break the contract, we owe a sliding fee for the tank installation.
The whole-house generator has been one of the smartest things we have ever done. Like FitToBeTied, we’ve lost power for extended periods (up to 5 days after the Virginia derecho a few years back) and we’ve been very comfortable. I loff that thing.
Tank installation will depend on your area and your service providers.
For example, when we built our house we wanted a buried tank but none of the providers would offer this and we could not find a company that would fill a tank that was not theirs. That meant even if we bought and properly installed a tank they would not fill it. Too much liability.
We build custom lake homes and put in whole house generators at many of the homes we build. In our area it’s a worthwhile investment, but maybe not so much in other areas of the US.
My generator is not whole house, but it has successfully seen me through 28 days of no power one year and another 5 days the next year (thank you hurricanes).
Propane companies have tanks that can be set either in or above the ground, at least in my area. There are usually several differently sized tanks that you can choose from as well. Depending on the size of the tank and your usage, your usage will vary.
Research carefully the tankless water heater, especially if your home is modular or an older build. The electrical requirements for many of the tankless heaters are above some older homes pre-existing electrical build, and you may have to add outlets/circuits/breakers for the heater fans, and you have to add venting.
Mine was put in ten years ago and has it’s own 500 gallon propane tank, that is topped off once a year, in November, before winter storms hit.
It barely uses a tank a year, unless we have such a storm that leaves us without electricity for a week or so.
It has it’s own panel and comes on once a week at full load for 30 minutes and of course when the electricity goes off, which being at the end of the line, is often here.
Ours handles the whole all electric house, furnace and heat pump and all, shop, barns and wells, everything.
I recommend one for anyone, it is worth whatever you can spend on one, if a smaller portable one just for your well and house heath, or a whole house one if you can handle that initial cost.
We used to have a Kohler one for a good 20 years, but the service man had to come from hundreds of miles away.
Now we have one Caterpillar sells and they are local, so they can handle servicing and smaller repairs, like when lightning hit it and blew some panel components.
We could in a pinch use our welder for the well, so the livestock has water.
In a blizzard, that is not the time to try to be out there taking care to set that up and keep it running.
Thanks everyone! Sounds like a worthwhile investment. Now to find a propane company:)
[QUOTE=RacetrackReject;7785187]
Research carefully the tankless water heater, especially if your home is modular or an older build. The electrical requirements for many of the tankless heaters are above some older homes pre-existing electrical build, and you may have to add outlets/circuits/breakers for the heater fans, and you have to add venting.[/QUOTE]Wouldn’t that only apply for an electrical water heater? OP wants gas. And from posts on here about the cost of propane last winter, I’d think that would be very expensive to run–anyone do it?
[QUOTE=OTTBs;7786691]
Wouldn’t that only apply for an electrical water heater? OP wants gas. And from posts on here about the cost of propane last winter, I’d think that would be very expensive to run–anyone do it?[/QUOTE]
It is good advice with gas or electric. Make sure if you are going to use an on demand water heater that your service (gas or electric) can handle the load that type of water heater will use. Even gas fired have a pretty serious draw. I know the propane line (and regulator) I have from my tank to my house (which is currently designed for my stove/oven, furnace and tank type water heater) would need changing if I wanted to use an on demand sized for my house.
I assume these whole house generator is something that you hard wired to the house, and not “portable”? Do you need to do something to “switch it on” sort of speak, when you lose electricity?
[QUOTE=trubandloki;7786747]
It is good advice with gas or electric. Make sure if you are going to use an on demand water heater that your service (gas or electric) can handle the load that type of water heater will use. Even gas fired have a pretty serious draw. I know the propane line (and regulator) I have from my tank to my house (which is currently designed for my stove/oven, furnace and tank type water heater) would need changing if I wanted to use an on demand sized for my house.[/QUOTE]
Agreed- my house was built in 2001, we have propane. We looked into an on demand system and the logistics of making it work were far more trouble than we wanted to fool with.
[QUOTE=Gloria;7786802]
I assume these whole house generator is something that you hard wired to the house, and not “portable”? Do you need to do something to “switch it on” sort of speak, when you lose electricity?[/QUOTE]
We were quoted $12,000 for a whole house generator which was way out of our price range. Instead, we got a Honda portable generator that is easy to use. When we lose power, I turn the gas switch to on, turn the key, and the generator turns on. I plug the power cord into the generator and then select what parts of the house need power. The Honda powers our well, the oil furnace, the microwave, refrigerator, and multiple electric outlets. It is really easy to use.
Several families on our street have generators with pull starts. Most of the wives cannot make them start. I really like the Honda because it turns on with just the turn of a key. It is also quieter than what the neighbors have.
[QUOTE=Gloria;7786802]
I assume these whole house generator is something that you hard wired to the house, and not “portable”? Do you need to do something to “switch it on” sort of speak, when you lose electricity?[/QUOTE]
There are all kinds, some set for manual, some automatic, all generally, those that are not portable, are wired to the house.
Ours is wired and set on automatic, if the electricity is off for 3 seconds, the generator kicks in.
Once it feels the electricity is coming back, it cuts off, but runs another 5 minutes on a cooling off cycle.
The motor to the generator we have is exactly the same you see in a Ford pickup, just set to generate electricity with propane, not turn gears and so wheels to get you down the highway.
It uses the same filters, oil and parts.
Those water heaters on demand have one downfall, they are very sensitive to impurities in water.
We didn’t put one in because of that.
Our water is too full of minerals to let one work for long.
It would need repairs all the time, as those that have tried them here found out the hard way.
More to consider when deciding what water heater to install.
So on the water heater front, what are ya’lls preferences? I was leaning towards the tankless as I am one person household, and good/bad/indifferent - I like the design of the tankless, to me they take up less space. What about heat pump water heaters ? I am not sure I understand - still electric but somehow more efficient?
[QUOTE=ellisrun;7785140]
Anyone have one? Looking into one, but not sure the gas company runs lines to where the land is (and the home will eventually be built), which means I’d need a tank. Anyone have experience? Helpful hints? Advice?[/QUOTE]
My recent research could help.
- Like you, we don’t have natural gas so we’ll have to use diesel, gas, or propane. While diesel is reliable and most fuel efficient, it’s hard to justify for whole-home use on the basis of cost because of the cost of the generator. Propane is less fuel efficient but it’s simple and the fuel won’t go bad. We have a propane tank to feed our kitchen range so we’ll use that and up-size the tank if need be. Gasoline is fine for portable generators but I would not buy one for whole-home use, especially considering how unstable current pump gasoline is. If you do opt for gasoline, take special care of the fuel and avoid ethanol at all costs. IMNSHO.
- Kohler has the best all-around ratings. Plenty of folks are using Generac, but among the people who install and maintain this class of generator, Kohler seems to be preferred.
- The transfer switch and wiring installation is a big part of things. Leave plenty of money for this part of the project and understand what you expect to run when the generator is supporting things, and make sure you and the electrical contractor fully understand the configuration.
- Propane and Natural Gas generators are basically the same thing with minor changes in settings or configuration.
- Get to know the maintenance routine AND FOLLOW IT. These cost as much as some cars, and to not have it run when you really need it is beyond nuts. So although you might not put hours on it, hours not running also have a cost and so maintenance must carry on.
David
I don’t currently have one, but it’s in the plans for when I have the funds. Natural gas is our only utility from the street (outside of electric and communications) so when the power is down, we have no water, no septic (pumps up the hill) and so forth. We made do with a small portable one during Sandy, but that really got old.
If you don’t have natural gas, you can get the same type of unit for use with propane. The only downside to propane is that the supply is limited to what your tank(s) hold(s).
You also want an automatic transfer switch system…most of the 200 amp type whole-house units either come with one or have a matched unit available. And remember, you need to test the system on a regular basis. Sometimes that’s automatic, and sometimes it’s manual. It depends on what you buy.
Ours is a Guardian from Caterpillar.
They sell portable ones on trailers for construction, oil and gas exploration and all and any other uses.
I have seen some of those run for months without stop on oil and gas drilling sites, without a glitch.
Caterpillar sends someone to service once a year, that tests it at that time also and makes any adjustment necessary to it.
Ours is ten years old and just this summer had one problem, it would come on to test once a week and work on full load, but would not turn itself off.
The electrician they sent said lightning hit the panel and he had to change several relays and switches and it is working fine now.
Those generators generally just work and work and work without any problem, but you do have to service them, as DHcarrotfeeder mentioned.
The advantage of one as we have is that, if you are not home and the electricity goes off, you won’t lose heat, water for the livestock or any other you need.
In a storm or blizzard, you won’t have to go out there and try to hook things up to keep stuff running and change the smaller generator here and there to service it all, one at the time, all during bad weather.
Electricians change generators after so long for sheriff’s offices, court houses, hospitals and any business that can’t do without.
If you don’t want to buy a new one, they can find a perfectly fine one of those, where someone upgrades, that will be right for you.
Our old Koehler 10K for headquarters is still running fine after 40+ years, so they last long time.
We didn’t get that brand for the new house because they are so far away and take long to come service it.
Caterpillar is many times closer.
750 g burried tank but we use propane for more than just the generator.
