Generator Buying Guides
Straightforward answers to the questions we hear every day — from sizing your generator to choosing the right brand. No jargon, no fluff, no fake stats. Written by Total Generator Pros, factory-authorized for Generac, Cummins and Kohler.
What Size Generator Do I Need?
Sizing rules of thumb, air-cooled vs liquid-cooled ranges, and how to estimate running and surge wattage.
Air-Cooled vs Liquid-Cooled Generators
How cooling method affects kW range, sustained-load capacity, install cost, and which platform fits your home or business.
Natural Gas vs Diesel Standby Generators
Compare runtime, refueling, maintenance, cost, and emissions to choose the right fuel for your backup power system.
Whole-House Generator Cost
Honest unit and installation cost ranges by size, fuel, and cooling type — plus how to get an exact quote.
Generac Generator Cost
Guardian air-cooled vs Protector liquid-cooled unit pricing, install cost factors, and how to get an installed quote.
Generac 22kW Generator Cost
America's most-installed home standby size — unit vs install, 7042 vs 7043 bundle, fuel choice, and financing.
Cummins 20kW Cost (RS20A / C20N6H)
Both model names explained, unit vs install, what makes QuietConnect different, and ATS bundle options.
Do I Need a Transfer Switch?
What an ATS does, automatic vs manual, sizing, safety, and whether a transfer switch is included with your generator.
Standby vs Portable Generators
Installation, fuel, automatic vs manual operation, runtime, and which one is right for your home.
Generac vs Cummins
A factory-authorized dealer's honest comparison of the two leading home standby brands.
Portable Generator Safety: The Rules That Save Lives
The non-negotiable portable generator safety rules: carbon monoxide placement, dry operation, safe connections vs backfeeding, fuel storage, and when a transfer switch is required.
Do Whole-Home Generators Increase Home Value?
What a standby generator does for resale: appraisal value, buyer appeal in outage-prone markets, insurance considerations, and how it compares to other home upgrades.
Hurricane Season Generator Checklist
Get power-ready before the storm: the complete pre-season checklist for standby owners, portable owners, and homes with no backup yet. June-November is the season — prep in May.
How Loud Are Home Generators?
Standby generator noise explained: realistic dBA levels, what those numbers feel like, quiet-test modes, placement rules, and which units run quietest.
Natural Gas vs Propane for Home Generators
NG vs LP for standby generators: runtime, cost per hour, output differences, tank logistics, and how to choose. Most home standby units run on either — here is how to pick.
What Size Generator for a 4,000+ Sq Ft House?
Sizing a standby generator for a large home: why 24-26kW air-cooled is the floor, when liquid-cooled becomes the right call, and how load management changes the equation.
Home Generator Maintenance: The Owner's Guide
What standby generator maintenance actually involves: the real schedule, what you can DIY vs what needs a pro, typical costs, and how maintenance protects your warranty.
What Size Generator for a 2,500 Sq Ft House?
The honest sizing answer for a typical 2,500 sq ft home: which kW range fits, what changes the answer (AC, well pump, electric heat), and the units we recommend most.
Can a Generator Power Central Air Conditioning?
Yes — if it is sized for the surge. What it takes to run central air on a generator: starting watts vs running watts, kW recommendations by AC tonnage, and soft-starter tricks.
How Long Do Home Generators Last?
Standby generator lifespan explained: typical years of service for air-cooled and liquid-cooled units, what shortens or extends life, and when to repair vs replace.