Generator install - where to start

[ning]

I'm still a long way from buying anything, but for now, I'm thinking that a 22kw unit is what I want. But I have to get the natural gas installed and a meter installed. A residential meter is for a one-inch line. Can I run a 22kw generator from a one in natural gas line?

A 22k is about 320k BTU... my recollection is that the "length of pipe in feet" is from the regulator, and you have to consider what other requirements for gas are on that pipe if any.

For instance a few years ago I put in a tankless water heater (199K BTU) to replace a previous 80K BTU tank water heater. There's a few feet of pipe that are only for the water heater, then it connects to a bigger pipe that also carries gas to a 80K furnace, and that length of pipe goes for N feet to a bigger pipe that then goes back to the regulator. I had to do calcs on the entire system to ensure that there was enough pipe to handle the new water heater's flow needs.

If you have a pipe that will only be connected to the generator (now and forever) all the way to the regulator, the above chart should do (though connectors add "length" as well). IMO always size up from today's requirements, dig once.

Note that all the above are assuming the post-regulator pressures are usable without per-appliances regulators themselves (7" / 0.25psi). You may be able to have a higher pressure regulator at the meter (eg 2psi) and drop it down with another regulator at point-of-use or upstream of multiple points of use, in which case the calcs are very different (1" pipe carries much more gas at 2psi than at 0.25psi).

 

[WinterDeere]

I started making appointments with Generac contractors today, first visit is Monday. I'm also reaching out to some local Kohler contractors. I appreciate the folks who suggested going with a commercial unit, but I'm not seeing the benefit, for my own situation. I think this unit will age out and require replacement due to weathering and corrosion, long before brushes vs. brushless, or any other distinction separating commercial from residential quality, ever become relevant. Our usage is just not that frequent or long.

I'm figuring an installed cost under $20k for generator + switch + battery + labor, but I'd be fine with anything up to $25k. I'll be choosing the installer based on my confidence with their capability and ease of working with them first, and price second.

 

[ning]

I started making appointments with Generac contractors today, first visit is Monday. I'm also reaching out to some local Kohler contractors. I appreciate the folks who suggested going with a commercial unit, but I'm not seeing the benefit, for my own situation. I think this unit will age out and require replacement due to weathering and corrosion, long before brushes vs. brushless, or any other distinction separating commercial from residential quality, ever become relevant. Our usage is just not that frequent or long.

I'm figuring an installed cost under $20k for generator + switch + battery + labor, but I'd be fine with anything up to $25k. I'll be choosing the installer based on my confidence with their capability and ease of working with them first, and price second.

(yeah i just noticed hte typo, sue me)

 

[grsthegreat]

I'm still a long way from buying anything, but for now, I'm thinking that a 22kw unit is what I want. But I have to get the natural gas installed and a meter installed. A residential meter is for a one-inch line. Can I run a 22kw generator from a one in natural gas line?

You can look on generac site or talk with gas installer. There are lots of distance charts.

Also, is the 1inch the primary line or after the regulator.

 

[Duds13]

I started making appointments with Generac contractors today, first visit is Monday. I'm also reaching out to some local Kohler contractors. I appreciate the folks who suggested going with a commercial unit, but I'm not seeing the benefit, for my own situation. I think this unit will age out and require replacement due to weathering and corrosion, long before brushes vs. brushless, or any other distinction separating commercial from residential quality, ever become relevant. Our usage is just not that frequent or long.

I'm figuring an installed cost under $20k for generator + switch + battery + labor, but I'd be fine with anything up to $25k. I'll be choosing the installer based on my confidence with their capability and ease of working with them first, and price second.

I got a 22kw Generac installed in 2020 for about $8k. My situation was much different from yours I believe though, was a pretty simple hookup to the propane tank. You'll get a wide variety of pricing as I'm sure you already know. A few companies I had quote the job were more expensive for a 16kw Generac and were just going to set it on some stone. The company I went with set it on the Generac pad which just looks better in my opinion. Good luck and keep us posted on the quotes!

 

[WinterDeere]

I've found some contractors also don't base their pricing on anything more than what they think they can get out of you. I've received grossly different prices for the exact same work between my two houses, simply because one has has a value over $1M and the other is $300k.

Getting a few quotes always helps to weed those guys out on jobs where you don't already have a good baseline on what it should cost.

 

[ponytug]

Get a quote at the $300k house, and then ask for a change of site?

We get that a lot around here, and it remains annoying to me, even if I understand the economic greed that drives it.

Good luck!

All the best, Peter

 

[grsthegreat]

When i was very busy, id raise my rates. Mainly i didnt need the job. But if they really had to have it now, it would cost them.

Thats business.

Still happens. I had 3 bids for some new chain link fences. Two at slightly high prices, one nearly double the rest. Anyone can bid what they want. No one has to accept it.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I'm still a long way from buying anything, but for now, I'm thinking that a 22kw unit is what I want. But I have to get the natural gas installed and a meter installed. A residential meter is for a one-inch line. Can I run a 22kw generator from a one in natural gas line?

I contacted a local plumber friend to tell me what size pipe I needed. I had to run about 800' of pipe to my generator. I can't remember if its 22 or 24kw. I think it's 24. The only other thing I would ever use the gas for is a stove in my shop/kitchen.

We ended up with a 1" pipe for the 800'

 

[grsthegreat]

I contacted a local plumber friend to tell me what size pipe I needed. I had to run about 800' of pipe to my generator. I can't remember if its 22 or 24kw. I think it's 24. The only other thing I would ever use the gas for is a stove in my shop/kitchen.

We ended up with a 1" pipe for the 800'

You must be propane