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Standby generators are amazing pieces of equipment. They sit quietly outside until needed, at which point they light up and power the home, keeping everyone safe and comfortable. In addition, they add value to the home with some expert estimates between 3 and 5 percent.
But what if you’re buying a house and the house you want already has a generator installed? Is this a good thing or should you be concerned? Here are six things to know before buying a home with a standby generator.
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1. Check the age of the generator.
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Find out the age of the generator before making an offer on the home. The seller and their realtor will probably price it a little higher because it comes with a generator, but it might not be worth the extra if it’s old.
The average cost to install a new standby generator is about $9,520. Facilities at the higher end of this range probably warrant a considerable increase in asking price, but only if they are less than 2 or 3 years old. The value can depreciate rapidly beyond this point. And if the generator needs to be replaced, you could be paying for the generator twice.
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2. Understand size and capacity.
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Generators come in different sizes with different outputs and capacities for homes of all sizes. Although a generator must be sized for the home during the purchase and installation process, home buyers should still verify that the generator is the correct size for the home.
Consider several scenarios where a generator may be undersized. If the generator was installed before the large addition was built, it may not be able to power the needs of the entire house. The same could happen if a garage was built and the power fed from the house, or if the seller installed a state-of-the-art video game studio and lounge in the basement. In these cases, the homeowner may have to turn off multiple breakers when the generator begins to build a load that the generator can handle.
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3. Know your fuel source.
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There are three types of fuel that a backup generator can use: diesel, natural gas, and propane. It’s important to know what fuel source the generator in question uses before it’s time to refill it, but it’s also important so you know what kind of maintenance you might be doing.
- propane generators run very cleanly and are relatively environmentally friendly. However, these generators require self-contained propane deliveries and tanks, and maintenance of the generators is complex.
- Natural gas it’s readily available through pipelines or deliveries and burns cleanly, but the process of removing the ground through fracking doesn’t sit well with all customers.
- diesel it’s stronger and dirtier than the other options, but it’s the safest fuel to store and the generators themselves are simple to maintain.
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4. Generators require maintenance.
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Before you buy this home, ask yourself if you are prepared to maintain your generator. These machines are no different to a vehicle’s engine, with all kinds of oils, coolants, lubricants, belts and filters to manage. Each part must be inspected, changed and washed from time to time to ensure that the machine is in perfect condition. Otherwise, the generator may not start.
As stated, diesel generators are closest to vehicle engines and easier to maintain than others. Propane and natural gas are a bit more complex. However, homeowners can pay for annual maintenance on their generators instead of doing the work themselves, and this usually costs between $80 and $300.
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5. Understand the transfer switch.
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The transfer switch is the device in the home that allows the user to switch from grid power to generator power. There are two types of transfer switches: automatic and manual. It is important to know which one is used and how old it is before buying the house.
Automatic transfer switches detect a power drop and automatically flip to isolate the home from the grid while activating the generator. They are useful, but can be expensive if they fail.
A manual transfer switch requires the homeowner to reach in the dark to flip it themselves, isolate the house, and start the generator. If any of these switches are older, it may be better to use them as bargaining chips when negotiating the price of the house.
Note: These switches are incredibly important for many reasons, but one of the most critical is their ability to keep your home safe. These switches prevent generator power and grid power from coming together when the grid comes back on, which could be incredibly dangerous otherwise.
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6. Is it in code order?
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Before you buy your home, it’s a good idea to have your generator inspected by a professional. Propane and diesel generators can be a doable install for someone with a bit of an electrical background, even if they’ve never installed one before. If not done properly, it could be a serious security issue and could also have implications in the future.
If you buy the house and the generator starts working, you will probably need to call a generator service to repair or install it. If the generator bearing, fuel supply, electrical lines, or even the machine itself is not up to code, the company may refuse to service the generator unless you are willing to put all ready This can be a costly mistake, so it’s best to inspect the generator before you buy.
