Whole‑House Generators: Costs, Value, and ROI Explained

When storm season hits, so do the power outages. Living in coastal Virginia, you know to expect and prepare for them. The ultimate solution is a whole-house generator that can keep your entire home powered when the grid goes down.

However, many think that these backup power supplies are too expensive and not worth the investment. Let’s take a good look and see if a standby generator might be worth it for you.

What Does a Whole-House Generator Cost?

The short version is that a backup generator system will cost you somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000. This does sound like a lot of money. Factors that affect the cost include:

• How much power you need is related to the size of your home and what appliances you have. Larger generators cost more.
• Fuel source. If you have natural gas at home, you can fuel a power supply from that. If you don’t, or if your gas service is unreliable, you will have to go with propane.
• Needed electrical upgrades. For example, you may need to install a transfer switch.
• You may have to pay more if you want a backup power supply that cuts in automatically when the power drops.
• Permitting and inspections depend on where you are located.

At Smith & Keene, we can help you budget by offering a free estimate based on your information and needs.

Why the Investment Pays Off

If you’re still looking at that and seeing a lot of money, you need to know the benefits of a whole-house generator. These include:

1. Keeping critical systems powered. Have you ever lost all the food in your fridge because of an outage? What if the weather is hot and you need HVAC to stay comfortable and avoid heat-related illness? Home security systems also need constant power; some people may need to power medical equipment, such as CPAP machines.
2. Preventing damage to your property. If your sump pump fails in the middle of a rainstorm, your home might experience significant damage. If it is winter and your heat fails, causing frozen pipes, this can also cause water damage.
3. Comfort and safety. As mentioned, keeping your climate control going is essential. Lighting also matters, especially if somebody in your household has low vision.
4. Convenience. An automatic generator switches power within seconds, and you can keep going with your life. It will then switch back when grid power returns.
5. Increased home value. Buyers like standby power systems. You should be able to sell your home for more money and faster when and if you decide to move.

The ROI Breakdown

While some of those benefits, such as keeping HVAC going, are not financial, you still get a return on investment through avoided costs. The value of the food in your fridge might be low at any given time, but over multiple incidents, it can add up. Water damage and plumbing repairs can reach thousands of dollars per incident.

Another cost is if you have to vacate your home during an extended outage. Hotel costs can significantly exceed the cost of generator fuel. If you have pets, it can be challenging to find a place that will take them, especially if you have large dogs or exotic pets. Some exotic pets, such as tropical or saltwater fish, may require power to keep alive, and may be expensive to replace on top of the emotional costs.

Some insurance companies may offer a break on premiums if you have a whole-house generator. It’s worth asking your agent or broker if you can get a deal.

Last but not least, it boosts your home’s appeal in a highly competitive market.

In coastal Virginia, you may get your money back after just a few major outages. If not, intangible benefits will likely push it over the edge.

Smith & Keene’s Expert Installation and Maintenance

If you need a new standby power source, talk to us. We are experts at sizing and installing whole-house generators, and can handle all of the permitting for you. We then offer a Standby Power System Maintenance Plan to make sure your system continues to run reliably.

Peace of Mind Is Priceless – But the Estimate Is Free

Contact Smith & Keene today for a free estimate and advice on the best whole-house system for you and your home’s needs. Don’t wait for the next storm – secure your home’s power now!