Whole House Generators:
Your Complete Home Power Solution

The right generator size depends on the total electrical load of everything you want to power — refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, lighting, computers, and more. Each appliance draws a certain number of watts, and your generator needs to handle all of them running at once.

Because the math can get complicated (and an undersized generator can cause real problems), we strongly recommend speaking with a qualified generator specialist before buying. They can assess your home's specific needs and recommend the right unit.

In the meantime, we've put together a detailed guide to walk you through the process: "What Size Generator Do I Need for My Home?" — click the link to get started.

Cummins Power Generation and Generac manufacture standby power systems, but Cummins stands out in quiet performance, reliability, and heavy-duty durability. While Generac is a popular choice for residential installations, but may struggle with long duration power outages compared to Cummins industrial-grade quality builds.

Generac began operations in 1958 while Cummins has been manufacturing standby power systems for over a century and is a world leader in power generation equipment.

It depends on the fuel type. Natural gas generators connect directly to your home's gas meter, giving them a virtually unlimited fuel supply — they can run as long as the utility maintains gas service, with no storage tanks or refueling required.

Propane and diesel generators depend on how much fuel is on hand. Propane tanks come in a range of sizes, and your local propane supplier can refuel as needed. Diesel generators typically include a built-in sub-base fuel tank, also available in various capacities, with refueling handled by a local service provider.

In short: a natural gas generator can run indefinitely, while propane and diesel units will run as long as their tank supply lasts — which can be extended through timely refueling by your service provider.

Standby generator installation is a job for licensed professionals — not a weekend project. Installations involve high-voltage electrical work, natural gas or propane connections, and must comply with local building codes.

Generator manufacturers strongly recommend hiring an experienced, authorized installer who knows both the product and the installation process inside and out.

Benchmark Electric has been installing standby power systems for over 20 years and is an authorized Cummins Power Generation dealer — a world leader in backup power. That means you get the expertise of a seasoned installer backed by one of the most trusted names in the industry.

With proper care, a standby generator can serve you reliably for a very long time — but the key is consistent, scheduled maintenance.

At Benchmark Electric, we've seen air-cooled generators running strong past the 15-year mark. Liquid-cooled natural gas and LP generators routinely exceed 20 years of service, and diesel generators are the longest-lasting of all, capable of running for decades when professionally maintained.

To get the most out of your investment, we recommend professional servicing once a year or after every 200 hours of use — whichever comes first. Generator batteries should be replaced every two years as part of that routine.

Want to go deeper? Check out our full article on generator maintenance for everything you need to know.

With Whole House Coverage, the generator is sized large enough to power every appliance and load in your home simultaneously, on demand — no restrictions.

Managed Whole House Coverage uses an air-cooled standby generator with built-in load management technology. Because the generator isn't sized to run everything at once, it intelligently controls when high-draw appliances — such as air conditioning units, ovens, and clothes dryers — can operate. When power demand is high, the generator may temporarily delay certain appliances until enough capacity is available.

For example, if your home has two 5-ton A/C units, the generator will stagger their operation rather than attempting to run both simultaneously, ensuring stable, uninterrupted power throughout your home.

Cummins standby generators are designed with noise reduction in mind, making them well-suited for residential neighborhoods. The air-cooled QuietConnect lineup is among the quietest available — the RS20A, for example, operates at just 65 dB(A) at full load, which is roughly the volume of a normal conversation.

Liquid-cooled QuietConnect models are even quieter. The RS30 30kW generator runs 5 dB(A) lower than the RS20A, meaning some home air conditioning units are actually louder than a running Cummins generator.

For most homeowners, a whole-house generator isn't directly tax-deductible — but there are several situations where you may be able to recoup some of the cost.

Medical necessity. If you or someone in your household relies on life-sustaining equipment (such as a home oxygen machine or ventilator), the generator may qualify as a deductible medical expense. You'd need to itemize deductions, and only the portion of costs exceeding 7.5% of your adjusted gross income is deductible.

Home-based business. If you run a business from your home, you may be able to deduct or depreciate the business-use portion of the generator's cost through your home office deduction.

Rental property. A generator installed on a rental property is generally treated as a capital improvement, meaning it can be depreciated over time rather than deducted all at once.

Renewable energy integration. If your generator is paired with a solar or battery storage system, you may be eligible for the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit, though the generator itself typically doesn't qualify on its own.

State and local incentives. Some utilities and local governments offer rebates or tax credits for backup power systems, so it's worth checking what's available in your area.

As always, consult a tax professional to determine what applies to your specific situation.

Bad Battery — This is the most common cause. The battery used to start the generator can fail over time, which is why manufacturers recommend replacing it every two years.

Lack of Maintenance — The second leading cause. Without routine upkeep, generators are much more prone to failure. Manufacturers recommend maintenance every 200 engine hours or annually, whichever comes first.

Regular preventive maintenance — including scheduled annual servicing and timely battery replacement — is the most effective way to reduce the risk of a generator failing to start when you need it most.

Benchmark Electric offers a Preventive Maintenance Program which includes scheduled annual maintenance. The generator battery is routinely replaced every two years.

Professionally maintained generators greatly reduce the risk of a generator failure.

The Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is the brain behind the whole process — it constantly monitors your utility power, even when everything is running normally.

The moment utility power is lost, the ATS sends a start signal to the generator, which restores power to your connected circuits within about 10 seconds.

When utility power comes back, the generator doesn't shut off immediately. It keeps running for roughly 5 minutes as a precaution — if the utility power flickers out again during that window, you're still covered. Once utility power holds steady for those 5 minutes, the ATS transfers everything back to the utility feed and signals the generator to shut down.