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7kW 8kW 9kW Home Standby Generators for Essential Power

Written By: MJ Logan

Home Essentials Automatic Home Standby 7kW Generator or 8kW Generator or 9kW Generator

Generac's 7.5-Kilowatt PowerPact 6998 Home Backup Generator to Power Essential Circuits During Outages
A Generac 7.5kW PowerPact Home Standby Generator for Backup Power

Powering the entire house isn't for everyone. Fuel considerations, upfront cost, and necessity govern most home standby generator decisions. If all  family needs or want is power for essentials, 7kW to 9kW  generators power critical and essential circuits with an automatic transfer switch that limits which circuits receive power. Many small homes don't need a larger generator to power everything, including small air conditioners. A standby generator installation makes a permanent connection to the home through an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS). Manufacturers offer standby generator and ATS packages that save the consumer money and ease installation with a switch and generator designed to work together.

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7kW 8kW 9kW Generator Fuel Considerations

What fuel will your generator use? Natural gas is widely available, less expensive than other fuels, enjoys delivery to small and large municipalities through a network of pipelines.

While “widely available” makes it convenient for most people, it doesn't mean everywhere. Rural areas, small towns far from pipelines, and areas with unstable geography often don't have access to natural gas.

Natural gas also carries less energy than propane, which means that many generators produce less power on natural gas than on liquid propane. In the following sections, compare the generator capacity on propane vs the capacity on natural gas. If you're using natural gas, make sure your purchase decision includes the generator capacity when running on natural gas. 

For example, if you need a 9kW generator and you're using natural gas, consider buying a 10 kiliowatt model with a rated capacity of 9kW on natural gas.

Propane is also widely available. It is stored on your property in a large tank that commonly holds between 100 and 1000 gallons. The right size tank will mean the difference between fuel for a few days, or a few weeks. It generally costs more than natural gas. A local propane company truck will pump it into your tank until it's 80 percent full (20 percent allows the liquid to evaporate and provide the necessary pressure.) Propane's cost tends to run higher.

7kW 8kW 9kW Standby Generators

Generac Power Systems 7kW Generator

7.5kW Generac 6998 PowerPact Backup Generators

Rated at 7.5kW Propane and 6.0kW Natural Gas

Generac Power Systems PowerPact Standby Generators offer quiet operation, an engine designed specifically for use in a standby generator, clean, low distortion power, and an automatic transfer switch with 8-circuit load center. Power your most important appliances and systems like security, refrigerators and freezers, sump pumps, and air conditioners through long and short power outages.

Best For: Powering your most critical and essential circuits with a few lights and conveniences

Champion Power Equipment 8kW Generator

Champion 8.5kW Home Standby Generator Powers a Home During an Outage
Rated a "Best Buy" by Consumer Reports, the Champion 8.5kW Generator Home Standby Includes a 10-Year Warranty

A Consumer Reports “Best Buy” for overall value, functionality, and cost, the 8.5kW Champion Generator

Designed in the USA to meet the exacting standards of North America’s market, Champion Home Backup Generators offer the very best in reliability, service, and support. UL Certified (UL 2000) and compliant with California Air Resource Board (CARB) and U.S. EPA regulations. The Champion 10-year limited warranty with industry leading support doubles the length of most competitors. Quiet operation at 59.5 dbA.

The 24-Volt starting system is the most powerful in the air-cooled industry. 

Champion 8.5 kW Standby Generators

Best:

Replacement:

Best For: Powering small homes through an outage, or only critical and essential circuits in medium homes.

9kW Standby Generators

These generator manufacturers rate their 10 kilowatt models at 9kW on natural gas. They can run small homes with a whole house automatic transfer switch, or specific circuits with a load center ATS. 

Generac 9kW Generator No ATS

Generac 9kW Generator + 16 Space 24 Circuit 100 Amp Automatic Transfer Switch

Kohler 9kW Generator No ATS

Kohler 9kW Generator + 12-Circuit 100 Amp Automatic Transfer Switch

Winco 9kW Generator No ATS

Best For: Homes that need 9kW of standby power but will run the generator on Natural Gas.

 

Need Help? Contact Norwall at 855-453-4494

Updated January 16 2025

POWER EXPERT

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