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Resident Generator Expert, GenDealers
John Reilly is GenDealers’ resident generator expert. He spent more than twenty years in the field — first on installation crews, then running service calls and sales for authorized Generac, Kohler and Briggs & Stratton dealerships in the Northeast and along the Gulf Coast — before turning to writing full time. He has commissioned hundreds of air-cooled home standby systems, sat through more than his share of inspections, and still keeps a 22kW unit behind his own garage. His articles reflect what he learned doing the work: what actually fails, what actually matters, and what a homeowner should ask before signing a quote. GenDealers is an independent directory and is not affiliated with any manufacturer or dealer.
In the trade since 2004. GenDealers is an independent directory, not a dealer or manufacturer.
Generac Mobile Link, Kohler OnCue Plus, Briggs InfoHub and Cummins Connect Cloud compared — what each app actually shows, subscription costs, connectivity and dealer integration.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
A tech’s honest split of generator maintenance — the oil, filter, plug and battery work homeowners can do, the valve adjustments and transfer-switch work they shouldn’t, and warranty rules.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
What total harmonic distortion and voltage regulation mean for your electronics, how standby, portable and inverter generators compare, and the surge protection that actually helps.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
The sizing mistakes installers see every week — oversizing, ignoring starting loads, skipping load management — and how right-sizing saves money up front and on fuel.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Factory vs aftermarket enclosures, DIY sound walls, barriers and placement — how much each reduces noise, and the airflow rules that keep noise fixes from cooking the engine.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Realistic lifespan for air-cooled and liquid-cooled home generators — engine hours, years, what shortens life, end-of-life warning signs and how to get 25+ years.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
A hands-on review of the Costco Honeywell 18kW home standby generator: what it is (a Generac), what it powers, what installation really costs, and when it beats buying through a dealer.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
The latest EIA and DOE data on U.S. outage frequency and duration, why outages are getting longer, the regions hit hardest, and what that means for backup power.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Natural gas vs propane runtime, the oil-change and cool-down limits manufacturers set, what a multi-day outage really requires and how to stretch a propane tank.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Real dBA figures for Generac, Kohler, Briggs, Cummins and Honeywell standby units, what those numbers feel like at 23 feet vs 7 meters, quiet-test modes and placement for neighbors.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
A field-tested comparison of the best whole-house standby generators for 2026 — specs, real installed costs, warranties, monitoring and who each one is right for.
August 16, 2026 · 14 min read
Generac vs Kohler vs Briggs & Stratton vs Cummins vs Honeywell vs Champion — reliability records, warranties, parts availability and dealer networks, from someone who serviced them.
August 16, 2026 · 13 min read
Solar with a Powerwall or PWRcell versus a natural-gas standby generator: outage duration, cost per usable kWh, winter performance and the hybrid setups that make sense.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
The real differences between standby, portable, inverter and PTO generators — power, cost, safety, fuel and convenience — and a straight answer on which fits your situation.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
Fuel cost per kWh, runtime, storage, cold-weather behavior and derating for natural gas, propane and diesel home generators — with 2026 fuel prices and a decision framework.
August 16, 2026 · 13 min read
What kW, amps and volts actually mean for a generator, how starting loads work, and a step-by-step method for landing on the right size for your house.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
The evidence on standby generators and resale — appraisal treatment, buyer surveys, regional differences, and how to document the system so it counts at sale.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Yes — almost always. Which permits a standby generator install needs (electrical, gas, sometimes zoning), what inspectors check, typical fees, and what happens if you skip it.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Why generators fail in the cold — batteries, oil viscosity, propane vaporization — and the winter prep steps, cold-weather kits and settings that keep yours starting at 0°F.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
How a transfer switch works, why it is not optional, manual vs automatic, 100A vs 200A service-entrance switches, load-shed modules and what installation involves.
August 16, 2026 · 13 min read
The complete maintenance schedule for a home standby generator — exercise cycles, oil, filters, plugs, battery, valve lash — with costs, DIY vs pro guidance and manufacturer intervals.
August 16, 2026 · 14 min read
What separates a good generator dealer from a bad one — authorization tiers, licensing, quotes, service departments and the questions that expose problems before installation day.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
What a home standby generator actually costs installed in 2026, plus the recurring costs — fuel, maintenance, monitoring, permits, insurance — and a 15-year total cost of ownership.
August 16, 2026 · 13 min read
Cash, HELOC, dealer financing, manufacturer promotions, leasing and PACE compared — real APRs, total cost over 10 years, and when leasing a generator makes sense (rarely).
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Air-cooled generators lose capacity as temperature climbs. Derating math, clearances and airflow, hot-climate maintenance and monitoring for the Sun Belt and desert Southwest.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
Anchoring, locks, cages, cameras and monitoring alerts that actually deter generator theft — plus insurance and documentation steps if it happens anyway.
August 16, 2026 · 10 min read
Salt air eats generators. Enclosure choice, corrosion protection, shortened service intervals and the inspection routine that keeps a coastal standby unit alive.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
How home standby generators connect to smart home platforms — manufacturer apps, voice assistants, load control and energy management — with the honest limits of each.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Placement rules for standby generators in flood-prone areas — base flood elevation, NFPA 37 clearances, gas and electrical routing, and the mistakes that drown a new unit.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
How much a standby generator actually emits, natural gas vs propane vs diesel vs gasoline, EPA and CARB standards, and where solar-plus-storage and hybrids fit.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
What actually threatens a running generator in a severe storm — lightning-induced surge, flooding, wind-driven debris — and when shutting down helps versus hurts.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
The engineering differences between residential air-cooled standby units and commercial liquid-cooled generators — duty cycle, fuel, cost — and when a large home needs the commercial class.
August 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Region-by-region operating guidance for home standby generators — derating in heat, cold-start kits, hurricane prep, snow clearance and dust — plus the monitoring that catches trouble.
August 16, 2026 · 13 min read
CO poisoning kills 80–100 people a year through portable generators. Where to place one, why 20 feet is the number, what CO alarms do and don’t catch, and how standby units remove the risk.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
Well pumps have brutal starting loads. How to size a standby or portable generator for a submersible pump, when a soft starter saves you a size, and rural transfer-switch wiring.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
How multi-unit properties do backup power — shared liquid-cooled systems, individual air-cooled units, HOA approvals, cost sharing and the case studies that show what works.
August 16, 2026 · 12 min read
