Generac Standby Generator Question

[John B.]

I remember reading on here a few years back that the warranty on Generac Standby Generators was not that good. Is it still that way now?

 

[Goose]

I don't know.

I've never had to use the warranty on mine. It's been flawless. The original battery failed after 6 years, and that's been it.

 

[Gene Davis (Ga.)]

Just ask Mr. Billy Shafer about Generac generator/warranty problems.

 

[MarkB_MI]

A few years ago I was at a local scrapyard to drop off some broken concrete. They had a couple of dozen dead Generac units stacked up like cordwood. I didn't ask anyone what the story was on them, but I assume whoever dropped them off determined they weren't worth fixing.

 

[jm.]

John go by a local dealer and check but the last 4 years or so the warranty has been extended. I have a 20 kw propane with 350+ hrs 7 years old. Has been flawless. At the time I bought mine there were very few dealers and I purchased direct and did the installation. Got on the computed and down loaded some codes and thing exercises once a week and kicks on when the main current goes off. I cannot remember what my original warranty was (one year I think) but at some time this van drives up and guy says he is here to replace the board in my generator. Seems Generac had a recall and they paid the guy to replace the parts no charge. There may be better and as one poster says the Billy below absolutely will tell you they are junk but I think his experience was 10 years ago or so. They have captured the hom e power market in this part of the country and have many dealers.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

The new Menards store at the south end of TH has a very large Generac connected to NG.

Generac is all I see in my hood.

Who makes anything that competes with Generac??

 

[boler76]

I have had a NG generac 7kw for about 8 yrs, at the beginning it would not start in colder weather, Generac sent repair man twice and after they played a while both times it started and they said there was nothing wrong, I am an industrial electronics man and found that the circuit board lacked the wiring that the print showed for the choke, talked to a rep on phone and they sent a new board, was wired the same , so I made a timing circuit to run choke intermittently off starting circuit and starts now at -30, so I agree the original warranty was limited by the knowledge of the warrantee fixers

 

[Bruce(OR)]

I have heard too many negative things about Generac. I picked up a 14KW Kohler. Too new to have any complaints about so far.

 

[Dean]

Kohler.

Dean

 

[Robert (ID)]

Cummins/Onan builds nice units

 

[4play]

Their typical standby generators have a 5 year warranty. The commercial grade has 5 year with optional 10 year extended.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Are they sold in box stores?
Where's their a dealer?

 

[Dean]

No, and Google is your friend.

Dean

 

[Texasmark]

Well my Generac came in a crate in February 2014. I took it out of the crate with the transfer switch and with the supplied instructions installed it. Called the power company to get their blessings. Has been a perfect companion all these years including the 4 day power blackout a couple of weeks ago, running continuously 24 hours a day on Propane, the perfect fuel, with nar a problem. So much for the misconception or Fake News or whatever that to which you subjected yourself! My generator was built by them, including their designing and building their own engine, with over a million units under their belt......no plumbing or lawnmower distractions!

 

[John B.]

Thanks Everyone!

 

[Dean]

Plumbing distractions???

Dean

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

There will be bad units and horror stories from every brand. Much of the "horror stories" are manufactured drama on the part of the homeowner.

You can't go by online reviews because the negatives largely come from people with unrealistic expectations and the positive reviews largely come from people who open the box, find a shiny product inside, and write their review based on that.

 

[Hobo,NC]

My generac story. Its been in operation for 5 years no other problems other than that Optima over rated P.O.S. battery only lasted 3 years.

https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1296256&highlight=uncle

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

Our 20k Seimens branded genset with matched auto transfer switch has been in operation for 13+ years. Display board replaced during 2nd year, under warranty. Only other problems have been with starting battery, on the 4th one.

 

[Texasmark]

OEM building things other than power units.