Don't Bother
Written: Sep 02 '07 (Updated Jan 26 '08)
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Pros: Worked well when it works.
Cons: Extremely hard to find anyone to repair it or to get parts.
The Bottom Line: Difficult to get maintenance. Expensive repairs. Generac won't help you. No one will fix it. And it breaks a lot.
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| mferris's Full Review: Generac Model 4675 15 kW Emergency Standby Generat... |
I guess I should start off by saying why I purchased this unit, what made me want one etc.
My wife and I live on our own out in the country in Canada. We can neither see nor hear our neighbours. Nice. Surrounded by the wilderness and its inhabitants is the way I wish to finish out my life, but it has one drawback. (well 2 - only 28.8 Dial-up Internet) We also want all those little things we were used to back in the city and they require electricity which unfortunately frequently stops flowing leaving us in the dark.
We selected this specific unit as it's capable of generating 15,000 watts of power in 220 volt supplied directly to the house panel in the house. There's an automatic switch that senses the rural electric has failed, it then starts the generator and after running for a minute it switches to the generated power. When the rural electric returns it switches back automatically and shuts down the generator. It all works well, when it works.
This unit came with it's own platform, and sound insulated housing to limit it's noise. I had to build an additional wood platform to ensure it remains above the snowfall we receive on which the entire unit is then mounted. It has it's own battery which is trickle charged and so it can start and run all automatically.
When running it's actually quit quiet. I can't quote noise specs but I can tell you it's just outside the wall, next to our deck and from inside the house you can't hear it running at all.
It uses propane as it's primary fuel, which is handy as we have a huge propane tank to supply other appliances in the house. This has meant that the power could be out for a week and we could exist and be fine IF the tank was full.
You need to purchase the unit and then contract to an electrician to install it and then contract to your gas supplier to pipe it. Then you need to call your Generac Elite Dealer to come and set it up. The electrician may tell you he can do it and he may do an Ok job but the Dealer is the best person to do this so I discovered. All of this will end up costing in the area of $6,000 by the time you're done. (including buying the generator)
There are two versions of the same generator made by Generac. There's the Generac itself and then there's the Guardian. It's like Ford and Mercury. One is supposed to be a bit better quality than the other. With this in mind I purchased the Generac model 4675 (rather than a Guardian) which is just like the 12,000 but a pinch bigger at 15,000 watts and is supposed to be "Light Industrial" rather than residential.
As I said I have a Guardian 4675 15Kw generator. It was installed April of 2006 and has exercised itself every Friday night at 6:30pm for the past year until a couple of weeks ago when it would not start. The "low oil" light was on. Since then I've changed the oil filter (because it might clog and block flow), bypassed the pressure sensor (in case is was broken), ensured the oil level was correct, and nothing changed. It still tells me "low oil". It also back fired when it tried to start and blew out the venturi in the intake. It literally blew 20 feet in the air. At this point I thought.. fine. It's under warranty let them fix it. But who's them..???
This was installed by an electrician who bought the unit and installed it. He tells me he doesn't know anything about them and can't fix it. He gave me the name of the company he buys them from, (Osso electric) so I telephoned them. They don't fix them either. They just sell them. They told me they'd find someone to repair it and call me back but that call never came. Now when I call I can't get past their receptionist. So then I E-mailed Generac in the USA to ask who fixes these, but they have simply ignored me.
I got desperate and talked with Home Depot and a couple of other places that sell them but then you get the good old "did you buy it here?" routine. Then they lose interest. I selected and trusted an electrician which you need anyway and this is what happens.
As of this writing I can't get anyone to fix it. Every Friday afternoon I telephone the provider to remind them the unit is not working yet and they tell me they are trying to find someone to fix it and it will be looked after next week. Next week never comes.
I went searching on my own to find someone to fix it and was successful, sort of... the closest tech. I found in Yarker is booked until December. It's August. (although he said he'd try to fit me in and then went on vacation) If these break down this frequently that a tech. is booked until December then why would a person buy one? I later found a tech in Peterborough a bit further away. Same story booked until later in the year. Gee... I wish I had done my homework.. first.!!
So far, no tech. no repairs, and no idea when it will get fixed.
Update: September 7, 2007. (a month after the unit quit)
I received a telephone call from the folks in Peterborough to tell me they were on their way the next day, and a tech. did show up and did fix the unit. It's now up and running once again. They are submitting the bill under the warranty and all is well for now. This Dealer (The Generator Centre) stepped up to the plate and did what should have been done by others. This is the ONLY dealer that would and did do this the rest couldn't have cared less.
The bottom line is the Generac family of generators breaks down frequently. They are expensive to repair, and you need to fight for tech. to come and assist you.
Generac does offer, through it's dealers, a maintenance program where they will visit either once or twice annually to assess, adjust and checkout the generator. A single visit is in the $400 area. The multi visit is higher. Parts are extra, and of course you need to be patient to get a tech. who has the time to come to your home as they are fixing all those machine that are breaking so frequently. So you may have to wait a while.
Update January 26, 2008: Since these break alot I decided to get a Maintenance Manual and try to learn. So far I've also discovered it wasn't setup properly by either the installer or the Tech who finally fixed it.. sort of. It is now as per the book. Also I have discovered that it eats spark plugs. Generac insists that you use the Champion plugs but they only last 5 to 6 months. I took the last set down to our garage and they tested them finding one had simply failed. They were clean, no visible problem, but one simply would not fire. I have now installed NGK Platinum plugs to see it they will last longer.
It also blows out a venturi each time the plugs act up because it backfires. I have now glued and screwed the venturi into place... Ahh such a well made machine.
If you buy one of these units better get the manual as you'll be fixing it yourself.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 3800
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Epinions.com ID:
mferris
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Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 0 members
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