Best overall in standby generators
Generac's 22 kW air-cooled standby, certified for the US and Canada, with cellular monitoring and a quiet weekly exercise; installed by a licensed pro.
Our score: 8.2/10 out of 10Researched, not lab-tested
- Rated output on propane
- 22 kW
- Rated output on natural gas
- 21 kW
- Noise (maker's rating)
- 67 dB(A)
- Propane use at full load
- 3.71 gal/h
Is it right for you?
Pros
- 22 kW on propane, 21 kW on natural gas
- Generator certified for use in the US and Canada
- Cellular Mobile Link built in; Quiet-Test exercise at 55 dB(A)
- Five-year limited warranty
Cons
- Needs a licensed installer, gas line, pad and transfer switch
- Generac's bundled 200 A transfer switch is US-only
- Battery not included (12 V AGM, 400 CCA minimum)
- Cold weather kit recommended below 32 °F
- Best for
- Detached homes with natural gas or a large propane tank that want automatic whole-house backup for long winter outages, installed by a licensed electrician or Generac dealer.
- Not for
- Renters, homes without a fuel supply sized for 311 ft³/h of natural gas, anyone wanting a DIY install, or homes whose load calculation shows 14 kW is enough.
Our verdict
Generac’s 22 kW air-cooled unit is our pick for automatic whole-house backup on gas or propane. It gives 22 kW on propane and 21 kW on natural gas from a 997 cc twin, starts by itself when the grid drops, and has cellular monitoring built in. We list the generator-only model, G0072600, because Generac certifies the generator for the US and Canada, while the 200 A service-entrance switch in its US bundle (G0073250) is certified for the US only. Your installer picks a switch that suits your panel and country.
Generac rates it at 67 dB(A) at 23 ft in normal running and 55 dB(A) in its low-speed weekly exercise, and it is tested from -20 to 122 °F. The catch is everything around the box: a pad, a gas line sized for 311 cubic feet an hour of natural gas at full load (or 3.71 gallons an hour of propane), a transfer switch, a battery that isn’t included, and a licensed installer. Owners in forum threads also warn that a 22 kW unit is often more than essential loads need, so ask for a load calculation first.
Setup and safety
A standby generator is a permanent electrical and gas installation. A licensed electrician fits it with a compliant transfer switch, and a gas fitter runs the gas line. In most places it also needs a permit or a notice to your utility, sometimes before you buy; rules differ by province and state (see the rules by province and state).
Where it goes. Generac lists it for installation as close as 18 in from a structure, away from doors, windows and fresh-air intakes, and only where local codes allow; some permit offices ask for more distance from openings, so check with your municipality. Keep shrubs and grass 3 ft clear of the louvers, and point downspouts, sprinklers and sump discharge away from it. Gas pressure at the inlet must be 3.5 to 7 inches of water column for natural gas or 10 to 12 for propane. Generac recommends a cold weather kit where temperatures fall below 32 °F, which covers most northern winters. Keep CO alarms inside the house as well.
Upkeep. It exercises for 5 minutes a week by default, and skips a session if it ran in the previous 72 hours. Generac’s manual calls for oil and filter every two years or 200 hours (yearly or 100 hours in very cold or hot use), and air filter and spark plugs every four years or 400 hours. It needs a 12 V AGM BTX30L battery of at least 400 CCA. Owners in forum threads say a local dealer with service capacity matters more than the brand, because fault lights and failed self-tests need visits. Compare it with the other standby generators we compare.
Specs
Generac 22kW Air-Cooled Home Standby Generator (G0072600, Cellular)
Standby
| Rated output on propane | 22 kW |
|---|---|
| Rated output on natural gas | 21 kW |
| Automatic transfer switch included | No |
| Propane use at full load | 3.71 gal/h |
| Natural gas use at full load | 311 ft³/h |
| Lowest operating temperature | -20 °F |
Noise
| Noise (maker's rating) | 67 dB(A) |
|---|---|
| Noise in weekly exercise | 55 dB(A) |
Other details
| Warranty | 5 years |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Natural gas or propane (standby) |
| Weight | 451 lb |
| Safety listing | UL 2200; certified for the US and Canada (per Generac) |
| App control | Yes |
Maker’s figures, checked 3 Nov 2026.
Generac 22 kW questions
Does the 22 kW come with a transfer switch?
Not this model. G0072600 is the generator alone, which Generac certifies for the US and Canada. The US bundle, G0073250, adds a 200 A service-entrance automatic transfer switch that Generac certifies for the US only, so Canadian installers choose a suitable switch separately. Generac’s five-year limited warranty covers the generator and its transfer switch.
Is 22 kW too big for my house?
It may be. Owners in forum threads report being quoted 22 kW and later told it was oversized for their essential loads. Ask the installer for a load calculation: a gas-heated home that only needs the furnace, fridge, sump pump, well pump and lights may be well served by the 14 kW model, which uses less fuel.
How much propane does it burn?
About 3.71 gallons an hour at full load and 2.45 at half load, per Generac’s spec sheet. On natural gas the figures are about 311 and 221 cubic feet an hour. For a multi-day outage on propane that adds up quickly, so size the tank with your supplier and installer.
Will it start in deep cold?
Generac says it is tested from -20 to 122 °F and recommends its cold weather kit wherever temperatures drop below 32 °F. Where winters freeze, that means fitting the kit at installation. Generac also asks for 3 ft of clear space around the enclosure louvers, so keep drifts and plowed snow off them too.