Briggs & Stratton · model 040746
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP
~$4,460approx. list price
13,000 W running — sustains the well pump or a small central AC tier and everything below it.
Best forOwners of mid-size homes with a narrow side yard who want a 7-year warranty that covers labor, and can live with 69 dB.
Briggs & Stratton's small-footprint standby unit fits where a Guardian or Kohler will not: it is about 28 by 25 inches, so owners with tight lot lines or a narrow side yard shortlist it first. The 627cc Vanguard engine makes 13kW on propane and 11.5kW on natural gas, which covers a furnace, fridge, well pump and a small-to-mid central AC but not a whole large house. Shoppers weighing it against the Generac 14kW point to the 7-year warranty, which includes labor and technician travel. Two things come up again and again: it is loud, since 69 dB is louder than the 61 dB Guardian 10kW, and the listed price excludes the transfer switch, which is a separate purchase. Dealer coverage is thinner than Generac's, so check who services it locally before you buy.
From the spec sheet
13kW LP / 11.5kW NG·28.5 x 25.5 in footprint·7-year labor-and-travel warranty
At a glance
At a glance
Head to head
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 68 dB
18,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Owners of 2,000-3,000 sq ft homes who run central AC and want full rated power on natural gas.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 68 dB
22,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Natural-gas homes that want maximum NG output per dollar and a longer warranty than the big two.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 65 dB
26,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Large homes that want whole-house air-cooled backup with the longest warranty in the class, and have a Briggs installer nearby.