Briggs & Stratton · model 040756
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP
~$5,746approx. list price
18,000 W running — sustains the whole home with central air tier.
Best forOwners of 2,000-3,000 sq ft homes who run central AC and want full rated power on natural gas.
The mid-range PowerProtect answers the most common standby question: what is the biggest air-cooled unit that does not lose power on natural gas. Briggs' NGMax tuning holds the full 18kW on both fuels, where several rivals in this class list a lower natural-gas rating, and the 993cc Vanguard has 45 kVA of motor starting for a 3 to 4 ton AC. Owners who run it through summer outages report it carrying AC, well pump and range together without sag. Complaints are the usual ones for the class: it is audible at 68 dB, the quoted price leaves out the transfer switch, and dealer support is patchier than for Generac. The 7-year warranty including labor and travel is the real selling point against a Guardian 18kW, and install labor, gas and electrical work usually cost more than the generator itself.
From the spec sheet
Full 18kW on both NG and LP·993cc Vanguard, 45 kVA motor starting·7-year comprehensive warranty
At a glance
At a glance
Head to head
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.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 69 dB
13,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Owners of mid-size homes with a narrow side yard who want a 7-year warranty that covers labor, and can live with 69 dB.