Briggs and Stratton Generators vs Generac: Which Backup Power is Best for Your Home?
Choose a Briggs and Stratton generator if you’re looking for a long-lasting warranty from a company that has been making backup power for a century. If you’re looking for modern, innovative features with more wattage options, choose a Generac model.
Still, both B&S and Generac offer great residential generators at similar price points. The best backup power for your home depends on your wattage needs, budget, noise level considerations, smart-feature requirements, support, and warranty.
In this guide, we compare Briggs and Stratton generators vs Generac in detail. We look into how they differ based on several factors, how they align with different homeowners, and their pros and cons.
If you have any questions or need professional generator installation in Charlotte, NC, call (704) 804-3320 for a free consultation.
Meet the Rivals: Briggs & Stratton and Generac
Both Briggs & Stratton and Generac are reliable standby generator brands. They both offer solid backup power. But they differ in several ways, including natural gas efficiency, durability, and smart features. Below is a quick intro of each brand.
Briggs & Stratton: Legacy Generator Brand with Reliable Offerings
Briggs & Stratton has developed a reputation as a brand built on long-term use and great engine performance. B&S has been powering homes for over a century, and that experience shows in its standby generators.
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The brand focuses on
- strong natural gas performance
- simple and reliable designs
- decade-long warranties
Briggs & Stratton generators now come with proprietary NGMax technology. The feature increases fuel efficiency when using natural gas, enabling the generator to deliver more power. If you want a gen with long-term engine performance, fuel efficiency, and long-term value, Briggs & Stratton is the brand for you.
Generac
The Generac backup generator is easy to use and made to handle future challenges. It offers reliable power like B & S, but Generac stands out with the innovative features built into its generators.
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The brand includes smart features like:
- Mobile Link for remote monitoring
- Quiet Test for self-checks
- Ecobee, an internal smart thermostat
If you want tech features, broad dealer support, and a system that feels modern, Generac is the best choice.
Briggs and Stratton vs Generac: Which Generator is Better?
The right generator for your home depends on which brand fits your specific needs. Here are factors to consider when making a choice.
Power Range
When it comes to power delivery, Generac offers 10kW, 13kW, 14kW, 15kW, 18kW, 20kW, 22kW, 24kW, 25kW, and 26kW, perfect for homeowners who want precise sizing. Whether you need to power essential circuits or an entire HVAC system, Generac has a generator that’s perfect for your needs.
On the other hand, Briggs & Stratton offers fewer options. Their PowerProtect standby generator lineup only has 13kW, 18kW, 22kW, and 26kW, the most common gen sizes for houses.
Therefore, homeowners who want to back up unique power loads lean toward Generac, while those who want simple whole-home coverage may find Briggs & Stratton better.
Fuel and Efficiency: Natural Gas vs Liquid Propane
Both Generac and Briggs & Stratton standby generators can be installed to run on natural gas or liquid propane, giving you the freedom to choose the fuel type.
If your Charlotte home already has natural gas service, an NG model will simply draw from the existing gas utility. Propane, on the other hand, requires you to buy a propane tank and manually refill it. But liquid propane generators deliver more power than natural gas models.
On fuel efficiency, Briggs & Stratton has a slight edge over Generac. B&S generators now come with NGMax, a tech that increases backup power on natural gas. It reduces the delivery gap, allowing an NG generator to produce power closer to that of its propane counterpart.
Cooling Mechanism
Generac and Briggs & Stratton offer similar cooling mechanisms in their standby generators. You get air-cooled generators in the 10kW to 22kW range. But from 25kW, both brands start to offer liquid-cooled options too.
Transfer Switch and Cold Starts
Both Generac and Briggs & Stratton use automatic transfer switches to safely switch from utility to generator power. Generac offers transfer switches from 50 to 800 amps, while Briggs & Stratton starts at 100 amps and goes up to 400 amps.
For cold starts, Generac uses built-in start logic that delays electrical load until the engine warms up. In contrast, Briggs & Stratton focuses more on cold-weather hardware, like battery and oil warmers.
Generac may be the better choice if you want more ATS options.
Noise Levels
Air-cooled standby generators from both Generac and Briggs & Stratton are relatively quiet. Their sound levels are in the mid-60 decibel range. That’s about the volume of an everyday conversation or a dishwasher.
For example, a Generac 22kW Guardian runs at 67dB at 23ft away from the house. It even drops into the mid-50s if running in Quiet-Test mode. A similar Briggs & Stratton 20kW standby generator is rated at around 64dB at the same distance. Even though that’s quieter, you won’t notice the difference.
Both Generac and B&S use sound-insulated enclosures, smoother airflow design, and lower-RPM test modes to reduce noise. However, in real life, generator placement and installation will make the most difference.
Smart Features
Generac stands out with its Mobile Link remote monitoring system. You get real-time alerts, status updates, run-time data, and maintenance reminders. You can even integrate with smart thermostats like Generac’s Ecobee. Generac also has Quiet-Test to save fuel and reduce noise.
Briggs & Stratton offers InfoHub for remote monitoring, alerts, and real-time performance feedback via a dedicated app. It also has NGMax, which helps natural gas generators use power more efficiently.
Still, Generac takes a slight lead because it has more smart features than Briggs & Stratton.
Warranty and Support
Generac offers a 5-year limited warranty on models like the 22kW Guardian. In contrast, Briggs & Stratton’s PowerProtect DX lineup comes with up to a 10-year warranty on parts, labor, and travel.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, both brands have strong local dealer networks offering installation, replacements, and repairs. Even though Generac has a stronger dealer network, Briggs & Stratton parts are slightly easier to replace.
Cost
A 22kW Generac Guardian lists for $6,800 to $7,000, while a 22kW Briggs Stratton PowerProtect lists for $5,800 to $6,000.
Even though B&S seems cheaper upfront, the installation costs for both brands end up being similar prices. A typical air-cooled system (14–22 kW) from either brand costs $9,000-$12,000 installed, including the generator, transfer switch, permits, and labor.
You get the best value by choosing a properly sized generator and a trusted local installer.
Generac Generators Pros and Cons
Even though Generac leads with innovation and convenience, it’s still not perfect. Here are the pros and cons.
Generac Pros
- Generacs have a wide range of power delivery options to select from
- The brand has an extensive service dealership network
- The generators include innovative features that improve ease of use and maintenance.
- Offers 5-year warranties on generators
Generac Cons
- The warranties are shorter than B&S offerings
- Generacs cost slightly more upfront
Briggs and Stratton Pros and Cons
These are the ups and downs of using a B & S standby gen.
Briggs & Stratton Pros
- Briggs & Stratton generators are known for their durability
- Their parts are easier to replace or fix than Generac’s
- Offer 10-year warranties
- Have lower upfront prices
- NGMax tech for maximizing natural gas power delivery
Briggs & Stratton Cons
- The brand has a smaller service dealer base than Generac
- Does not have as many smart features, either.
Get Professional Generac and Briggs & Stratton Standby Generators Installation
The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a new house generator is installation and long-term service. Let us help you select the best backup power for your home. As a reputable local company servicing homes in Charlotte, North Carolina, we are the experts to turn to.
Our licensed and experienced installers will review the appliances you own and determine which type of generator best manages the load. We’ll also consider budget, service options, noise levels, and the exact generator needs.
Call us at (704) 804-3320 for a free consultation on installing a home generator.
FAQs
Neither brand is strictly better. Generac is stronger in innovative features and dealer coverage, while Briggs & Stratton stands out for natural gas performance and longer warranties.
Yes. Briggs & Stratton generators are well-built and reliable, especially for homeowners using natural gas. They’re known for strong engines, steady performance, and generous warranty coverage on many standby models.
Both Generac and Briggs & Stratton are considered highly reliable when installed correctly and serviced by qualified local technicians.
Briggs & Stratton house generators are the most comparable to Generac. Both offer whole-home standby systems, automatic transfer switches, and support for natural gas and propane.
Briggs & Stratton generators are made by Briggs & Stratton, an American power equipment company founded in 1908. The company designs and manufactures engines and backup power systems for residential and commercial use.