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Running Watts product guide

Generac 14kW Air-Cooled Home Standby Generator, Model 7258

Permanent automatic backup on natural gas or propane, professionally installed

A 14kW air-cooled standby generator that runs on natural gas or vapor propane and starts automatically in an outage. This non-bundled listing needs a separate transfer switch and a field-supplied battery, a pad with 3-foot front and end clearance, and installer setup. The warranty runs 5 years or 2,000 hours with reducing coverage.

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Published specifications

  • Spec sheet: 14 kW LP, 14 kW NG; 58 A at 240 V; 60 A breaker
  • NG 189 / 243 ft3/h at half / full load; LP 1.76 / 2.92 gal/h
  • Clearance: 3 ft front and ends, 18 in rear, 5 ft overhead
  • 391 lb without battery; 65 dB(A) at 23 ft, normal load
  • Oil and filter every 2 years or 200 h after 25 h break-in
  • 5 yr or 2,000 h: yrs 1-2 parts and labor, yr 3 parts, 4-5 major

Fit and limits

Strengths

  • Starts automatically on natural gas or propane from the home supply
  • Maker publishes fuel use, gas pressure and clearance figures
  • Built-in cellular monitoring and a weekly self-exercise

Caveats

  • Transfer switch and battery are not included in this listing
  • Needs professional gas and electrical installation and registration
  • Warranty drops to parts only in year three and major parts after

A permanently installed 14kW standby unit, sold without a transfer switch

This listing is Generac's 14kW air-cooled home standby generator, model 7258, variant G0072580, which matches the variant on Generac's product page. It is not a portable generator: it sits outdoors on a pad, runs on natural gas or vapor propane from your home's supply, and starts automatically when utility power fails. Generac lists built-in cellular connectivity with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with some monitoring features requiring a Mobile Link premium subscription.

The selected option is non-bundled. Generac's spec sheet says a 200-amp service-rated transfer switch comes only in bundled models, so this unit needs a separately bought transfer switch. The spec sheet and owner's manual also say the 12-volt AGM starting battery is not included; the required type is a Group BTX30L Powersport battery with at least 400 cold cranking amps.

The rating on each fuel and what the fuel line must deliver

Generac's spec sheet rates the 14kW model at 14 kW on propane and 14 kW on natural gas, with 58 amps maximum load current at 240 volts and a 60-amp main line breaker. The owner's manual notes that natural gas ratings depend on fuel energy content and that typical derates run 10 to 20 percent below the propane figure across its range, so ask your installer which applies to your gas supply.

The spec sheet lists fuel use of 189 cubic feet per hour of natural gas at half load and 243 at full load, or 1.76 and 2.92 gallons per hour of propane. Required inlet pressure is 3.5 to 7 inches of water column for natural gas and 10 to 12 for propane, and fuel piping must be sized for full load. Output also falls about 3.5 percent per 1,000 feet of altitude.

Clearances and siting from the installation manual

The installation manual calls for at least 3 feet of clearance at the front and ends, 18 inches at the rear, and 5 feet of open space above the unit, including shrubs, trees and removable fences. The 18-inch rear figure relies on Southwest Research Institute testing and does not apply to windows, doors, vents or other openings, which must follow locally adopted codes.

The manual adds that a unit placed within these limits may still let carbon monoxide into a structure, recommends CO detectors on each level of the home, and lists entry points such as attic, dryer and furnace vents. It must sit level within half an inch on a compacted pad, on high ground away from downspouts and sprinklers, and be accessible for service and first responders.

Weight, noise and what the controller does

The 14kW unit weighs 391 pounds without the battery and measures 46.4 by 26.3 by 30.7 inches. Generac's sound figures are 65 dB(A) at 23 feet at normal load and 55 dB(A) in its low-speed Quiet-Test exercise, measured from the front; the spec sheet says other sides may be louder. Total harmonic distortion is rated under 5 percent.

The Power Zone controller runs a weekly 5-minute exercise by default, adjustable from 5 to 20 minutes, and the spec sheet lists its protection shutdowns. The owner's manual says the unit is tested from -20°F to 122°F and recommends cold weather accessories, sold separately, below 32°F.

Installation and maintenance are dealer and installer work

The installation manual is written for installers and lists NFPA 37, 54, 58 and 70 among the standards the installation must meet; the spec sheet says installers must use Generac's Field Pro app. The owner's manual says the generator must be registered and configured to be activated before it can run in automatic mode. Those standards cover both the electrical connection and the gas piping.

The owner's maintenance schedule includes a 25-hour break-in oil change, then oil and filter replacement every two years or 200 hours, or yearly or every 100 hours in cold weather below 40°F or continuous hot running above 85°F. Air filter and spark plugs are replaced every four years or 400 hours. Keep shrubs and grass at least 3 feet from the louvers.

A 5-year warranty with shrinking coverage

Generac's standby warranty runs five years or 2,000 hours, whichever comes first, starting at successful start-up or online activation. Years one and two cover parts, labor and limited travel; year three covers parts only; years four and five cover only major components, the engine short block and the alternator. Emissions components are covered by a separate emissions warranty.

The unit must be registered with proof of purchase, repairs must go through an Independent Authorized Service Dealer, proof of required maintenance must be available, and the warranty only applies to permanently wired and mounted units. It transfers with ownership of the original install site. Travel is limited to 100 miles or three hours round trip per occurrence.

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Primary sources

  1. Generac product page, Standby Generator 14kW (variant G0072580)
  2. Generac spec sheet, 10/14/18 kW air-cooled standby generators
  3. Generac 60 Hz air-cooled generators owner's manual (10-28 kW)
  4. Generac 60 Hz air-cooled generators installation manual (10-28 kW)
  5. Generac 5-year limited warranty for residential and commercial standby generators

Primary sources checked .

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