(keeping the house warm in winter) [1]. The "Essentials": Lights, WiFi, and phone chargers [5, 11]. The Legend of the "Unstoppable" Carburetor
This system automatically shuts down the generator if it detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) gas. 5500 generac
Modern iterations of the 5500 Generac, such as the Generac 8150 model , include advanced safety and convenience features: (keeping the house warm in winter) [1]
Buy it if: You find it used for under $400, or new on sale for under $600. It is a workhorse , not a show pony . It will run your house essentials during a power outage, but you have to be mechanically inclined enough to clean the carb once a year. Modern iterations of the 5500 Generac, such as
Deep Dive: The Generac 5500 (GP5500 / 7682) – Is it still a good buy in 2026?