Quick answer: Kohler and Generac both build dependable whole-house standby generators, and either one can protect a home in Frisco, Prosper or McKinney. Generac sells more generators and usually wins on entry price and the number of dealers. Kohler tends to win on starting power for big central AC systems and on heavy-duty, commercial-grade build. We install Kohler, and below we explain why, including the cases where Generac is the better fit.

Why would a Kohler dealer write a fair comparison?

Because you’re going to read other comparisons anyway, and many of the ones online come from Generac dealers. We’d rather you hear it straight from us.

When we started Cornerstone, we looked hard at both brands and chose Kohler. In our experience, it’s the machine we trust most over a 15- or 20-year life. That’s our bias, and we’re upfront about it. Generac still makes good generators, and thousands of North Texas homes run one without trouble.

Here’s how they differ, plus the part most comparisons skip: who installs your generator matters more than the badge on the front.

Who are Kohler and Generac?

Both are Wisconsin companies with long histories in power equipment. Kohler’s power business goes back more than 100 years, and its industrial units back up hospitals, data centers and other places where an outage isn’t an option. Generac was founded in 1959 and made its name on home standby generators. It now calls itself the category leader, and its own annual report says home standby generators are in about 6.75% of U.S. homes.

You may also see the name Rehlko. In 2024, Platinum Equity became the majority owner of Kohler’s energy business, which was renamed Rehlko. Many dealers now list the generators as “Rehlko (formerly Kohler).” Same product line, new company name. If a quote or spec sheet says Rehlko, you’re looking at a Kohler generator.

Kohler vs. Generac at a glance

This compares the air-cooled home standby generators most North Texas homes use.

Feature Kohler (Rehlko) Generac
Air-cooled home sizes 10 to 26 kW 10 to 28 kW (Guardian and newer lines)
Engine KOHLER Command PRO V-twin Generac G-Force
Power quality Under 5% THD Under 5% THD
Standard warranty 5-year limited 5-year limited
Remote monitoring OnCue app (varies by model) Mobile Link on every home standby unit
Dealer network Smaller and more selective Larger
Typical price Usually higher Usually lower at entry level

For bigger homes, Kohler also makes liquid-cooled home generators from 24 kW up to 60 kW. That’s the range we look at for large properties with three or more AC systems, a pool and an electric kitchen.

Where does Kohler come out ahead?

Starting big AC loads

This one matters a lot in North Texas. When a 4- or 5-ton AC compressor kicks on, it pulls a big surge of current for a split second. Kohler’s PowerBoost feature is built to supply that extra starting power for large loads like central AC, so the rest of the house keeps running while the compressor starts. In a July outage the AC cycles on and off all afternoon, so this comes up a lot.

Commercial-grade engineering

Kohler’s home generators come from the same company that builds industrial backup power for critical facilities. The Command PRO engine is built for generator duty, and the units feel solid when you work on them. That’s an installer’s opinion, and it’s one of the main reasons we chose the brand.

Where does Generac come out ahead?

Price

At the entry level, a Generac usually costs less. If budget is the deciding factor and the house is a good fit for a smaller air-cooled unit, that’s a real advantage.

Dealer count and parts

Generac has many more dealers. If you live somewhere remote, or you want lots of companies to choose from for service, that matters.

Connected features

Every Generac home standby unit now ships with Mobile Link monitoring, and its newer lineup adds built-in cellular connectivity and a 28 kW air-cooled model that Generac bills as the most powerful air-cooled home standby generator available. If you like managing your home from an app, Generac has put real effort there.

Which handles Texas heat and ice storms better?

Neither brand has a magic edge in the weather itself. Both are built to run outdoors, in heat and in cold, and both advertise under 5% total harmonic distortion, the level generally recommended for TVs, computers and variable-speed HVAC.

What matters in Texas heat is sizing and motor starting. North Texas homes often have two or three AC systems, and those compressors are the hardest load a generator carries. That’s where we think Kohler’s PowerBoost earns its keep.

What matters in an ice storm is maintenance. A weak battery, old oil or a mouse nest in the enclosure will stop either brand cold. We cover that in our winter storm generator guide.

Which matters more, the brand or the installer?

The installer. This is the opinion we’ll defend all day: a well-installed Generac will outperform a badly installed Kohler.

Most generator problems we hear about trace back to the install. A gas line too small to feed the generator at full load. A gas meter nobody checked. A unit sized by square footage instead of a load calculation. A transfer switch with no load management on a house with three AC units. Then there’s the annual maintenance nobody scheduled.

That’s why our consultations take time. Before we talk brands, we look at your gas meter, your electrical panel, your AC systems and what you actually want running during an outage. The brand comes after the plan.

Why does Cornerstone install Kohler?

We’re a small, family-owned company. We picked one brand we trust and learned it inside and out, instead of selling whatever the distributor has on the shelf. We’re a certified Kohler dealer. Kohler’s 5-year, 2,000-hour limited warranty covers parts, labor and travel, and a 10-year extended option is available.

There’s also a practical reason. Our owners are on site for installations, and we stay with our customers after the job is done. When you’re the one taking the call on a 104-degree afternoon or during an ice storm, you want the machine you’re most confident in. For us, that’s Kohler.

You can see the full Kohler standby generator lineup on our site, or read about our standby generator installation process.

Already own a Generac?

Keep it. There’s no reason to replace a working generator because of a brand comparison.

Do make sure it gets serviced every year, the battery is healthy and nothing is blocking the enclosure. If you’re having problems with it, give us a call. If it’s something we can help with, we’ll tell you. If it’s not, we’ll point you to someone who can.

How do you choose?

A Kohler is probably the better fit if:

  • Your home has two or more large AC systems and you want them running during a summer outage
  • You plan to stay in the home for many years and want the heavier-duty machine

A Generac may be the better fit if:

  • Price is the main deciding factor and your home suits a smaller air-cooled unit
  • App-based monitoring and smart-home integration are high on your list

Still not sure which is right for your home? Call Cornerstone Power Solutions at (972) 246-8216 or schedule a free consultation. We’ll run a load calculation, look at your property and give you a straight answer. If you want a real number to go with it, our whole-house generator cost guide shows what installs in Frisco and Collin County typically run.