Joe Pack
I finally had a Generac 7500 kw hooked up with natural gas. Without electricity, my sump pumps would not work, which meant a potentially wet basement...including my finished basement and workshop. After 15 years, I could go away for a weekend without worrying about my basement or calling friends to go check it for me. I originally had a gasoline powered generator to run the sump pumps and freezer, but I had to be home to hook it up...useless for the most part.

Be sure you have it hooked up properly! Anyone not using a properly installed transfer switch is a fool. Make sure it is inspected and serviced regularly, including replacing the starting battery at least every 3 years (I did mine every two...small cost compared to my basement set-up.)

Get one big enough to run what you need...furnace, pumps, microwave, garage opener, etc. AC, if you really want to go big. My idea was to provide basic necessities, not run the whole house as if it was a resort. At the same time, a 10 kw generator would have given me a little more leeway for not much more money.

FWIW, the permanent generator was a big selling point when I sold my house.

Don't mess with the portables if you rely on pumps to keep your basement dry. Unless you are constantly home to hook them up, they are useless.

The one problem I had was in nuts, bolts and screws vibrating loose. Check them all, particularly the throttle linkage and the starter motor. I learned the hard way. A little locktite is good insurance.