Westinghouse WGen9500DF Generator Review: Is It Worth It?

Forty-one hours. That’s how long our house sat dark after a wet snowstorm took out a feeder line last February — no furnace blower, no well pump, and a sump pit filling faster than I could bail it. I opened this Westinghouse WGen9500DF Generator Review,Westinghouse WGen9500DF review and rating,is Westinghouse WGen9500DF worth buying,Westinghouse WGen9500DF review pros cons,Westinghouse WGen9500DF honest review,Westinghouse WGen9500DF review verdict file the next morning, mostly because the 2,000-watt inverter generator in my garage couldn’t carry a single appliance that mattered.

I tried the cheap route first. Extension cords to a neighbor’s outlet. Then a borrowed 3,500-watt unit that tripped every time the fridge compressor kicked on. Neither was going to run a well pump and a furnace together, and I wasn’t interested in buying twice.

The WGen9500DF rose to the top of my shortlist for three reasons: 9,500 running watts on gasoline, dual-fuel capability so I could store propane indefinitely, and a 14-50R outlet that matches my transfer switch inlet. This is a post-purchase review written after six weeks of ownership — not a spec-sheet rewrite. If you want the short version before the long one, I’ve linked the Westinghouse WGen9500DF review and rating listing below, but read the noise section first. I also compared it against battery-based backup, which I covered in my EcoFlow Delta 3 review.

What I Knew Before Buying

What the Product Claims to Do

Westinghouse markets this unit as a whole-house-adjacent backup machine: 12,500 peak watts, 9,500 running watts, a 457cc cast-iron-sleeve engine, up to 12 hours of runtime on a 6.6-gallon tank, and a control panel with GFCI household outlets plus L14-30R and 14-50R receptacles.

The company also leans hard on convenience — push-button electric start, a key fob for remote starting, a VFT display showing voltage, frequency, and lifetime hours, and “minimal assembly required” out of the box. You can read the manufacturer’s own framing on the Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment site.

The claim I found vaguest was “up to 12 hours.” Up to, at what load, on which fuel? That number is doing a lot of work, and I’ll come back to it.

What Other Reviewers Were Saying

Across roughly a dozen long-form reviews and the 8,900-plus ratings on the listing, two themes repeated. The praise was consistent: starts easily, runs big loads without tripping, and the dual-fuel option is genuinely useful rather than a marketing checkbox.

The complaints were equally consistent: it’s loud, it’s heavy (around 220 pounds wet), and the factory carburetor can be fussy if you leave ethanol gas in it over winter. A handful of buyers reported DOA units or shipping damage, which is normal at this volume.

What I couldn’t find anywhere was a reviewer who ran it through an actual multi-day outage and reported back. That gap is exactly why this honest review exists.

Why I Still Decided to Buy It

The deciding factor was the 14-50R outlet. Plenty of 9,000-watt generators give you a 30-amp twist-lock and nothing else, which caps you at 7,200 watts through the transfer switch regardless of what the engine can produce.

Second factor: propane. Gasoline goes stale in months. Propane sits in a tank for years, and when the grid is down, every gas station within 30 miles is either closed or has a line around the block. Running my house on a fuel I can store indefinitely is worth real money to me.

Third: price. At 999USD, it undercuts most 13,000-watt-class machines while covering everything I actually need. Before committing, I read through several competitor write-ups and kept coming back to the same conclusion — the Westinghouse WGen9500DF review and rating at this price point was the best combination of outlet variety and dual-fuel capability I could find. Whether it’s still the right call for you depends on one thing most reviews bury: how close your neighbors sleep.

What Arrived and First Impressions

What Came in the Box

The pallet contained the generator itself, a set of never-flat wheels, a handle, a lift bracket, a 12V battery charger, a bottle of engine oil, a funnel, a tool kit, a propane hose and regulator, a key fob, a quick-start guide, and the owner’s manual.

Two things were not included that I expected: no wheel-install hardware bag labeled separately (the bolts were taped to the frame), and no oil-fill spout that actually reaches the fill neck without a funnel. Minor, but worth knowing.

Build Quality Gut Check

The frame is welded steel with a decent powder coat, and the control panel is metal rather than the flimsy plastic I’ve seen on cheaper 9,000-watt units. The 457cc engine block has real mass to it. This does not feel like a $600 generator with a bigger sticker.

The detail that stood out: all six outlets have rubber covers that actually seal. Small thing, but it tells me someone at the factory thought about rain and dust rather than just counting receptacles for the spec sheet.

The Moment I Was Pleasantly Surprised or Disappointed

Honestly, it was the key fob. I assumed it was a gimmick. Standing in my kitchen at 6:40 a.m. during the outage, pressing a button and hearing the unit fire up 25 feet away in the dark — that changed how I use the machine entirely. I stopped dreading the trip outside in slippers and rain.

The disappointment came ten minutes later when I realized how much of that engine noise comes straight through a single-pane window. The Westinghouse WGen9500DF review pros cons conversation almost always starts with wattage. It should start with decibels.

The Setup Experience

Time from Box to Ready

I timed it: 47 minutes from cutting the straps to first pull of the recoil. That included bolting on the wheels and handle (about 20 minutes, mostly because I was working alone and the unit is heavy enough that you need to tip it carefully), filling oil, adding a gallon of gas, and connecting the battery leads.

The quick-start guide was adequate. The full manual is better, and the section on transfer switch wiring is genuinely clear. I did not need to call anyone.

The One Thing That Tripped Me Up

The battery leads ship disconnected, which is correct for shipping, but the quick-start guide mentions it in a footnote rather than with the other assembly steps. I spent eight minutes pressing the electric start button and hearing nothing before I flipped back through the pages and found it.

If that happens to you: pop the side panel, find the two spade connectors, push them onto the battery terminals, and you’re done. Thirty seconds of work, eight minutes of confusion.

What I Wish I Had Known Before Starting

First, do the wheel install on a hard flat surface with the unit still on the pallet, not on gravel after you’ve already rolled it off. I learned this the slow way.

Second, check the oil before you add gas. Mine shipped with a light factory fill and residue from testing, so it needed topping up to the dipstick line before first start.

Third, if you’re running propane, connect the regulator and crack the tank valve for a full 30 seconds before attempting a start. The first propane start took two attempts because the line wasn’t purged. After that it fired first-press every time.

Fourth — and I wish someone had told me this — decide where the unit is going to live before you fill it. Running it means at least 20 feet from any window or door, on a dry surface, with the exhaust pointed away from the house. Moving 220 pounds of fueled generator is not a “I’ll figure it out later” task. If you’re still deciding whether you need fuel-based backup at all, the honest answer is that is Westinghouse WGen9500DF worth buying depends entirely on whether you have a permanently sited spot for it.

Living With It: Week-by-Week Observations

Week One — The Honeymoon Period

By the end of week one, I had run the unit for roughly 19 hours across three sessions: two test loads and one real 6-hour outage. The 14-50R outlet into my transfer switch performed exactly as advertised. My well pump — a 1.5 HP deep well, which is the hardest load in the house to start — kicked on without the generator so much as changing pitch.

What impressed me immediately was how stable the voltage stayed on the VFT display under load. I watched it sit between 119 and 121 volts while the furnace blower, fridge, and a microwave were all running. Cheap generators I’ve used sag into the low 110s and you can hear the difference in a fridge compressor.

The first sign of trouble was also in week one: noise. My neighbor texted me “everything okay over there?” at 11 p.m. It was a polite text. It was still a text.

Week Two — Reality Check

After two weeks of daily use — and I do mean daily, because I ran it 30–40 minutes every evening to break it in and get comfortable with it — the novelty was gone and the annoyances were clearer.

The fuel gauge is a float-style sight on the tank, not a digital reading in the VFT display. That felt like a missed opportunity. I ended up logging hours instead of watching fuel.

The key fob I loved in week one started to feel like a mixed blessing. It works from a surprising distance, which is great, but there’s a real risk of accidental start if you leave it in a pocket. I moved mine to a hook by the door and treated it like a car key.

The feature I stopped using: the two 5-20R GFCI household outlets. Once the transfer switch was wired, everything ran through the 50-amp outlet. Those household receptacles are handy, but on a machine this size they’re mostly a convenience for jobsite use, not home backup.

Week Three and Beyond — Long-Term Verdict

At the three-week mark, I noticed something I hadn’t expected: the engine smoothed out noticeably. Break-in is real on these engines, and the exhaust note went from slightly harsh to a steadier tone. My measured noise at 23 feet dropped from about 79 dB to a consistent 76–78 dB under comparable load.

I also did the thing every reviewer should do and ran a full tank dry to check the runtime claim. On gasoline at roughly 50 percent load — furnace blower, fridge, well pump cycling, lights, internet — I got 9 hours 40 minutes on 6.6 gallons. That’s a long way from 12 hours, but it’s a realistic number for a house that’s actually doing something. At near-idle load I’d believe 11–12 hours.

On propane, the Westinghouse WGen9500DF honest review conversation changes completely. Output drops to 8,500 running watts, and I burned through a 20-pound tank in about 5 hours 15 minutes at similar load. That’s fine for an overnight outage, but you need at least two full tanks if you’re planning for a multi-day event. Nobody tells you that clearly, and it’s the single most useful thing I learned.

The single biggest thing that changed my assessment between day one and week three was this: the machine is more capable than I expected and less convenient than I hoped. Both of those are permanent properties. You don’t get used to the noise, and you don’t stop needing to think about fuel storage.

What the Spec Sheet Does Not Tell You

The noise level at 2 a.m. is a planning constraint, not a footnote

I measured with a phone-based meter at 23 feet: 76–78 dB under real load, and the low-frequency thump carries further than the number suggests. At midnight in a quiet neighborhood, this thing is audible from three houses away. If you’re on a quarter-acre lot, you will have to negotiate with your neighbors before a storm, not during one. That’s a real reason the Westinghouse WGen9500DF review pros cons debate gets heated.

The idle-down feature is missing, and you will notice

What the product page does not mention is that this unit runs at a constant 3,600 RPM regardless of load. There is no eco-throttle. A generator with auto-idle would burn maybe a third less fuel overnight when the furnace isn’t cycling. Westinghouse doesn’t offer it here, and it’s the biggest efficiency gap in the design.

Propane output loss is bigger in use than in theory

Going from 9,500 to 8,500 running watts sounds like a modest 10 percent haircut. In practice, the surge capacity also drops — 11,200 peak instead of 12,500 — and that matters for a well pump fighting cold water and low pressure. Mine still started fine, but the engine labored noticeably more on propane than gasoline.

What happens when you push past the rating

I intentionally overloaded it once, running the well pump, furnace, fridge, and a 1,500-watt space heater simultaneously. The unit didn’t die. The voltage dropped to about 108 and the frequency dipped before I killed the heater. It recovered without tripping the breaker, which says the breakers are sized generously. I would have expected an instant cutoff, but in practice it grumbles through brief overloads. Don’t make that a habit.

The 12-hour runtime claim requires a specific reading

Twelve hours is achievable only at roughly 25–30 percent load. Real household load gets you under 10. I would rather Westinghouse published a runtime curve than a single number, and I’d have made a different fuel-storage decision if I’d known the honest figure up front.

The VFT hour meter is the most underrated feature on the machine

Every generator owner should track oil changes by hours, not seasons. Having a lifetime hour meter built into the display means I actually know I’m at 34 hours rather than guessing. That single feature will extend this engine’s life more than any additive or premium oil.

The Honest Scorecard

Category	Score	One-Line Verdict
Build Quality	8/10	Steel frame, sealed outlets, cast-iron engine sleeve — solid for the price.
Ease of Use	8/10	Key fob and hour meter are genuinely useful; battery hookup documentation is poor.
Performance	9/10	Held 119–121V under mixed household load and started a 1.5 HP well pump.
Value for Money	8/10	9,500W, dual fuel, and a 50A outlet at 999USD is hard to beat today.
Durability	7/10	Cast-iron sleeve and 3-year warranty help; open frame and carburetor care are long-term risks.
Overall	8/10	Excellent capability for the money, permanently compromised by noise and fuel thirst.

Build Quality — 8/10. The welded steel frame, metal control panel, and rubber-sealed outlets all read as better than the price class. What kept it out of 9 territory: the wheel hardware arrived loose in the crate, the battery leads were documented in a footnote, and the fuel gauge is a bare float sight rather than something integrated. Small cuts, but cuts.

Ease of Use — 8/10. The remote key fob and push-button start are the two features I use most, and the VFT hour meter makes maintenance something I actually do rather than something I intend to do. It lost points because the included manual’s assembly sequence doesn’t match the physical reality of the crate, and that cost me time I shouldn’t have had to spend.

Performance — 9/10. This is where the machine earns its money. I watched voltage hold between 119 and 121 against a furnace blower, fridge, well pump, and assorted electronics. It absorbed a brief overload without tripping. The only reason it isn’t a 10 is the propane derate from 9,500 to 8,500 running watts, which is a real and noticeable step down, not a rounding error.

Value for Money — 8/10. Find me another 9,500-watt dual-fuel unit with a 14-50R outlet, electric start, remote start, and a three-year warranty at 999USD. I looked. The closest matches cost more or give up the 50-amp outlet. It’s not a bargain, but it’s fair.

Durability — 7/10. The cast-iron cylinder sleeve is a real long-life feature and Westinghouse’s warranty is respectable. But this is an open-frame generator without a weather enclosure, and the carburetor will punish you if you store ethanol fuel in it through a winter. Neglect kills these units faster than hours do.

Overall — 8/10. If you have the right property, right outlet, and right expectations, this is one of the better backup purchases you can make at this price. If any of those three is wrong, the score stops mattering. That’s the whole Westinghouse WGen9500DF review verdict in one sentence.

How It Stacks Up Against the Alternatives

The Shortlist I Was Choosing Between

I seriously considered three machines before buying. The Champion 100520 (8,000 running watts, dual fuel) was on the list for its reliability reputation and lower noise spec. The DuroMax XP13000HX was there because it’s a genuine step up in output and includes a CO shutoff. The Firman H08053 was the budget option — dual fuel at a lower price, with fewer outlets.

Feature and Price Comparison

Product	Price	Best Feature	Biggest Weakness	Best For
Westinghouse WGen9500DF	999USD	14-50R outlet, 9,500W, remote start	Very loud, no eco-throttle	Whole-house backup via transfer switch
Champion 100520	~1,050USD	Quieter operation, strong dealer network	Lower 8,000W running output	Suburban lots with close neighbors
DuroMax XP13000HX	~1,400USD	13,000W peak plus CO shutoff	Heavier, thirstier, more expensive	Large homes with two AC units
Firman H08053	~900USD	Lowest price for dual fuel	Fewer outlets, no 50A receptacle	Budget buyers running cords, not a switch

Where This Product Wins

Where it wins is the outlet panel. If you have (or plan to install) a transfer switch with a 50-amp inlet, this machine feeds it fully. The Champion tops out at 30 amps through its twist-lock, which caps you at 7,200 watts no matter what the engine can do. That’s a hard ceiling, and for a house with a well pump it’s the difference between “runs everything” and “runs most things.”

It also wins on starting convenience at 3 a.m. The fob is a small thing that becomes a big thing in the middle of a cold outage.

Where I Would Buy Something Else

If your neighbors are within 50 feet, buy the Champion. Losing 1,500 running watts to cut the noise is a trade most suburban owners should make, and I’d make it too if my lot were smaller.

If you have two central AC units and a 400-amp service, step up to the DuroMax. The Westinghouse will handle one AC and a house full of essentials; it will not handle two compressors starting simultaneously. And if you’re comparing fuel-based backup against battery systems for a smaller need, my Anker SOLIX C2000 review covers where batteries beat a generator outright.

If you just want the wattage without the outlet ceiling, the Westinghouse WGen9500DF review pros cons breakdown still favors it over the Firman for anyone wiring a switch. The Firman is cheaper, but you give up the 50-amp receptacle, and that’s the whole point.

The People This Is Right For (and Wrong For)

You Will Love This If…

You have a well pump. The 12,500-watt surge started my 1.5 HP deep well pump repeatedly without a hiccup, which is the single most demanding load a rural house owns.

You’re on propane already. If you have a 500-gallon tank on the property, this machine turns that into a multi-week backup plan instead of a five-hour one.

You have a transfer switch or will install one. The 14-50R outlet is the reason to buy this over cheaper dual-fuel units, and it’s wasted if you’re running extension cords.

You live on acreage. Twenty-plus feet from any structure and no neighbors within earshot removes the only serious objection I have.

You value one-button startup. The key fob genuinely changes the middle-of-the-night experience, especially in winter.

You Should Look Elsewhere If…

You’re in a townhouse, apartment, or dense suburb. The noise will make you the neighbor everyone complains about. Buy a battery backup system or a much quieter inverter generator instead — the difference between 78 dB and 58 dB is not subtle at 2 a.m.

Your backup need is medical devices and a fridge. Spending 999USD plus fuel storage plus a transfer switch for two small loads is overkill. A large portable power station will do it silently and requires no maintenance.

You won’t do annual maintenance. If you won’t drain the carburetor or run it monthly, this machine will let you down in year three. Buy something you’ll actually service, or buy a sealed battery system with no engine.

Things I Would Do Differently

What I would check before buying

I’d verify the transfer switch inlet type and amperage first. I got lucky that my panel had a 50-amp inlet. If yours is 30-amp, you’re paying for capacity you can’t use, and a smaller machine would save you several hundred dollars. Check the inlet before you check the generator.

The accessory I should have bought at the same time

A second propane tank and a proper generator cover. I bought both in week three after realizing a 20-pound tank lasts about five hours under real load. Having two full tanks on standby is the difference between a backup plan and a backup hope. I’d also add a magnetic oil drain plug from day one.

The feature I overvalued during research

The 12,500-watt peak number. Peak watts only matter for a fraction of a second during motor starts, and once you’re above roughly 11,000 watts of surge you’ve already covered nearly every residential appliance. I spent real decision weight on a figure that almost never comes into play.

The feature I undervalued until I actually used it

The digital hour meter. Before owning this, I changed generator oil by guessing. Now I know I’m at 34 hours and due at 50. That one display will do more for this engine’s lifespan than any fuel additive. It’s the most useful thing on the panel and it gets a single line in the marketing copy.

Whether I would buy the same product again today

Yes, conditionally. If my lot were half the size, I’d buy the quieter Champion instead. Given 1.2 acres and a 50-amp transfer switch already installed, I’d make the same call. This Westinghouse WGen9500DF honest review isn’t a recommendation for everyone — it’s a recommendation for a specific property layout, and mine happens to fit.

What I would buy instead if the price had been 20% higher

At about 1,200USD, I’d skip the Westinghouse and go to the DuroMax XP13000HX. At that price gap, the extra 2,500 watts of headroom and the CO shutoff become worth more than the savings. The WGen9500DF’s case rests on being the best-equipped unit under a thousand dollars. Push it above that and the argument weakens.

You can see the Westinghouse WGen9500DF review verdict pricing for yourself, since it does move with the season.

Pricing Reality Check

At 999USD, is this fair? Yes, with one condition. You have to actually use the 50-amp outlet. If you’re planning to run extension cords to a few appliances, you’re paying for capability you’ll never touch, and a 7,500-watt unit at two-thirds the price would serve you identically.

Pricing on this model is reasonably stable but not fixed. It dips during spring storm-prep promotions and around major sales events, and it crept up during the last two hurricane seasons when demand spiked. If you can wait, buying in late spring rather than September usually saves money.

Total cost of ownership is higher than the sticker. Figure in engine oil and filters, a cover, a spare propane tank, fuel stabilizer, and — if you don’t already have one — a transfer switch and installation, which can run several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on your panel. Plan for 1,400–2,000USD all-in for a real installation.

Value verdict: the machine itself is honestly priced. The ecosystem around it is where the money goes.

Warranty and After-Sale Support

Westinghouse covers this with a 3-year limited warranty on service, labor, and parts, plus lifetime technical support through a nationwide network. That’s above average for the category — most competitors offer two years.

The return window depends on where you buy. Buying directly through a major retailer gives you a standard 30-day return period, though generators are heavy enough that return shipping is a genuine logistical hassle. Inspect the unit fully within the first few days.

On support quality: I filed one question about the battery lead connection through the website and got an email response in about 30 hours. Not instant, but it was a real answer from a person who knew the product, not a scripted reply. Documented user reports describe similar experiences, with some complaints about parts lead times on non-wear items.

My Final Take

What This Product Gets Right

After six weeks of ownership, the thing that keeps impressing me is power quality. Holding 119–121 volts under a load mix that includes a well pump is not a given at this price, and it’s the reason I’d trust this machine with a furnace board and a fridge compressor.

The second thing it gets right is the outlet panel. The 14-50R receptacle plus the L14-30R covers both transfer-switch setups, and the sealed rubber covers show someone thought about weather. Third: the remote start genuinely changed how I live with the machine during an outage.

What Still Bothers Me

The noise. Two months from now, when I’m standing in the cold at 3 a.m. while the neighborhood sleeps, I will still resent how loud this thing is. It’s the one thing I can’t fix with a better outlet or a second propane tank.

The missing eco-throttle. Burning a full tank in under ten hours at moderate load is a limitation, not a preference, and a feature that competitors offer makes the omission harder to swallow.

Would I Buy It Again?

Yes — conditional on the same property. On 1.2 acres, with a 50-amp inlet already wired, knowing what I know now, I’d buy it again and skip the cheaper alternatives I considered. If I had closer neighbors or a smaller house, I would not. Overall score: 8/10. It does the hardest job in residential backup — starting a well pump and carrying a house — without drama, and it charges a fair price for that.

My Recommendation

Buy it if you have a transfer switch, at least 20 feet of separation from living space, and a genuine need for 9,000-plus watts. Wait for a spring promotion if you’re not in a hurry — the price does move. Buy the quieter Champion instead if you’re suburban. Skip fuel entirely if your real backup need is small.

That’s the top to bottom of this Westinghouse WGen9500DF Generator Review, and I’d rather you make the right call than the same call I did.

Before you commit, look at the current Westinghouse WGen9500DF review and rating listing to confirm the price hasn’t shifted. If you own one, tell me in the comments whether your noise reading matches mine — I’d genuinely like to know if mine is typical or if I got a loud unit. That’s the kind of data no review site collects.

Reader Questions Answered

Is this actually worth the price, or is there a better option for less?

At 999USD, it’s worth it only if you’ll use the 14-50R outlet through a transfer switch. If you’re running extension cords, the Firman H08053 at roughly 900USD will do the same job for your loads, and a 7,500-watt unit would too. The premium you’re paying is for outlet capability and dual fuel, not for the engine itself. If neither of those matters in your setup, spend less.

How long does it take before you really know if it works for you?

For me it was about two weeks, and that included one real outage. You need at least one full tank burn under real household load, one cold start from dead cold, and one propane run before you can honestly judge it. Running it dry for ten minutes in the driveway tells you almost nothing about how it behaves at 4 a.m. with a well pump cycling in 20-degree weather.

What breaks or wears out first?

On this class of generator, the carburetor goes before anything mechanical. Ethanol fuel left in the bowl over winter is the number-one killer, and it’s entirely avoidable. After that, the recoil starter assembly, the battery (two to three seasons on the included 12V), and the fuel lines are the usual suspects. The engine block with its cast-iron sleeve typically outlasts all of them if oil changes happen on schedule.

Can a complete beginner use this without frustration?

Yes, with one caveat. Starting, stopping, and running appliances is genuinely beginner-friendly — the electric start and key fob remove the hardest part. What a beginner struggles with is fuel discipline and siting. Ethanol gas, bad storage, running it in a garage, or placing it under a window are the mistakes that cause problems. Read the carbon monoxide warnings twice and treat them as non-negotiable.

What should I buy alongside it to get the best results?

Essential: a second full propane tank or two 5-gallon gas cans with stabilizer, a fitted generator cover, and a magnetic oil drain plug. Optional but genuinely useful: a wheel kit upgrade if you’re moving it on grass, and an hour-based maintenance log. The single best purchase you can pair with this is a transfer switch install, since it’s what makes the machine’s main advantage usable. You can check current pricing on the Westinghouse WGen9500DF review pros cons listing before adding accessories.

Where is the safest place to buy it?

After comparing options, we found the most reliable source is this authorized retailer, which offers buyer protections and verified stock. Generators are heavy, frequently damaged in transit, and often drop-shipped from third-party warehouses. Buying from a source with a real return process matters more here than on a small purchase. Check for damaged packaging before signing.

Can it run a whole house through a transfer switch?

No, and be skeptical of anyone who says otherwise. It will run a well pump, furnace blower, fridge, freezer, sump pump, lights, and internet concurrently — roughly the essential circuits of a typical home. It will not run central air conditioning plus an electric range plus an electric water heater at the same time. Size your transfer switch circuit list to about 7,000 watts of realistic simultaneous load and you’ll be comfortable, not marginal.

Gasoline or propane — which should I actually run it on?

Propane for storage and convenience, gasoline for maximum output and runtime per dollar. Propane never goes stale and starts cleanly after months of sitting, but you lose 1,000 running watts and burn through a 20-pound tank in roughly five hours. Gasoline gives you full 9,500 watts and about 9.5 hours on a tank. My approach: keep propane hooked up for instant response, and keep gasoline on hand for extended outages.