What Size Generator Do You Need to Run Your House?

What Size Generator Your Home Needs

If you’ve ever wondered, “What size generator do I need to power my house?” You’re not alone. The answer depends on your power requirements, such as the running and starting wattage of appliances and devices.

Picking the right generator isn’t just about grabbing the biggest or cheapest one. It’s like finding the perfect pair of shoes. You want something that fits just right and meets all your needs. So, you must consider physical size, fuel type, and noise levels.

If you’re living in this dilemma, our Dependaworthy On Time Electrical team in Charlotte, NC, can help. We offer professional generator installation and repair services, with a guarantee that we fix it right. Or, you don’t pay. Let’s dive into how you can find the right size generator for you.

Where You Can Use Generators

Generators serve many purposes across different settings. Likewise, you may use it for various reasons. For example, you may use generators in your home to keep lights, refrigerators, and HVAC systems working during outages.

On the other hand, hospitals use generators to maintain power for life-saving medical equipment.

Generators also provide electricity for lighting and sound equipment in events, power tools and machinery in off-grid construction site areas, and run small appliances and devices during outdoor camping trips.

This means that each application comes with unique power needs. So, the generator size will vary based on your usage.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Generator

1. Wattage Needs Size Matters (But Not How You Think)

As we discussed previously, size matters, but not how you think.

Generators come in all types and sizes, depending on power requirements:

• Small (1–10 kW): Perfect for basic needs like lights, refrigerators, and a few other appliances.
• Medium (10–50 kW): Good for handling multiple appliances or small businesses.
• Large (50–200+ kW): For serious power needs like construction sites, commercial buildings, or big homes.

2. Fuel Choices

Not all generators are created equal. So, your choice of fuel affects efficiency, cost, and storage.

But you’ve got options here:

• Gasoline: A gasoline-powered generator is very convenient but doesn’t store well long-term.
• Diesel: Diesel is reliable and fuel-efficient but more expensive and noisy.
• Propane: Propane is clean-burning, long-lasting, and stores nicely. However, you’ll need a dedicated storage tank for it.
• Natural Gas: Great if you’ve already got a gas line, but it can get messed up during natural disasters.

The rule of thumb is to choose the best fuel type for your situation and availability.

3. Noise, Practicality, and Portability

Generator noise varies widely, and nobody wants a generator that sounds like an airplane engine in their backyard. Look for models with sound-dampening features. Portable generators are great for flexibility, while standby generators offer automatic power switching during outages.

Portable generators are compact and mobile, making them ideal for light use, such as camping or small tool operation. Standby generators, which are permanently installed, are great for powering homes or businesses during extended outages.

4. Generator Type

Different types of generators cater to specific needs:

• Inverter Generators: Quiet, efficient, and suitable for electronics.
• Portable Generators: Versatile and mobile but with limited capacity.
• Standby Generators: Designed for larger loads and automatic power restoration.
• Towable Generators: Built for mobility and heavy-duty applications like construction sites or events.

Determining Size: What Size Generator Do You Really Need?

Generators provide backup power during outages, keeping homes, businesses, or equipment operational. The best generator for you depends on what you need to power. This can range from a few critical appliances to an entire home or work site.

What You Really Need to Power

First, list the must-have appliances you can’t live without during an outage. Think about your refrigerator keeping food cold, maybe some lights, your internet router, or your medical equipment. Each of these has different power requirements.

As a pro tip, check the labels on your appliances or their manuals. They’ll tell you exactly how many watts each device needs to run. Don’t worry if math isn’t your strong suit. Most devices list their power needs right there.

But if you can’t easily find this information and want to venture into calculating wattage, you can use this formula:

$\text{Watts}=\text{Volts}\times \text{Amps}$

What’s important to remember is that having accurate wattage numbers is key to matching your needs with a generator that can handle the load in a safe and effective way.

Breaking Down the Power Puzzled

Generator sizes are often listed in kilowatts (kW), where 1 kW equals 1,000 watts.

But they have two important numbers to understand:

• Running Watts: How much power something needs to keep running.
• Starting Watts: The extra juice needed to kick an appliance into gear (like your air conditioner or refrigerator’s motor).

Let’s say you want to power your fridge, some lights, and maybe your central AC. You’ll need to add up all those watts and then tack on a little extra for safety, a safety margin of 10-15% (think of it like leaving room for dessert after a big meal). Here is a quick example:

For the example above, even though your total is 10400, you’d select a generator rated for at least 11,000 watts.

Make sure the generator you choose exceeds your calculated total to avoid overloading.

Picking The Right Size Generator With Dependaworthy

The bottom line is choosing the right size generator is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s more about understanding your specific needs. So, take time to calculate your power requirements, consider your budget, and think about future needs.

While considering those factors, also remember that generator installation is a technical task requiring expertise. And unless you’re a serious DIY wizard, get a pro to install your generator. This way, you can rest easy that you have a reliable and safe system.

For expert generator installation and repair services in Charlotte, NC, call our Dependaworthy On Time Electrical team. We promise to install your generator right the first time, or you don’t pay. Stay prepared for outages with dependable power solutions that keep your home running as a resort.

With DEPENDAWORTHY (=Dependable +Trustworthy) service, you can have confidence in your backup power source and count on it in any season.