A home generator is a great way to ensure that your home stays powered during power outages. It can also provide electricity for things like lights, appliances, medical equipment and your home’s heating system.
To choose the best generator for your needs, it’s important to consider size, power and fuel source.
1. Size
When it comes to choosing the right home generator, size is a big factor. Larger generators usually have a larger fuel tank, making it easier to get hold of fuel during a power outage.
A good way to determine the size of your home generator is to calculate the power needs of all your appliances and devices. Use the wattage numbers found on the nameplates of your devices and add them up.
This is important, as some appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators have separate starting and running wattage requirements. The more wattage your appliances need, the larger your generator will have to be.
2. Power
Generators range from small portable units that are easy to handle, to large liquid-cooled models that have a long-lasting power capacity. Picking the right one depends largely on how much energy you need to run your home and what appliances you want to power during an outage.
Most appliances have a label that tells you their wattage requirements. This number is important because a generator must supply enough wattage to start an appliance and keep it running, but also to withstand a surge when the regular juice kicks in again.
3. Fuel
The fuel efficiency of your home generator is an important factor when considering which model to purchase. Most manufacturers provide this information in gallons and liters per kilowatt hour at specific power levels with the fuel tank capacity being provided as well.
The most common type of fuel for home generators is gasoline. Typically, gasoline is stored in a tightly-capped storage tank or cylinder.
Gasoline is more flammable than other fuels like propane and diesel, which means you should store it in a secure area where you can keep it away from kids or pets.
The other fuel type commonly used for home backup generators is natural gas (NG). These generators are a popular choice for homeowners who have access to gas lines beneath their homes.
4. Ease of Use
A home generator is an essential piece of equipment for any homeowner. Its ability to power lights, important appliances, medical devices and heating is vital to keeping your family safe during a power outage.
A generator’s ease of use is an important factor to consider when deciding on the right one for your needs. It should be able to start up quickly, power appliances and equipment and withstand a power surge if needed.
Home standby generators come in a wide range of kilowatts (kW) that power a variety of items including lights, refrigerators, and heating systems. Selecting the correct kW for your needs requires knowledge of electricity and the total load requirements of all electrical appliances in your home.
5. Warranty
Getting a home generator is an investment that can protect your family and your home during a power outage. Without electricity, your lights, appliances, air conditioning, sump pumps, WiFi, and even your food can spoil.
When you shop for a home generator, be sure to read the warranty carefully. Most brands offer a five-year warranty on their air-cooled standby generators.
This warranty covers parts and labor as well as travel costs for a technician to come and service the generator if it doesn’t work. The coverage varies by manufacturer and model, however.
