Severe weather can knock out your power without warning. Without power, you can’t prepare any food, use the Wi-Fi, or heat your home. Power outages from severe weather can take out power for long periods of time. Having a whole house backup generator is a great idea for the worst-case scenario. If you’re interested in a generator, you might be wondering: “What Size Generator Do I Need for My House?” Doc Dancer, Fort Wayne’s trusted HVAC service and generator installation company, is here to help you figure out which size generator is best for your home.
Different Kinds of Generators for Different Needs
There are a couple of different sized generators to consider when you’re shopping around for one. Most of these generators aren’t ideal for home use, but knowing the differences between them can help you make the right decision.
- Recreational Inverter – These are ideal for those who lose power very rarely, but will keep on a refrigerator, freezer and a space heater. Recreational inverters are most commonly used for tailgating and camping. Outputs up to 2000 watts.
- Midsize Inverter Generator – A midsize inverter is a quiet generator that is very efficient. They can keep a fridge and lights on for 8 to 18 hours, using only 2 to 3 gallons of gas. Outputs up to 3500 watts.
- Portable – If you lose power occasionally, portable generators are the best value in terms of cost vs capacity. They can be connected to a breaker panel with a transfer switch. Outputs up to 7500 watts.
- Large Inverter – Larger inverters are the largest and most expensive portable generator, but they are also the most powerful. They are capable of running many electronics. Outputs up to 7500 watts.
- Home Standby Generators – If you experience frequent power outages for long periods of time, a home standby generator, or whole house generator, will be the easiest to operate and maintain. As soon as the power goes off, it kicks on automatically. Outputs the most watts.
Picking the Perfect Size Generator for Your House
When considering the right size of generator your home needs, there are a few things you should consider before making a purchase.
- Make a list of appliances you would need to run during a power outage. Refrigerators and large appliances may need a special converter to be powered by a generator.
- Do the math to figure out your estimated total wattage use. If your appliances are listed in amps instead of watts, you can convert them by using the formula Wattage = Amps x120.
- Select a generator that covers more wattage than what you need. Generators running at 100% will lose efficiency over time and will be very noisy.
You may also want to consider a generator that can plug into a circuit breaker if you’re intending on running multiple appliances. Not all generators can do this without buying extra adapters.
Backup Generator Installation from Doc Dancer
For total peace of mind when the power goes out, an easy solution is to have a backup generator installed by Doc Dancer. These are ideal for people in areas where the power goes out frequently for long periods of time, or if you have critical medical equipment in your home.
Backup generators are installed permanently right next to the house. When the power goes out, they kick right on without any switches to flick or ripcords to pull. They are the most expensive generators on the market, and cannot be installed in areas that are prone to flooding.
Doc Dancer supplies our Fort Wayne customers with Generac and Honeywell generators, which are two of the leading manufacturers in the industry. We provide you choices in sizes and capacity based on your needs. Our generators range from 9 kilowatts of output to 22 kilowatts. Doc Dancer will assess your home’s needs and find the right generator for you and install it. Your generator will need annual maintenance to keep it functional for the worst storms. This ensures you won’t have to worry the next time the power goes out.
Call Doc Dancer to Keep the Lights on When the Power Goes Out
For more information about whole house backup generators or determining the right size generator you need, call Doc Dancer today.