What Size Generator Is Right for Your House?

If you’re thinking about having a whole-house generator installed on your property, one of the first things you’ll need to determine is what size generator you’ll need. Whole-house generator sizing can be tricky to figure out, but it’s absolutely essential to ensure you choose a standby generator that’s sufficient for your needs.

There are numerous generators available in stores, ranging from small portable options to large stationary products. A whole-house generator is intended to power your entire home in the event of a power outage, so you’ll be looking at generators that will be installed as a permanent fixture to your property. Those small, portable options are typically intended for very specific uses, like powering a refrigerator or another small device. These won’t provide the output you need to power an entire home full of appliances.

How to Size a Whole-House Generator

The size of a generator is determined not by its dimensions but by its output. This is typically a number labeled in watts or kilowatts. A kilowatt is equal to 1000 watts, to give you a sense of comparison. Smaller generators may be labeled in watts, but your whole-house generator will likely be labeled in kilowatts as its output capacity is far greater. To get a sense of how many watts you’ll need, it helps to start by understanding the running watts that common appliances throughout your home use. While these numbers can vary based on the model, size, and other variables, here’s a general sense of running watts needed for common appliances and related household items:

• Refrigerator/freezer – 700 watts
• 32” LED television – 50 watts
• Window air conditioning unit – 1200 watts
• Small space heater – 750 watts
• Washing machine – 500-1000 watts
• Laptop computer – 75 watts
• 1/3 horsepower well pump – 750 watts
• 7000 BTU air conditioner – 1500 watts

In addition to the running wattage, many items have a much higher starting wattage as well as they draw more current when initially being turned on. You’ll need your whole-house generator sizing to account for both the running and starting watts of everything you need it to power to ensure it’s big enough to handle your energy needs.

Getting a Professional Opinion

If the math and work involved in trying to figure out what size whole-house generator you need is making your head spin, there is an easier option. Your best bet is to turn to a professional company that installs whole-house generator systems to get their input on whole-house generator sizing for your home. They’ll work with you to review your general energy usage needs to determine the right-sized whole-house generator for you.

If you’d like more information on whole-house generator sizing and what goes into the equation, contact Tri-State Water, Power & Air today. We would be happy to answer your questions and help you find the whole-house generator that’s the right size for your home.