Can My Generator Power My Whole House or Just Some Things? 

Can My Generator Power My Whole House or Just Some Things? 

Investing in a standby generator can be a great way to give yourself security and peace of mind that in the event of a blackout, you’ll be able to keep the lights on. But one misconception about standby generators that’s important to clear up is the idea that a standby generator can power an entire home in all cases. While some generators are indeed large enough to do this, it’s important that you understand your home’s energy needs and how much power you can expect from a generator. Here’s what you should know about how much power a generator can provide—

Sizes of Generators

Standby generators come in different sizes, and different sizes provide different levels of power. At Generator Technologies Inc., our smallest standby generator model offers 10,000 watts of energy, our mid-size models offer 14,000 or 18,000 watts, and our largest generators offer 20,000 or 22,000 watts. 

So how much power is that really?

Even the smallest size standby will still provide a lot of power. 10,000 watts is typically enough to power the refrigerator, lights, chargers for phones and computers, an air conditioner, a furnace, and a dishwasher, plus more. 20,000 watts, and certainly 22,000 watts, can power just about everything under the sun in the average home, including all of the things mentioned above plus a washer and dryer, microwave, and other appliances. Keep in mind, though, that the specific energy requirements of appliances will vary based on make and model and age. 

What Size Generator Do I Need?

If you’re not sure how big of a generator that you need, it’s important to talk to a professional about your energy consumption. You’ll want to start out by figuring out the starting wattage of the appliances in your home. Write down everything in your home that requires electricity that you’d want to use in the event of an outage. Then, use a wattage chart to calculate just how much power you might need. Next, run these numbers by a generator professional who can help you to find the right size of generator for your home.

Call Generator Technologies Inc. Today

While a standby generator can power a whole home in some cases, it depends on your energy usage and the size of generator you have. What’s more, some homeowners don’t need or want a generator to power their whole home—they just want to be able to use the essentials. To learn more about standby generators in Crete, call Generator Technologies Inc. today with all of your questions.