How Much Power Do You Actually Need? How to Determine the Best Size Generator for Your Home

If you’re going to invest in a standby generator for your home or business, it’s important that you know what size of generator you actually need; residential standby generators come in numerous sizes. At Generator Technologies Inc., our team is prepared to help you select the right generator and handle 100 percent of the installation process. Here are some tips for determining the best size generator for your home—

The Essentials

It’s best to start by thinking small—do you only need your generator to power the essentials, such as your refrigerator, the lights, the garage door, the furnace, and the sump pump? If you don’t plan on going wild with appliances, then you can probably get away with seven to 11 kilowatts (kW) of power. 

Half the Home

For those who want to use a few more appliances, such as the basic essentials described above plus a phone system, an alarm system, a second bathroom, outdoor lights, an office, and outlets in more than one room of the house, a generator that provides more than 11 kW of power is necessary. For these homeowners, a generator that provides somewhere in the range of 14 to 20 kW should be plenty. And if you need more, there’s always the whole-home generator option. 

The Whole House

Do you want to run your dishwasher and your AC while also keeping the lights on and power flowing to various rooms of your home? Do you need to power medical equipment in addition to essentials and comfort items like those listed above? With a whole house generator, you can plug into your entire electrical panel to provide power to your whole house. The biggest residential generators provide up to 48 kW of power. 

Still Unsure What Size You Need?

It can be hard to know what you’ll use in a blackout and what you won’t. If you’re unsure of what size of generator you need, consider using this resource provided by Consumer Reports. The professionals at Generator Technologies Inc. can also guide you through your options. 

Reach Our Team with All of Your Generator Questions Today

To learn more about generator installation and what size of generator you may need for your home in Illinois or Indiana, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team members directly. We have years of experience and work with both home and business owners. You can get in touch online or by phone at your convenience.