Finding the right size generator to power your house in an outage is a must for any homeowner considering a new installation. The average American home loses power once or twice a year for an estimated three hours. However, severe outages caused by extreme weather can last days or even weeks. When this occurs, homeowners can be faced with a laundry list of potential expenses. Frozen pipes, basement flooding, spoiled food—the list goes on!
If you’re wondering how to find the right size, keep reading below.
Finding the Right Size Generator
Types of Generators
While only one is powerful enough to restore power to your home, let’s take a look at a few of the most common types of generators:
Whole house generators are always on standby and waiting to quickly provide backup power in the case of a blackout or severe weather.
Portable generators provide enough power to provide electricity outdoors in events such as camping or tailgating. While useful, these will not be enough to power your home.
Inverter generators are fuel-powered and electronically throttle power to meet the current demand instead of running at a constant pace, saving more on fuel. Like portable generators, this, too, is not sufficient to power a home.
Calculating the Right Size Generator
In order to figure out what size generator you will need, you’ll need to calculate how much total wattage you will use while the power is out. The best way to do this is to add up the approximate wattage of the appliances and electronics you are most likely to use in an outage. Once this number is determined, you can more easily find the right size generator for your home. Refer to our list below to help approximate the wattage you’ll need.
- Refrigerator/Freezer: 600-800
- Electric Range (one element): 2500
- Toaster: 1100 -1700
- Microwave: 1200
- Hot Plate: 1250
- Coffeemaker: 400-800
- Electric Oven: 5,000
- Television: 100-350
- Personal Computer: 500-2000
- Hair Dryer: 1200-1500
- Vacuum: 700-1400
- Space Heater: 1250
- Table Lamp: 150
- Electric Furnace: 5000-25000
- Heater (radiant): 1300
- Central Air Conditioning: 2000-4000
- Water Heater: 3000-4500
- Water Pump: 1000-2000
- Window Air Conditioner: 600-1500
- Outdoor Lighting: 500-1000
- Sump Pump: 1500
If you’re in the market for a whole house generator, affordable financing is available at Eric Krise Electric. If you have questions about our Kohler systems, installations, or financing, contact us today by giving us a call at 856.769.3932, and we’ll be happy to help!