What Size Home Generator is Right For You?

Is bigger always better?

Not when it comes to home generators. Having the right size for your space not only saves you money, it helps ensure your safety and comfort if the power goes out.

Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people who will tell you that you should buy the most expensive option every time. Here’s what you need to know to make the real right choice.

Do You Have Higher Power Needs?

If you have a well pump, you need to take that into consideration. City water doesn’t require extra power, but if you need to run a pump, that requires extra wattage.

Another consideration is if you have an electric furnace or heat pump. If so, you’ll need at least 15,000 watts for that alone, so a portable generator won’t be enough. Finally, consider your hot water heater. It you have a gas or oil-powered unit, you’ll need less power. However, an electric heater will need quite a bit more.

Think about what else you have that focuses on electric power. Make sure you choose a home generator that has enough wattage for your needs.

Portable vs. Standby Generator

When you are thinking about getting a generator, you are probably doing so when the power is on. It can be difficult to think of everything you will want to use in an emergency.

Many people think they really only need a couple of items, and lean toward a portable generator. However, a standby home generator is usually a better choice.

Remember, you can’t run a portable generator indoors or even in your garage. You’ll need to place it outside, which can be challenging during a storm that caused a power failure. You will also need to keep enough fuel on hand – often gasoline – to power it. That can be difficult and sometimes even dangerous.

Instead of having to run out in bad weather to place your generator, plug it in, and then run power cords to it, your standby generator will kick on automatically when power goes off. It then turns off when power returns.

Whether you lose power for five minutes or five hours, you’ll stay comfortable and safe with a standby generator!

How Often Is Power Out in Your Area?

Some residents of Little Rock and the surrounding area are fortunate enough to be on a priority power grid. Due to their luck, they will be part of the customer base that has power restored the fastest. On the other hand, you may be on a secondary or lower priority section, especially if you live out in the country.

Think about how often power goes out when you consider your home generator needs. If you lose power three or more times a year, or if you find your power takes a long time to be restored, having a standby generator is more important.

On the other hand, if you rarely have power outages or seem to get power quickly, you might be able to go with a large inverter instead.

Get the Home Generator You Need Today

Even after you consider your power needs, frequency of power loss, and type of generator, you may have questions. That’s no problem! Just reach out and we can help walk you through the options you have.

If you’re ready to choose your home generator, contact us today. We’re here to serve you!