Call This
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Call This
Saturday
to Get
$35 OFF
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re tired of being left in the dark during power outages. In this day and age, we heavily rely on electricity, so power outages can disrupt our daily lives and pose significant inconveniences. Installing the right size generator in your home is your best bet for tackling power outages. But how do you choose the right size generator for your home?
At Neighborhood Electric, we specialize in home generator installation and home generator repair. We understand what goes into choosing the right size generator for your home or business. Read on to learn how to determine the correct generator size for your home, how to calculate total wattage, and the factors to consider when choosing a generator.
Start by identifying the essential appliances you need to power and add up their wattage. Think about the appliances that are most important, such as refrigerators, HVAC system, security system, medical equipment, and lighting. You can find power consumption information on the appliance itself or the user manual.
Starting wattage refers to the wattage needed by an appliance to start, while running wattage is the amount of power needed by an appliance to run after the initial startup. Most appliances in a home require a significantly higher amount of power to start up and require less wattage to keep running. It’s important to factor in both starting wattage and running wattage when choosing a generator because you want to buy a generator that is powerful enough to start up your appliances and keep them running. However, calculating the power requirements for all appliances in your home can be a challenge if you’re not an experienced electrician. That’s why it’s important to hire a professional electrician to help you calculate your home’s power requirements.
Once you’ve calculated both starting wattage and running wattage for all the essential appliances, start shopping for the right size generator for your needs. It's advisable to choose a generator that can handle at least 25% more wattage than your calculations indicate to allow for potential additional power needs. For example, if your total power requirement is 5,000 running watts, we recommend that you buy a generator that supplies at least 6,250 running watts. Keep in mind that your power requirements may increase over time, so it’s not advisable to choose a generator that offers the bare minimum.
When it comes to selecting the right size generator for your home, the expertise of professional electricians can make all the difference. If you buy a generator that is too small, it could leave you short on power in the future. On the other hand, a unit that is too large is a waste of money and could cost you much more to operate. If you need help with choosing the right size generator for your home, get in touch with Neighborhood Electric. We take pride in offering dependable home generator installation, home generator repair, and other electrical services.
