What Size Generator Do You Need?
With a home generator, you’ll never fear a power outage. If your work depends on your ability to keep your connection to the outside world running, if you rely on electricity for lifesaving medical equipment, or if you just want the convenience of knowing you never have to worry about losing power, a home generator will pay for itself with a knowing peace of mind.
Did you know that power outages occur more often in spring and summer than they are in winter? Now is the perfect time to think about buying a generator. Once you do, you can count on SESCOS expert technicians for professional installation and maintenance.
Why You Need a Generator
A standby generator works even if you’re not home. As soon as the power goes out, it kicks on, powering up your:
- Computer and other electronic devices
- Digital Connectivity
- Kitchen appliances
- Heat or air conditioning
- Indoor and outdoor lights
- Sump pump and well pump
- Everything else you rely on
About Watts and Kilowatts
The amount of power that a generator delivers is measured in watts and kilowatts (1000 watts). To determine how much wattage you will need, the typical advice is to add up the wattage of the main appliances and devices in your home. Unfortunately, the information that comes on their labels could be misleading, because they are based on the wattage needed for peak performance.
There’s a better way. To make a precise determination, have an electrician measure your electrical output. Turn on all the devices and systems that you want to have running during an electrical emergency. Your electrician will use an amp meter to get an accurate measurement of the wattage you need. The final number you need is known as your continuous volt-amps rating.
Attempting to get this measurement yourself is highly risky. It’s dangerous to mess around with high-voltage wiring and the calculations are detailed. SESCOS expert electricians are trained in safely measuring your electrical output and calculating the exact wattage you’ll need.
How Many Kilowatts Do Generators Have?
Once you have your volt-amps rating, you’ll know the minimum power output you need. Following is more detail about the sizes available and how many devices or appliances you can run using them.
Standby Generators
15 Kilowatts: With this size, you can run essential items including your well pump, kitchen appliances, furnace, small air conditioning unit and kitchen appliances, plus extras like small kitchen appliances.
22 Kilowatts: This size is a great option that will help you take a power outage in stride. With this size generator, you can run all of your kitchen appliances including your oven and refrigerator, as well as your television, sound system and two laptops. You’ll have enough energy to power your air conditioning, security system, most of your lights, your electronic games and your washer and dryer.
30 Kilowatts: With this powerhouse, you’ll have enough wattage to run everything listed above, along with two or more air conditioning units, two or more well pumps, a sump pump and your power tools.
Generator options
For residential use, most homes benefit from two basic sizes of generators.
Home standby. This generator will give you from 10,000 to 22,000 watts, which is enough to power most of your home’s essentials. You should be able to run your lights, electronics, and a few small appliances.
This wattage may not be enough to keep the air conditioning on unless you’re careful about how much you use. With a home standby unit, you’ll have safety and convenience at a smaller price tag than a whole-house generator. These are a good choice for small homes or people who don’t need to run a lot of power-hungry appliances.
Standby units are air-cooled, meaning that the engine circulates outside air to keep from overheating.
Whole-house generator. With up to 50,000 watts of power, a whole-house generator can keep everything in your home powered up and working. That’s enough power for even a small commercial unit. You’ll be able to run fans, air conditioning, computers, televisions, kitchen appliances and all your lights.
Whole-house generators are the best choice for larger homes, especially if the burden of communications, security, lighting systems, air conditioning, heavy-duty appliances, and other high-wattage items.
Most whole-house generators are liquid-cooled. Like a car engine, their engines use a coolant liquid to keep the motor from overheating. For this reason, whole-house generators tend to be more durable and longer-lasting.
the Cost Difference?
A portable standby unit will cost from $500 to $2000 dollars while a whole-house unit will depend ultimately on the size you choose. We’ve found that 22 KW generators suffice for most residential applications in our region. We offer the current generator sales and installation special here.
Choosing the one that works for you will depend on your budget, the size of your home and your ability to control how much temporary power you’ll need if there’s a power outage.
SESCOS sells, installs and services a wide variety of generators and we can help you select that one that fits your needs.
Special Features
To get the most out of your generator, look for those that come equipped with special features.
- Transfer switch. A transfer switch allows you to hook your generator right up to your home’s electrical panel. With a transfer switch, flicking on your generator is as easy as turning on a light. A transfer switch is not only convenient, it’s also key to using a generator safely because it prevents your generator from back-feeding into your power company.
- Wifi-enabled transfer switch. Make your generator even more convenient with a transfer switch you can operate from a cell phone, tablet or computer.
- Multiple-circuit switch. For the ultimate in safety and ease of use, some larger generators come with switches that can power 10, 16 or 24 circuits.
Choose the Right Generator
Most people who buy home generators are only sorry they didn’t do it sooner. At SESCOS, we know it can be confusing to choose the one that gets you the most for your money. With our knowledge and experience, we can help you make an informed choice.
Call SESCOS today and ask about buying and installing a generator that will keep your house humming along, no matter the weather.