What Size Generator Do I Need for My House?

Brown home generator installed near porch and rocksLiving in the Northeast offers residents the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons. While this allows us to undertake all sorts of fun activities, it comes with its share of harsh weather. When your residential property suffers a power outage, you need to rely on a generator to keep appliances and electronics running. At Corbin Electrical Services, Inc., we offer generator sales and installation throughout New Jersey. Here, we discuss how to determine the right size option for your house.

What Size Generator Do I Need?

Like most products, generators come in different shapes and sizes to suit different situations. Commercial generators are designed to provide large amounts of power, helping businesses maintain operations in the event of an outage. However, these options are not suitable for households. Some generator sizes that can be found in homes around the country include:

Whole-Home Generators

These standby generators are ideal for individuals who frequently experience power outages or have devices that are essential to their daily lives. These can include life-support machines, computers and other electronics needed for a home office, sump pumps in areas that are prone to flooding, and more. Home standby generators typically provide up to 20,000 watts of power and turn on automatically when an outage is detected. Because they are permanent units that need a stable surface and both gas and electrical connections, a professional will be needed to install them.

Portable Generators

If you only need a generator to assist you during camping trips and other events that take place away from home, a portable unit makes sense. While some lack the power to handle extended use at home, they are convenient and typically fuel-efficient.

Why Does Generator Size Matter?

Those looking at generators are usually doing so because they don’t want to be left in the dark when inclement weather hits or power surges damage their home’s electrical grid. Picking a generator that isn’t powerful enough for your needs can damage both the generator and the devices it supplies power to. It may also simply not provide enough power to run the things you need. On the other hand, choosing a generator that supplies far more power than you need can wind up wasting money, as the unit will be more expensive and waste fuel.

To help ensure you pick the right size, you should consider the devices you’ll be using it for. Look over your appliances or do your research to see what their wattages are. Calculating the total wattage you’ll need can help you determine how much power is enough without spending more money than you need.

Call on Us Today

If you live in New Jersey and have questions about the generator size you need, turn to the experts at Corbin Electrical Services, Inc. We provide a range of popular generator models to choose from. This, along with our expert advice, makes it easy for our customers to find the right units for their specific situations. We have reliable options from trusted brands, including Generac, Cummins, Kohler, Honeywell, and Briggs & Stratton. We carry Generac models that offer 10 kW of power up to those that offer 24 kW of power.

Our seamless installation services help get everything in place quickly and safely. While we don’t sell portable units ourselves, our licensed professionals have the expertise to install those purchased from other suppliers. We can even perform regular maintenance and checkups to ensure your generator is ready to go. Contact us today if you have questions or want to speak with a member of our team.

Corbin Electrical Services – “We Generate Peace of Mind”