What Size Generator Do You Need to Power Your Entire Home?
If you love the idea of being able to live your life normally in spite of power outages, you need a whole-home generator. This style of generator can operate everything from your lights to your refrigerator. However, if you want it to power everything in your home, you’ll need the correct size.
The average size of a whole-home generator is usually somewhere between 18 kilowatts (kW) and 26 kW. However, there is a lot of variation based on things like your home’s size and the types of appliances you have.
We’ll walk you through all the details of generator sizing, so you can find the right size for your needs.
What Size of Generator Will Run a House?
Standard generator sizing is usually done in kilowatts. This measurement refers to the maximum amount of energy a generator can produce at any given time. Generator professionals calculate your required generator size by adding up the electrical demands for every major electrical device in your home. In most cases, this will be at least 10 kW of power. Some larger homes may use 20 kW or more.
Keep in mind that most devices will need a higher burst of energy to begin running. Therefore, generator sizing isn’t based only on the amount of power your equipment uses during operation. You’ll want to add a little extra wiggle room to your generator size, so it doesn’t encounter problems if you have multiple devices starting up at once. Ultimately, this leads to a whole-house generator size of around 10 kW to 30 kW. Popular whole-house generator sizes are 14 kW, 18 kW, and 20 kW.
What Factors Affect Generator Sizing?
As you can see, there’s quite a lot of variety in whole-home generator sizes. Recommended sizes will vary based on these details.
House Size
One of the most basic rules of thumb is that bigger homes need bigger generators. This is true because larger houses use more power for heating, cooling, and lighting than smaller ones do.
Appliances and Devices
Generator size calculations usually assume that people have standard refrigerators, ovens, HVAC systems, and televisions. If your home has any less common devices, they will impact sizing. For example, if you run several gaming computers, you might need a bigger generator.
Electrical Usage
When it comes to generator sizing, the way you use devices in your home matters. If you have 10 household members all running devices at once, you’ll need a bigger generator. However, if you prefer to use only a few items at a time, you might be able to get away with a smaller generator.
Plans for the Future
When picking generator sizes, don’t forget to consider any changes to your house. Whole-home generators are meant to last for years, so make sure your choice will work well in the future. If you’re thinking about add-ons to your house, pick a generator size that can handle the additional square footage. On the other hand, you might be able to use a smaller size if you plan to install a more energy-efficient HVAC system soon.
How to Calculate the Right Generator Size for Your House
To get a more detailed idea of the generator size you’ll need, go through your home and make a list of your electrical devices. Next, look up the power usage for these devices, and add up the electrical consumption to get a rough idea of what generator size you will need to run your whole house
Common household systems that you’ll need to consider include:
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Microwaves
- HVAC systems
- Indoor and outdoor lighting
- Computers
- Televisions
- Hair dryers
- Ovens
- Sump pumps
- Networking systems
Our online generator sizing calculator is a great place to start.
Let Us Do the Work for You
While some simple calculations can estimate the size generator you need, they won’t provide the full picture. For the most accurate generator size recommendation, turn to Generator Services, Inc. Our team of professionals will carefully analyze your power usage and then recommend generator sizes that are fully compliant with generator codes. We’ll make sure you get a generator size that seamlessly handles all your electrical needs and offer emergency generator repair if you ever need urgent help.
When you want the best generator services in South Carolina, our team at Generator Services, Inc. is here for you. From obtaining generator permits to mounting equipment, we will help you with every step of installation.
Schedule a consultation with Generator Services, Inc. now to learn more about adding a generator to your property in West Columbia or the surrounding areas.
