What Size Generator Do I Need to Backup My House?

Having a standby generator installed in your home is an excellent way to protect yourself, as they turn on automatically in only a few seconds after a power loss. However, if you’re looking for a standby backup generator in Sacramento, you’ll have lots of options to choose from, as these generators come in many different sizes. By knowing how to pick the right sized generator for your home, you can ensure all your appliances and devices will continue to work during a power outage.

Why Does a Backup Generator’s Size Matter?

Your backup generator needs to be large enough and have enough wattage to power your entire home. Since you can find generators ranging from smaller units offering only 800 watts to larger units offering 500,000 watts, it’s important you know how to select the right unit. If you purchase too small of a generator, you won’t have the power you need for your home, and if you purchase one that’s too large, you’ll likely waste money you could have spent elsewhere. 

3 Steps for Finding the Right Size of Backup Generator for Your Home

As you look for a backup generator in the right size, you can follow a few steps to pick the perfect option for your home’s needs. Learn more about these steps below:

1. List Out the Appliances and Devices You Want to Run

The first step to selecting a generator is to figure out what appliances and devices you’ll want to run during a power outage. For example, you’ll likely want to list out your lighting circuits, HVAC system, microwave, computer, refrigerator, and oven. After listing out your devices and appliances, write down how much wattage they use to start and the amount they use to run. You can usually find this information by checking an appliance’s label or its owner’s manual.

2. Calculate Your Power Requirements for the Appliances and Devices

With all the appliances and devices listed out, calculate your home’s total power requirements by adding up the total wattage of each device. To find a device’s total wattage, combine the running wattage with its starting wattage. For instance, a refrigerator that requires 1,000 watts to start and 300 watts to run will have a total wattage of 1,300 watts.

After you have the total wattage for each appliance or device you want to run, add them all up to see how much power your home will require. For example, if you only want to power a refrigerator with a total wattage of 1,300, an AC system with a total wattage of 2,000, and a computer with a total wattage of 500, your generator should be large enough to generate 3,8000 watts. 

3. Pick a Generator With Slightly More Wattage Than You Need

Now that you know how much power you’ll need during a power loss, you’re ready to select a generator in the right size. Instead of picking a generator with the exact size and wattage to run your appliances and devices, select one that has slightly more wattage than you think you’ll need. 

Since running a generator on a full load can produce a lot of noise and harm the generator’s lifespan, a slightly larger generator will be quieter and have a lower risk of breaking down. Additionally, a slightly larger generator will give you a few more watts to use if you end up needing to power an additional device.

Choose Bonney for Backup Generators in Sacramento

Now that you know how to find the right-sized generator for your home, turn to Bonney for standby backup generator installation in Sacramento, Concord, and the surrounding areas. If you’re still not sure about the right size of generator for your home, our team can help you pick the right one and then install it for you. After we’ve installed your generator, we can also provide backup generator maintenance and repair services to ensure you always have power. Learn more about our backup generator services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us.