If you’ve finally decided to purchase a generator for your home, you’ve made a great decision. You’ll be able to power your home through any future power outages and blackouts that come your way.
However, the next step is figuring out what size generator your home actually needs. Not all generators are created equal, and you want to make the right choice for your household. If you need some help getting started, here are a few factors to keep in mind.
How To Calculate The Right Sized Generator For Your Home
Determine The Frequency of Power Outages
The first thing you need to do is determine the frequency of power outages in your area. Do you live in an area that is more prone to extreme weather events like blizzards or hurricanes?
If so, you will need a generator that can power your entire home for several days if necessary. In this case, you might want to opt for a stationary standby unit that can easily power your home’s heating and cooling systems.
If you live in an area with less frequent power outages, you can opt for a portable and less powerful generator.
But in neighborhoods that experience frequent grid interruptions or rural line repairs, a larger standby unit can prevent the hassle of repeated resets and downtime.
In Central Indiana, where ice storms and summer thunderstorms often cause extended outages, many homeowners choose standby generators capable of running HVAC systems, sump pumps, and refrigerators for multiple days.
List Out The Devices You Want To Run
Take stock of the appliances around your house that will need to be kept alive during a power outage. If you only need enough power to charge cell phones and keep the wifi running, you won’t need a large generator.
However, if you plan to keep sizeable medical equipment or washers and dryers going, you will need a standby or large inverter generator to keep everything running smoothly.
Make sure to include hidden power draws such as well pumps or garage door openers, which can increase your total wattage needs more than expected.
Weigh Out Your Wattage
By adding up the wattage of what you want to power in your house during a power outage, you can determine what size generator you need.
While this may seem complicated, it’s much easier than you think. Many appliances display their wattage on a small panel on the rear of the appliance. You can find it near the serial number with other pertinent information about the appliance.
It’s important to keep in mind that appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators can often draw more wattage than the display panel number. If this is not accounted for, it can throw off your calculations.
You will also need to jot down the wattage that the hardwired appliances in your house require. If you’re not sure, you can contact a local electrician to help find these values.
Based on local installation trends, homeowners in Indianapolis, Carmel, and Zionsville often find that a 20kW standby generator is ideal for medium-to-large homes, while smaller properties may only need a 10–14kW unit.
Contact Midwest Generator Solutions
Choosing Midwest Generator Solutions for your first or next generator is one of the best choices you can make for your home. With our help, you’ll be able to power your home during any future power outages consistently.
Our track record of customer service, coupled with high levels of professionalism, ensures that you and your future generator are in good hands. Contact us to find out more about generator sizes and which one is right for your home.
Contact us today to find out more about generator sizes and which one is right for your home. Our team serves homeowners across Central Indiana with expert installation, sizing, and maintenance support.
You can also explore our generator installation and repair services in Indianapolis to keep your system running efficiently year-round.
FAQs
1. How big of a generator do I need to power my whole house?
Most average homes in Indiana need a 14–20kW generator to power essential systems like HVAC, lighting, and refrigerators during an outage. Larger homes or properties with electric heating may require a 22kW or higher standby model.
2. What size portable generator do I need for basic appliances?
A 5,000–7,500 watt portable generator is typically enough to power lights, a refrigerator, a sump pump, and small electronics during short outages.
3. How can I calculate my home’s exact generator size?
List every appliance you plan to power and add up their wattage. Multiply the total by 1.25 to account for startup surges from motors and compressors. If unsure, our technicians can perform a professional load calculation during your consultation.