How Big Of a Generator Do I Need To Run My House

Do you need a Generator for your home or business? This is a question that many people are asking these days, as power outages seem to be getting more and more common. In this blog post, we will take a look at how big of a generator you need, depending on the size of your home or business. We will also provide tips on how to choose the right generator for your needs. So, if you are interested in learning more about generators, stay tuned!

This guide will help you answer those questions, including how many watts does it take to run a house? How long will a 13kw generator run? And more.

How to calculate generator size for a house?

A common mistake is to buy one with too big of a capacity instead of matching the wattage you need. If that wasn’t enough, you can’t even rely on the nameplate capacity of a generator because it’s only designed to run at optimal conditions, not for extended periods.

If you buy one that’s too big, it can trip the circuit breaker or blow a fuse. On the other hand, if you buy one that’s too small, you’ll be right back where you started when the lights go out. First, calculate the number of watts you’ll need to run your appliances. To do that, you first need to figure out how many watts each appliance uses.

Most appliances list their wattage in the owner’s manual, on a sticker, or in the product specifications online. You can also use a power meter to measure the wattage of devices you’d like to run on your generator. Since most appliances have more than one setting, you may need to calculate the average wattage of each appliance.

Check More: What Can A 7500 Watt Generator Run?

The formula looks like this

(watts used per hour) x (number of hours you’ll have power)

  • Next, add up the total wattage from each appliance that will be on during a power outage. For example, an oil heater uses 3120 watts per hour.
  • So if the outage is expected to last 8 hours, you’ll need 24,480 watts for your oil heater.
  • You can now add up all the wattages of appliances that will be on during the outage. Now, you need to know how long the outage is expected to last.
  • If you plan to head off the power outage by running your generator for a set number of hours, you can calculate the wattage based on that number.
  • Otherwise, you’ll need to go with a generator large enough to handle peak wattage for the entire length of the outage.

The formula looks like this

(peak wattage) x (number of hours outage is expected to last)

  • Now that you know how big a generator you need, it’s time to choose one.
  • Be aware of watts per square foot.
  • Smaller homes only need 1000-1500 watts per square foot, while a larger home can easily use upwards of 3000 watts per square foot.
  • If you need a lot of power for your appliances, you’ll need to get a big generator. However, this can cost a lot of money.
  • On the other hand, if you don’t need a lot of power for your appliances, you can save some money by going with a smaller generator.
  • It’s all about the wattage for your appliances and your budget. You can use it to determine what size of a standby generator you need quickly.
  • This will allow you to choose the right standby generator for your home or office in just a few minutes.

Read More: What Can A 10000 Watt Generator Run?

How big of a generator do I need?

Usually, it depends on the house size, your wattage requirement, and many more. However, an average-size home with some common appliances needs a generator between 6000 to 7500 watts. For your convenience, we’ve also produced a downloadable Standby Generator Sizing Guide that you can save on your computer.

How big of a generator do I need

What types of generators are there?

Generators come in all shapes and sizes. There are also many different types of generators. The most common styles available today are Portable Generators:

These are the most common type of generators.

They’re designed to be small and portable so you can take them with you to events and places where electricity is not readily available. With a portable generator, you can power any of your appliances, including your furnace, refrigerator, TV, lights, and more. They are also useful during emergencies when your home is without power for an extended period of time.

Standby generators

These provide backup power for your home and can run during blackouts and other instances when you don’t have access to power.

They are often hooked up to your existing natural gas or propane lines so they can switch without needing to be manually started each time there is an outage.

Standby generators

Home generators

A home generator is a more significant type of unit designed to provide power for your entire house.

These generators can also power appliances and items like your furnace, fridge, and more. They’re often installed in rural locations that don’t have access to power lines. They are also more expensive to install since they require a backup power source like propane or natural gas.

Solar generators

Solar generators work in a similar way to standby generators. They can be placed outside where they absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. This means you can install them on your home without installing gas lines.

Solar generators are ideal for homes off the grid or in rural locations where power is not readily available.

Check More: What Can a 5000 Watt Generator Run?

How much power do I need?

Power is measured in kilowatts (kW). It’s important to know how much power you’ll need for your appliances. This is because some generators are only able to provide a limited amount of wattage. If you don’t get enough wattage, your appliances won’t work. To determine how much power you need for your appliances, you will need to add them up.

How much power do I need

Most appliances get their wattage from the label on the back or bottom of them. Look for a number with the letter W next to it.

For example, a typical clothes dryer uses about 5000 watts while high-end microwaves use around 1000 watts. To determine how many watts you need, just add up the wattage for all of the appliances you want to power.

How long will a 10kw generator run my house?

Once you know how much wattage your appliances will need, you can determine how long a generator will be able to run them.

To determine how long your generator will run, you need to know the wattage and what percentage of power it will put out. This percentage is called the load.

For example, if your generator puts out 100% of its available power, then it can run at 100%. But most generators are only able to provide about 80 – 90%. This means that you will only get 80 – 90% of its available power to use while the generator is running.

To determine how long your generator will run, you’ll need to find out the wattage and load for each appliance. This can be found on the label if it’s not already stated on the back or bottom of the appliance.

Take 80% of the total wattage and add it up to get a rough estimate.

For example, A 10kw generator puts out 4500 watts (100%). If you add up all of your appliances, which total to 12045, your generator will run them for about 1 and a half hours (12045 x .8 = 9720 + 9720 = 18,740 / 4500 = 4.07 hrs).

Here is a list of some appliances and their approximate wattage:

  • Air conditioner – 6000 watts
  • Deep freezer – 1500 watts
  • Clothes washing machine – 2200 watts
  • Dishwasher – 1200 watts
  • Refrigerator / freezer – 600-1200 watts
  • Central heating furnace – 10000 watts
  • Central cooling system – 13000 watts
  • Electric stovetop burner – 3000 watts per burner
  • Electric oven range top – 2700 to 5100 watts per element
  • Microwave oven standard wattage is 1000 to 1900 depending on size
  • A typical clothes dryer uses about 5000 watts.
  • High-end microwaves use around 1000 watts.
  • Toaster – 800 to 1400 watts per element depending on settings chosen.
  • Blender – 500 to 1500 watts per element depending on the setting chosen.
  • Electric coffee maker – 850 watts per brew cycle, depending on the maker.

How many watts are needed for a generator to run a house?

This will help determine how much wattage you need from your generator. If you have a lot of appliances that require high wattage, you may need a standby generator that’s between 10,000 watts to 20,000 watts.

If you only have one or two appliances you want to power during an outage, a generator between 3,000 watts and 7,000 watts will be enough to get you through. Standby generators can be a great choice if you want to power your appliances during a blackout.

How many watts are needed for a generator to run a house

You can also hook up a standby generator to your home’s natural gas supply so it can automatically switch to power when there’s a blackout.

This gives you the convenience of not having to start your generator every time your power goes out manually.

How do I connect appliances to my generator?

It’s important that you know how much wattage you need from your generator before you connect your appliances to it. Each appliance has an individual wattage that needs to be connected to the generator for it to power on. If you don’t connect the right amount of wattage to your generator, it won’t be able to power on. This is why it’s important to know how much wattage you need before buying a generator.

Add up the wattage for all of your appliances and make sure your generator can provide enough wattage to power them all.

What size generator to run the refrigerator and freezer?

Refrigerators and freezers run on their own individual wattage. An average 18 cubic foot refrigerator uses about 1100 watts, while large chest freezers use around 900 watts.

It’s essential to add up the wattage of all your appliances, so you know how much wattage you need from your generator.

If you only have a small refrigerator or freezer, a generator with around 3,000 watts will be able to power it.

This is because it takes much less wattage to power smaller appliances. Also, microwaves are one of the highest-wattage appliances in your home, so be sure to factor them into your calculations.

Most generators can typically run medium-watt appliances like your microwave but won’t be able to turn on appliances with high-wattage motors. Your best bet is to use a home generator if you want to power these items.

It will be able to provide enough wattage so you can turn on your refrigerator and freezer without a problem.

Generators automatically stop running when there is a power outage, so you’ll have to start them up every time the power goes out manually.

What size generator for a 2500-square-foot house?

Standby generators can be a great choice if you want to power your appliances during a blackout. You can also hook up a standby generator to your home’s natural gas supply so it can automatically switch to power when there’s a blackout.

This gives you the convenience of not having to start your generator every time your power goes out manually.

Watts vs. Amps vs. Volts – What is the Difference

Amps, volts, and watts are all units of electrical energy used to power electrical devices.

Watts is a measurement of the rate at which energy is transferred or used, while amps measure the strength of the electric current in an appliance.

Voltage measures how strong your electricity is from its source to your appliances.

How Big of a Generator Do I Need – FAQs

How long can a 30kw generator run my house or office?
A 30kw generator puts out 13500 watts (100%). If you add up all of your appliances which total to 12445, then your generator will be able to run them for about 4 and a half hours (12445 x .8 = 10,320 + 10,320 = 21,640 / 13500 = 1.55 hrs).
How do I calculate what size generator I need?
The best way to figure out how much wattage you need from your generator is by adding up all of the wattage values for each appliance in your home. A generator can typically run medium-watt appliances like microwaves but won’t be able to turn on appliances with high-wattage motors.
Will a 15000 watt generator run a whole house?
A 15kw generator puts out 11500 watts (80%). If you add up all of your appliances which total to 12445, then your generator will be able to run them for about 5 hours and 45 minutes(12445 x .8 = 10,320 + 10,320 = 21,640 / 11500 = 1.9 hrs). A 15000-watt generator will be able to power about 12,900 watts (1/2) of appliances. Add up all of your appliances and make sure it’s less than 12,900 watts to stay within the generator’s capacity.
How do I know how much wattage my appliances are using?
You can either use a multimeter to test the current or go online with the model number of each appliance to find out its wattage. Also, if you have an old fuse box, most likely, there is the information printed next to each breaker.
What's the most significant generator you can buy?
The largest generator, which is also the most expensive, is a 60kw standby generator. You can run a 60kw generator on natural gas or propane. However, if you don’t have an extensive enough natural gas line to accommodate a 60kw generator, it’s best to stick with a 30-40 kW standby generator.
Can I power my whole house with one big generator?
We would recommend getting at least two generators so you can keep up with your electricity demands. If you have a large home, it’s best to look at larger generators that are capable of producing more watts.
How much does a generator cost?
The average price for a medium-sized standby generator is around $4000 to $6000. If water and power aren’t an issue, then you can spend upwards of $20,000 on a generator that’s capable of running your whole house.

 

Our Verdict

To conclude here, you can easily calculate the wattage requirement of your home. Simply add all the electronics you need to run on the generator. Once you know the total wattage you can easily find out which one you should buy.

Keep in mind that always buy a generator with a slightly bigger wattage than your requirement. Buying a slightly bigger wattage will let you increase the longevity of the generator. It also reduces noise level because it will not be running on 100% load. This is why it is always recommended to go for a bigger generator than your requirement.

Leave a Reply