What Size Generator Does Your Home Actually Need?

It’s not hard to make the case for adding a generator to your home. Generators are tremendously useful, especially in the Greensboro area, where powerful storms are a somewhat regular occurrence. With that said, it is important to make sure you pick out the right size generator to serve your needs. That’s exactly the topic this article will cover.

Whether you are ready to have a Generac installed or you just want to talk to someone about the generator installation process, Berico is the right place to start. Call now to learn more.

Understanding Your Home’s Power Requirements

Knowing how much power your home will need to use when the grid is down is the first step in this process. That is not the same as knowing how much power you typically use when the grid is working properly, however. You don’t need to run everything off your generator during an outage, as you can get by with just the essentials. In other words, you’d like to be able to continue using your refrigerator and heating and cooling equipment, but you can probably just let your laundry machines sit idle until the power comes back on.

For many homes, a 7kW to 12kW range generator will meet the basic needs and keep essential functions running. That would be potentially a few appliances like refrigerator, freezer, and or water heater. Of course, that’s just a general estimate and shouldn’t be taken as anything more than a guideline. If you want to run more equipment, with less interruption to your daily activities, or if you have a particularly large home, you might get up into the range of 18kW to 24 kW.

The Value of Professional Sizing

You certainly don’t want to simply guess at the necessary size for your new generator and then make a purchase. Instead, you want to work with a professional installer like Berico to make sure you nail it the first time. Unfortunately, too many homeowners proceed after very little research on the matter, and they wind up with a number of different problems as a result.

A generator that’s too small for your needs will naturally struggle to keep up with demand. This can cause it to trip off when too many appliances start up at once. While it might seem like just going with an oversized generator would be the way to go, that also comes with drawbacks. For instance, you’ll spend more to purchase and install it upfront, then it will use more fuel than is necessary while it is running. Only through professional sizing will you be able to hit the target just right and come away with a generator that is ideal for your needs.

Put Backup Power in Place

You can spend time looking at a home generator sizing guide to get an idea of what you might need, but there is no substitute for working with a professional. Simply call Berico now to schedule an appointment, and you’ll have a trained pro available to walk you through this whole process.