What size generator do I need to power a house? It’s a very important question to ask when selecting a whole house automatic generator in New Jersey. East coast hurricanes and thunderstorms that knock out power are all too common. The right size generator can make all the difference, keeping your lights on, appliances running and your family safe and comfortable until storms pass and power returns.
Types of Home Generators
Types of generators fall into two major categories: portable and built-in. Portable generators are easy to transport and use in and around your home or remotely. Built-in generators are stationary, becoming part of your home’s infrastructure. Portable generators tend to have less wattage, whereas built-in generators usually have significantly more.
Wattage matters: a single watt indicates the flow of electricity at a rate of one joule per second, ultimately emitting the equivalent of roughly 3.4 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. This automatically makes built-in generators more desirable for permanent home use. Built-in generators have back-up capability, powering up automatically in the event of an outage.
What Size Generator do I Need to Power a House?
The answer depends on the size of your house. Generators ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 watts are sufficient to power a medium sized home. However, the definition of a medium sized home varies seasonally. As the average size family changes, the average medium sized home fluctuates from 1,500 to 2,300+ square feet. Medium sized home at the upper end of the spectrum may require a built-in generator of at least 9,000 watts or better.
It might also be necessary to purchase an even larger whole house automatic generator in New Jersey to meet the needs of homes with greater power consumption. Things like furnaces and major appliances (white goods), and the number of them, determine the generator size required.
Visit Walter Danley Electrical Contracting LLC at their website for more info.
