- What size generator do I need for my house?
- How do I calculate generator size for my home?
- What size generator do I need to power essentials in a house?
- How big of a generator do I need to run a whole house?
- How much does it cost to install a whole house generator?
- How does a generator transfer switch work?
- Who installs generators near me?
- What size generator do I need to run a sump pump?
- What size generator do I need to run a home air conditioner?
- What size generator do I need to run a hot water heater?
- How can I make a standby generator quieter?
- How do I hook up a whole house generator?
What size generator do I need for my house?
The generator size you need for your house depends on which loads you want to power at the same time. Add up the running watts of everything you want on together, then account for the extra starting watts that motors such as an air conditioner compressor, well pump or refrigerator draw when they kick on.
The generator has to cover the largest starting load on top of the other running loads. In Arizona, the air conditioner is usually the deciding load, so it matters whether you want to run cooling or not. Decide first what is essential, then size to that list, with some room to spare. A licensed electrician can read your nameplates and do a proper load calculation.
How do I calculate generator size for my home?
To calculate generator size for your home, list every circuit or appliance you want to run, write down its running watts from the nameplate or manual, and add them up. Then find the single largest starting wattage among your motor loads and add its extra surge above running watts. That total is the minimum capacity.
Appliances rated in amps and volts can be converted by multiplying the two. Do not guess from the square footage of the house, since two homes of the same size can have very different loads. Sizing too small causes overloads and shutdowns, and sizing too large wastes fuel and money. We recommend a professional load calculation so the unit matches your panel and your priorities.
What size generator do I need to power essentials in a house?
An essentials generator is sized to cover the loads that keep a home safe and livable, such as the refrigerator, freezer, some lighting, internet, a few outlets, medical equipment and a sump or well pump if you have one. It is smaller than a whole house unit because it leaves out the big loads.
In the West Valley summer, cooling is the question: powering a central air conditioner takes a much larger generator than everything else combined. Some owners choose a smaller unit and cool one room with a mini split or window unit instead. The right choice comes from your priorities and your load list, and an electrician can set up circuits on a transfer switch to match.
How big of a generator do I need to run a whole house?
Running a whole house takes a larger standby generator sized to your total running load plus the largest motor starting load, usually driven by your central air conditioner, electric water heater, range and dryer. A proper load calculation is the real answer.
Whole house units are typically permanent, fueled by natural gas or propane, and tied in through an automatic transfer switch. Your electrical service size helps frame the maximum. Some homes use a load management device so a smaller generator can serve a bigger house by cycling large appliances. Older homes in Sun City and Sun City West may also need panel updates before a whole house connection makes sense, so the inspection comes first.
How much does it cost to install a whole house generator?
The cost of installing a whole house generator depends on several factors rather than one number. The unit's capacity and brand set the equipment cost, and the fuel type matters: natural gas needs a gas line that may need upsizing, while propane needs a tank and its placement.
Installation also includes the transfer switch, the concrete or composite pad, electrical wiring from the generator to the panel, trenching, permits and inspections. Distance from the gas meter and panel to the pad can add a lot. Any panel work needed to support the connection adds more. A site visit is the only way to quote accurately, and we explain every line item so you see what drives the total.
How does a generator transfer switch work?
A generator transfer switch safely connects your home's circuits to either the utility or the generator, and it makes sure they can never be connected to both at once. When utility power fails, the switch opens the connection to the grid and closes it to the generator.
This prevents backfeed, which sends power out onto utility lines and can seriously injure or kill line workers. An automatic transfer switch does this by itself after an outage, while a manual one is thrown by hand. A manual interlock kit on the panel is another approved approach. Either way, the install must be done by a licensed electrician and is typically permitted. Never wire a generator into a dryer outlet with a homemade cord.
Who installs generators near me?
Generators near you are installed by licensed electrical contractors, often together with a licensed plumber or gas fitter for the fuel line. Vortech Air-Conditioning & Electrical is based in Peoria and holds ROC 341933 for electrical work, serving Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise.
In Arizona the electrical work must be done by a contractor with the correct Registrar of Contractors license, and you can check any license on the ROC site. Ask any installer how they size the unit, whether the price includes the transfer switch, pad, permits and inspection, and who handles the gas connection. Be cautious of anyone who suggests skipping the transfer switch or the permit.
What size generator do I need to run a sump pump?
A generator for a sump pump must cover both the pump's running watts and its higher starting surge, because a sump pump is a motor load. The pump's nameplate or manual lists these, and a larger pump or one with a high horsepower motor needs more capacity than a small utility pump.
Sump pumps are less common in the dry West Valley than in wetter regions, but homes with basements, below grade areas or drainage systems do exist. If the pump shares the generator with other loads, add everything together and size for the biggest starting load. Connect it through a transfer switch or an approved inlet, and never run an extension cord from a generator through a window while the engine sits indoors.
What size generator do I need to run a home air conditioner?
To run a central home air conditioner, the generator has to cover the compressor's high starting surge, which is much larger than its running load. Check the outdoor unit's nameplate for the minimum circuit amps and the compressor's locked rotor amps, and add other loads on top.
Larger tonnage needs a larger generator, and a soft start device on the air conditioner can reduce the starting surge, letting a smaller unit cope. A ductless mini split also draws far less than a central system, which is why some owners cool only part of the house on backup. In Arizona summer heat, this decision matters most. We size generators with your AC in mind.
What size generator do I need to run a hot water heater?
A generator for an electric hot water heater must cover the heater's element load, which is a large steady draw with no big starting surge because the elements are resistive. The nameplate lists the wattage. A gas water heater uses very little electricity and is far easier to back up.
A gas water heater needs power only for controls or an igniter. If budget or generator size is tight, many owners leave the electric water heater off the backup circuits for a few hours and rely on the stored hot water in the tank. Whether it makes sense to include depends on your generator size and what else you want on. A transfer switch lets you choose which circuits are backed up.
How can I make a standby generator quieter?
You can make a standby generator quieter mainly through the unit you choose and where it sits. Standby generators run at a typical hum when exercised and louder under heavy load, so a pad location farther from bedrooms and neighbors is better, and a unit with a lower rated noise level also helps.
Local setback rules and manufacturer clearances limit where it can go. Homeowners sometimes add a sound attenuating enclosure or a barrier wall, but you must never block airflow or exhaust, since generators need ventilation to avoid overheating and to vent carbon monoxide safely. Check any homeowner association rules before building anything. We consider placement, clearances and local rules when planning an installation.
How do I hook up a whole house generator?
A whole house generator is hooked up by a licensed electrician through a transfer switch wired to the main panel, and a gas fitter connects the fuel supply. This is not a do it yourself project, because the work involves the service panel, fuel line, grounding and a permit with inspection.
The work also needs a proper pad and correct clearances from windows and doors. Never backfeed the house through a dryer outlet or any receptacle using a double male cord, because it can electrocute utility workers and start fires. Never run any generator in a garage, basement or near open windows, since carbon monoxide can kill quickly. Portable generators stay outdoors, well away from the house.
Full Guides From This Page
- How Do I Calculate Generator Size for My Home?
- What Size Generator Do I Need for My House?
- How Big of a Generator Do I Need to Run a Whole House?
- What Size Generator Do I Need for Household Essentials?
- How Does a Generator Transfer Switch Work?
- How Much Does It Cost to Install a Whole House Generator?