Looking to buy a generator? From types to cost, here are 7 things you should know
Thinking about getting a generator?
You're not alone, and for good reason.
On average, U.S. electricity customers experienced just over seven hours of power interruptions in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Florida residents saw 82.9 minutes of no electricity in 2021 — which was well below the 200-plus minutes in 2020.
In 2021, Florida was among a group that had the shortest total time of power interruptions, which ranged from 52 minutes in the District of Columbia to 102 minutes in Nevada. Other members of the group included Delaware and North Dakota.
Compare that with the states with the most power interruptions. Customers in Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, Mississippi, and West Virginia experienced the most time without power in 2021, ranging from almost 19 hours in West Virginia to more than 80 hours in Louisiana.
Those long days without power were largely due to extreme weather, something hurricane-wary Floridians are no stranger to.
The United States saw 21 named storms in 2021, the third-most active Atlantic weather season on record. The year followed 2020's record 30 storms and the 28 storms that formed in 2005. A typical season sees 14 storms.
Generators are intended to help people during the times when power goes out. Depending on the type and size, they can keep the lights on, keep food cold in your refrigerator or even run your air conditioning. Here's what you should know.
What types of generators are there for homes?
There are several types of generators available for home use. Among the ones listed by Forbes are:
Whole house or home standby generator: Most whole home generators can be connected to the existing fuel supply at your home, such as natural gas or propane.
Portable generator: Fueled by gasoline, solar power or propane.
Inverter generator: An inverter generator works differently than other types of generators. Rather than running at a constant speed, the inverter generator adjusts to meet electrical demands. The inverter has a lower power outlet and won’t be able to keep appliances running if they have a higher demand for normal use.
Gasoline generator: A gasoline generator is the most common type of generator and is a good option for appliances and tools needing less power.
Diesel generators: Diesel generators are more durable and more fuel-efficient than gasoline generators but tend to be heavier and less portable.
Solar generators: Solar generators are the only generators that can safely run indoors because there are no emissions. Solar generators have a lower power output and since they are dependent on the sun, during an emergency or at night, aren't always reliable. If more power is needed, additional solar panels can be added to increase the power output (another damage to the panels is always possible in case of storms).
Natural gas generator: Generators that run on natural gas produce less emissions than gasoline and diesel generators. Since the generator relies on natural gas, if the supply is cut off during an emergency, the generator will not work.
How much do generators cost?
Models range from small units that start at about $450 and can power a single appliance to whole-house or home standby generator that can cost upward of $25,000 (including installation) and power an entire house, according to Consumer Reports and Forbes.
How do you know what type of generator to buy?
When selecting a type of generator, there are many things to consider: the wattage of the appliances you want to power, the different types of fuel used and the power capabilities of the generator.
Once you've decided what appliances you want to keep running during an outage and added up the wattage, keep that in mind when purchasing a generator. Don't buy one that produces more power than you need, said Misha Kollontai, Consumer Reports engineer.
“There’s no need to go larger unless you want to be able to power more in a pinch and are comfortable with needing to keep more gas on hand,” Kollontai said. "Some of the larger portable generators in our ratings can burn through about 20 gallons of gasoline per day."
So what can generators run?
According to Consumer Reports, based on running wattage, here's what you can run (based on appliance averages). For exact wattage of your appliances, look at your owners manual.
Up to 2,000 watts: Refrigerator (700 watts), laptop (200 watts), five to 10 lights (250 watts), smartphone charger (20 watts), home security system (100 watts), TV (100 to 150 watts).
Up to 3,500 watts: Refrigerator (700 watts), laptop (200 watts), five to 10 lights (250 watts), smartphone charger (20 watts), home security system (100 watts), TV (100 to 150 watts).
It will also run a 10,000-btu air conditioner (1,000 watts) or one of the following: toaster oven (1,200 watts), hair dryer (1,200 watts), washing machine (1,200 watts), space heater (1,500 watts), coffee maker (1,000 watts).
Up to 7,500 watts: Refrigerator (700 watts), laptop (200 watts), five to 10 lights (250 watts), smartphone charger (20 watts), home security system (100 watts), TV (100 to 150 watts), 10,000-btu air conditioner (1,000 watts).
It will also run a well pump (1,250 watts), sump pump (900 watts), and gas or propane furnace (800 watts) or one of the following: 8-inch burner on an electric range (2,000 watts), dishwasher (1,500 watts).
Up to 20,000 watts: Everything under the roof.
How do you calculate the wattage of appliances to see what type of generator you need?
Go to your owner's manual first to see how many watts each item uses that you want to keep running through a generator in case of a power outage.
It's important to remember that the starting — also called surge — wattage of some major appliances is much higher than their normal, running usage. As a motor starts, there is a demand for power that's higher than the normal running wattage. Once it picks up speed, the power requirement drops.
There can be quite a difference between the surge and running wattage. A refrigerator or a freezer may need around 2200 starting watts. However, the running watts needed can be around 700 watts. A small window A/C may require 1200 running watts, but when it first kicks on it may need as high as 3000 watts.
Make sure you see what the maximum surge power, as well as the running or continuous power delivery, is of any generator you're considering.
What type of generator is best for home use?
If outages are prolonged and you want to make sure you have power, consider these types of generators:
These generators can connect directly to your home’s circuit breaker panel, allowing you to control and run appliances that are hardwired, such as air conditioning, well pumps, electric ranges and water heaters.
Be sure a licensed electrician installs a transfer switch at the breaker box.
If you don't want to spend thousands of dollars but you still get some power outages and don't mind pulling a generator out of a garage or shed to hook it up, consider purchasing:
You will still need to have a transfer switch installed.
Want to spend even less? A midsized inverter or a small recreational inverter can run a refrigerator, television, portable cooktop or even a window air conditioner. (Make sure the startup wattage on the generator can accommodate the appliances.)
Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by using generators safely
Portable back-up generators produce the poisonous gas carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands more ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Deadly gas: Carbon monoxide is invisible gas that can kill in minutes. Here's what you should know
To keep you and your family safe, follow these tips:
Never use a portable generator inside your home or garage or on a carport, even if doors and windows are open.
Place a generator outside, at least 20 feet away from doors and windows.
Install battery-operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors near every bedroom in your home.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Buying generator: Types, cost, determining power, what can they run
