Do you live in an area with frequent power outages due to severe weather or infrastructure decay, or maybe just sporadic blackouts because supply cannot keep up with the demand? If so, then obtaining a generator that can power your home is a wise move. It provides preparedness for emergencies and helps protect your property and safety. These generators are large enough and powerful enough to power nearly anything and everything you have in your home.
In this article, we will take a close look at collecting the best generators for a house. We have done the research and will show you how each one stacks up against the others and help you decide which one may meet your needs the best. Read on to see our rundown of the best of the best in home generators!
Quick Summary
- The overall best generator for a house is the Westinghouse WGen9500 Heavy Duty Portable Generator. It has the power and the features that lead the pack.
- The DuroStar DS10000E 10000 Watt Portable Electric Start Gas Fuel Generator comes in at a very close runner-up. This workhorse has plenty of power and will not leave you struggling to decide what to run and what to unplug.
- Our budget for the best generator for a house is the DuroMax XP8500E 8500 watt 16-Hp Gas generator. This is a perfect generator for someone with a more modest power requirement, and it is available at a slightly lower price point than the other heavy hitters.
Who Should Get This?
Why would someone need a generator for their house? What sort of situations would it be helpful in? Here are several ways that having the best generator for a house would be useful:
- Hurricane, Tornado, & Earthquake regions – if you live in an area affected by the occasional, or not so occasional, natural disaster, these are absolutely indispensable. When they inevitably strike, it is business, as usual, to be without power for days or sometimes weeks at a time. With a generator for your house, you may be able to weather the storm more safely and effectively. By keeping your home powered, you may be able to prevent food spoilage and loss, keep medical equipment like CPAP machines functional and keep your electronic devices charged, and able to access updates from local authorities and news sources.
- Off-Grid Enthusiasts – even if you live a very rural lifestyle. You already have renewable energy production like solar panels or wind turbines; a generator can still be considered an essential piece of equipment. It can supplement your existing power generation on days when the sun and wind cannot produce the power needed to keep your battery banks charged. For a relatively modest expense, you can ensure that your home always has access to power when it is needed, no matter what it is needed for.
How We Picked The Best Generators For A House
No matter if you will be using your generator for a weekend, every weekend, or somewhere in between, there are some things that you will want to consider. While this list is hardly an exhaustive resource, it does have some of the most useful categories to watch when making your decision, along with some factors that add functionality or ease of use.
Running Wattage & Peak Wattage
The running, or continuous, wattage is how much wattage can be provided for a load that is steadily drawing power, and the peak, or surge, wattage is how much power can be supplied momentarily before causing an overload condition that will need to be reset. Appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners require a much higher power requirement to start up. Both refrigerators and air conditioning units require more power to start the compressor initially; then, the power requirement drops considerably once it is running.
Weight
Since these generators are not designed with high portability degrees in mind, and most come with wheels, the weight is not as big of a concern. With that in mind, they will still have to be moved for use since it is dangerous to operate them in an enclosed space, so when they are needed, they will at least need to be wheeled outside from the garage or other storage area.
Noise Level
Due to the high power of these generators, they will be considerably louder than smaller units. However, manufacturers do endeavour to make each respective unit as quiet as possible without sacrificing power.
Outlets
On large generators like these, the number of outlets generally will not vary too much, but you will want to ensure that the plug type is something that you can use. There are several types of 120V and 240V receptacles and various amperage ratings that will need to be considered. If you find a generator that will work for your needs but the plug is not a style you have, you may need to find an appropriate adapter to make sure you can use all the power that the unit will produce.
Displays Or Readouts
All of the units we have evaluated have a fuel gauge; however, some will also have indicator lights for various conditions or functions. Additionally, some units may also feature voltmeters, run time meters, or even data centres to track and display several functions.
Fuel Capacity
Fuel capacity on large generators like these is not a huge factor since they all have fuel tanks of adequate size to keep them running for quite some time. Some will have larger tanks than others, and some may get a better fuel economy than others, so a larger tank may not be needed as badly. It is just one of several factors that we have taken into account and researched for you.
Run Time
The run time is the approximate time that the generator will operate at a given load percentage, with a full tank of fuel. Run time is generally calculated based on a percentage of the maximum load. For example, a generator may state that it can run for 12 hours @ 50% load.
Best Generators For A House: Our Picks in 2020
Westinghouse WGen9500 Heavy Duty Portable Generator
The Westinghouse WGen9500 Heavy Duty Portable Generator is the all-star of our lineup. With a beefy 9500 running watts and a massive 12500 peak watts, this generator can take nearly anything you can throw at it. With the high-amperage hookups you need to keep your entire house powered, this unit is everything you could want in a generator and more.
Equipped with a plug for a Westinghouse smart switch, this generator is fully ready to tie right into your home electrical system. Manual starting is a breeze with either the push-button electric start or the remote start key fob that can start this powerhouse from over 100 yards away.
Pros:
- Digital data centre
- Up to 12 hours of run time on a single 6.6-gallon tank
- Remote start via included key fob
- Push-button start
- Includes battery charger, oil, funnel, and tool kit
Cons:
- Warranty issues are difficult to process with Westinghouse.
- Hard to start manually
DuroStar DS10000E 10000 Watt Portable Electric Start Gas Fuel Generator
The DuroStar DS10000E 10000 Watt Portable Electric Start Gas Fuel Generator is an ideal runner-up to the best. The versatility of the main power panel allows you to use any number of different receptacles. The MX2 switch allows you to use the 120V and 240V outlets simultaneously with a reduced load or use the 120V outlets at full power.
This is a serious generator with serious power. 8000 watts of continuous wattage is enough to run just about everything in your home. You will be able to keep your refrigerator cold, your air conditioning colder, your lights lit, and your devices charged and connected.
Pros:
- Recharge light
- Low oil auto-shutoff
- SurgeArrest technology
- Analog voltmeter
- PowerBoost technology
- Charging posts for external batteries
Cons:
- Wheel kit is not included.
- Grounding equipment not included
- Leaks oil
DuroMax XP8500E 8500 watt 16-Hp Gas generator
The DuroMax XP8500E 8500 watt 16-Hp Gas generator is an excellent choice for anybody who needs a robust generator on a little tighter budget. While this model does not have the 50A service that will auto-switch to power your home, it has enough running wattage to keep your essentials up and to run. You should have no problem running your fridge and freezer, plus some lighting and electronics.
This model also has the MX2 technology that will allow you to utilize both the 120V and the 240V output simultaneously or use the 120V outlets at full power. It comes with an oil funnel, plug wrench, wheels and handles kit, and DC charging cables.
Pros:
- MX2 PowerBoost technology
- Battery charging posts
- Analog voltmeter
- 10 hour run time
- Electric start
Cons:
- Warranty only covers the cost of parts, not installation or shipping
- Customer service can be frustrating and unhelpful
- DuroMax support is lacklustre
DuroMax XP10000E Gas Powered Portable Generator
The DuroMax XP10000E Gas Powered Portable Generator can shoulder a heavy load of 8000 running watts and 10000 starting or peak watts. With this model, you should have no problem running your lights, fridge, tools, and even air conditioning.
DuroMax MX2 technology enables you to utilize 120V and 240V output simultaneously or running full power to all 120V outlets. Includes a low-oil shut-off to protect against engine damage when the oil gets too low while the unit is in operation.
Pros:
- Automatic idle control
- 10 hour run time
- Oil alert lamp
- Analog voltmeter
- DC charging posts
Cons:
- Warranty repairs through customer service can be problematic
- Wheels get flat spots from sitting for short periods
Champion 7500-Watt Portable Generator
The Champion 7500-Watt Portable Generator can handle it all during your next power outage. Run your lights, TV, air conditioning, fridge & freezer, and internet equipment. The Cold Start Technology and handy electric start will get you up and running at the touch of a button.
Pros:
- Electric start
- Volt Guard, built-in surge protector
- Cold Start technology ensures an easy start, even in cold weather.
- Low oil auto-shutoff
- Intelligence tracks voltage, hertz, and running hours for easy maintenance
Cons:
- Battery cables are not as robust as they should be and can break.
- Louder than expected
How Many Watts Do I Need?
When you are looking at the best generators for your house, you may not need to count your watts like with smaller generators, but you will need to make sure that you are not going to overload the unit. Most of the units we have highlighted for you will power nearly all of your necessities just fine during an outage; however, some units will be able to shoulder a heavier load like multiple refrigerators or deep freezes and air conditioners. If you are ready to pare down your list of what will be running, you may be better served by a lower running watt unit at a lower price point. However, if you know that you will need to lean on your generator for a heavy load, it is better to get one that can handle more than you need so that your peaks and surges do not trip an overload.
How To Choose The Best Generator For Your House
Your needs and wants will heavily influence your generator choice. If you live a rural lifestyle and need a generator to power your home and supplement your green energy sources, a mid-range model like the DuroMax XP8500E 8500 watt 16-Hp Gas generator or the Champion 7500-Watt Portable Generator would be excellent choices. They also have very admirable run times, so they will not require as much gasoline during extended use periods.
If you are in an area where you may want home backup power in the event of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, then you have a few more things to consider. If you have multiple refrigerators or freezers for food storage, possibly a sump pump, electronics, entertainment, and internet equipment, then a robust workhorse like the Westinghouse WGen9500 Heavy Duty, the DuroStar DS10000E, or even the DuroMax XP10000E would fit your needs nicely and would keep you powered up through grid outages and beyond.
The Conclusion For You – Best Generators For A House
Hopefully, this article has helped you to decide what the best generator is for your house. By taking a look at what you want to run and what you need to run, you should be well-equipped to make an educated choice on which unit will fill your needs.
