What’s the Best Home Generator for My Home?
Find the Right Backup Power Solution for Your Family
When there are high winds, ice, snow, or even heat waves, there’s always a chance the power can go out in Western Washington. In fact, in 2021, Washington experienced some of the worst power outages in the country!
And the tricky thing about losing power is you don’t know how long it will last. Food may start to spoil in the refrigerator, and cell phones may start to die. Some families rely on electricity for medical devices, and in those situations, regaining power is essential.
Waiting until there’s a power outage is often too late to buy a home generator—everyone else in town will have the same idea. So, if you’re thinking ahead to prepare for storms, you may wonder: What’s the best home generator for my family?
In this blog, we’ll compare home generators and battery storage options to find the right fit for your home in the Greater Puget Sound, and surrounding areas.
SEE ALSO: Home Comfort Solutions to Get You Through Storm Season
How Home Generators Work
Home generators are installed outside of your home, much like an air conditioning unit. Honeywell home generators run on natural gas or liquid propane and provide power directly to your electrical system. An automatic transfer switch safely activates the generator once your house loses power. Many switches are available to customize your system, including partial to whole-house controls. This means you don’t have to lift a finger when a power outage occurs! The generator turns on as soon as an outage is detected and will run until electricity is restored, never running out of gas as some portable options have the potential to do.
What Size Generator Do I Need?
Most generators, and home generator models differ based on the amount of power they provide, ranging as low as 9kW all the way up to 150kW. So, how much does your home need?
If all you really need to power is the furnace, refrigerator, and some lights, you can likely get by with Honeywell’s 10kW or 14kW home generator. If you want to add the water heater, garage door opener, microwave, and other small appliances, a 16kW generator could suffice, but it all really depends on your home’s size and needs.
If you want to power the entire house, including all electronics, as you normally would, you’ll need a larger generator. Powering an entire small house may require at least 48kW, while larger homes may require a 100kW home generator.
Still unsure how much power your house needs? One of our Bob’s Heating sales representatives can help you find the right solution! And with a power management system installed, you can actually monitor which devices use the most power and select where power should go right from your phone or tablet.
What If I Have Solar Panels?
If you’re a solar-powered household, you may already own or consider purchasing a home battery storage system. That way, you can store excess power created by your solar panels that you can use at night or during power outages.
But solar battery owners can still benefit from installing a backup home generator. Did you know that if the utility power fails, your solar panels will also disconnect? This happens to prevent sending power back to the grid. If your battery storage runs out, a generator will ensure your home stays warm and illuminated even after stored solar energy has run out.
Find All Your Home Generator Needs in the Greater Puget Sound
If you’re interested in installing a home generator in the Bellevue area, Bob’s Heating is here to help. Contact us here—we’re happy to answer any questions you may have and to help you find the best home generator for your home!
