Keeping a backup generator on hand can help you keep your home supplied with power in an emergency. Having that supplemental power source will help you provide continued electricity to your home. This guide will help you determine how much wattage your backup unit will need to provide.

How Frequently Will You Use Your Generator?

One factor you’ll need to consider is how frequently you’ll use your generator and the length of time you’ll use the unit each time. For example, if you rarely experience power outages and your electrical supply is usually restored within an hour or two, you won’t need a high watt unit. A mid-sized unit, or one that’s designed for camping and recreational use, provides enough power in these cases. 

However, if you experience more frequent outages that last longer, you’ll want a more reliable power inverter. In these cases, you’ll need a larger, portable unit that can supply enough power to provide the energy you normally use at one time. While a mid-sized unit is enough to power a refrigerator and a small space heater, a larger unit provides the electricity needed to run multiple household systems.

How Much Power Do You Need? 

In addition to determining how often you’ll use the generator, you’ll also have to determine how much electricity it will have to provide at one time. This is done by estimating the total wattage your home uses. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need a large unit or a home standby unit. 

A large inverter will provide a minimum of 7,500 watts at one time. This is enough energy to power to a 700-watt refrigerator, 200-watt laptop computer, a 100-watt home security system, and a 1,000-watt air conditioning unit. This leaves enough electricity to power an electric stove and dishwasher, or a water well pump, septic system, and gas furnace.

If you expect to experience outages that are extensive or frequent, you may want to consider investing in a home standby unit. This is the largest type of power generator and offers a minimum of 20,000 watts. That should be enough to power your entire home, so you won’t have to worry about prolonged power failures having a lasting negative impact on your family. This type of unit is strong enough that it can also provide power for extras, such as lawnmowers and snowblowers, making it a worthwhile investment for your home.

While you may not rely on your generator all of the time, knowing you will have one when it’s needed provides great peace of mind. Located in Homer, AK, All Seasons Honda & Ski-Doo sells a broad range of inverters and generators to meet your household or recreational needs. They also sell motorcycles, ATVs, and other recreational vehicles. For more than 30 years, they have been serving Homer, Soldotna, Kenai, Kodiak, and Seward communities. You can learn more about the equipment they sell online or call them at (907) 235-8532.