How to Determine What Size Gasoline-powered Home Generator I Need

Gasoline-powered home generators can keep the essential appliances of your home running and functional in the time of a power outage. Before buying a portable gas generator, however, you need to determine the size generator your home requires. By doing an assessment of your essential appliances, you can determine how many watts of energy your home will need in an emergency, so you can purchase a generator of the correct size.

Paper
Pencil
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Draw two straight lines down your paper to divide it into three columns. Make a list of the items you want to run in your first column, such as your heating or air conditioning unit, a refrigerator, water heater, or stove.
- 2
  Write the word “Running” at the top of the middle column and the word “Starting” at the top of the third column.
- 3
  Check the back of your appliances or look in the owner’s manual to find both the running power needed and the starting power needed for each appliance you have on your list. Write these numbers in the appropriate columns.
- 4
  Total the “Running” column to determine the minimum amount of energy your home will require to keep each appliance running.
- 5
  Find the highest “Starting” watt appliance on your list. Subtract this number from the “Running” total, and find the difference between the two. Add this difference to your “Running” total to find the minimum generator total.
- 6
  Use the minimum generator total when you shop for your gas-powered generator. Purchase a generator that supplies at least this much power.

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