Electricity keeps everything ticking at home, a fact that local dealerships offering new Generac generators know well. No one wants the fridge to stop, the heater to cut out, or the Wi-Fi to vanish without warning. That’s where a standby generator helps most. It kicks in when the power goes down and keeps life moving along.
Before picking out a generator, get to know your own home’s power needs. Each house uses electricity a bit differently.
Figure out how your fridge, TV, or even your toaster pulls energy. This step helps you avoid buying the wrong generator or one that’s too small.
There’s a simple table below. It lists ballpark wattages for common appliances. These numbers help you get a good first estimate for what you’ll need. Still, check your appliances directly for accurate numbers. Even two fridges can differ a lot.
Take note: items like air conditioners and refrigerators use much more power at startup. Their peak is higher than regular running wattage. If you get these numbers right, you’ll pick a generator that won’t let you down when it counts most.
| Appliance | Typical Running Watts (W) | Typical Starting Watts (W) | Notes |
| Refrigerator/Freezer | 700 – 1200 | 2100 – 3600 | Energy Star models may be lower |
| Central Air Conditioner (3-ton) | 3000 – 3500 | 5000 – 7000 | Varies greatly by size/efficiency |
| Window Air Conditioner (10k BTU) | 1200 – 1500 | 1800 – 2200 | |
| Furnace Fan (1/2 HP) | 800 – 875 | 2350 – 2500 | Gas/oil furnace |
| Sump Pump (1/2 HP) | 800 – 1050 | 1300 – 2150 | |
| Well Pump (1/2 HP) | 1000 – 1200 | 2000 – 4000 | |
| Microwave Oven | 600 – 1500 | 0 (typically) | Some high-power units may have small surge |
| Dishwasher (cool dry) | 700 – 1300 | 1500 – 1800 | Hot dry cycle uses more |
| Washing Machine | 750 – 1200 | 2300 – 3400 | |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | 5000 – 5750 | 6750 – 7000 | Significant load, often 240V |
| Incandescent Lights (per bulb) | 60 – 100 | 0 | |
| LED Lights (per bulb) | 5 – 20 | 0 | Much more efficient |
| Television (LED/LCD) | 50 – 300 | 0 | Size dependent |
| Computer (Desktop + Monitor) | 200 – 800 | Small surge | Gaming PCs higher |
| Coffee Maker | 600 – 1200 | 0 | |
| Electric Range (per element) | 1500 – 2500 | 0 | 240V |
| Space Heater (electric) | 1500 – 2000 | 0 | High continuous draw |
| Garage Door Opener (1/2 HP) | 720 – 875 | 1400 – 2350 | |
| CPAP Machine | 30 – 60 | 0 | Critical medical device |
Unpacking Electrical Terms and New Generac Generators
For those who are shopping for new Generac generators, it gets easier once you grasp a few basic terms. Watts show the power draw or output. Think of it as the spark behind your appliances or the strength of your generator. Volts are more like pressure — they push electricity through wires.
Most small things at home use 120 Volts. Bigger equipment, like ovens or central AC units, usually call for 240 Volts. Amps describe the flow, like water moving in a hose.
These three fit together into one quick formula: Watts = Volts × Amps. If you spot voltage and amps on a label, that trick helps you find the answer for watts.
There’s another key detail for longer blackouts: Kilowatt-hours. A kilowatt is really just 1,000 watts, so it’s used for bigger energy jobs. Kilowatt-hours track usage over time.
If you run something using 1,000 watts for an hour, you’ve used one kilowatt-hour. Your electric bill is calculated with this unit. For generators, kilowatts matter most for that quick surge of need, but kilowatt-hours tell you how long your backup can last.
Check your daily kWh habits. This gives a real look at how long fuel will last or whether your generator is enough to get you through a power cut.
“Although some utilities’ definitions vary, the electricity industry places usage periods into two categories: on-peak hours that generally refer to the hours beginning at 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. on weekdays,” states the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “And off-peak hours that are between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.”
A Home’s Energy Usage Patterns and Peak Demands
Every house has its own pattern with electricity use, as the experts behind new Generac generators will tell you. Your family’s habits shape this, so do your appliances, and even the weather.
To figure out when your electricity hits its highest point, you need to watch these patterns closely. That peak moment decides how powerful your backup generator should be.
Your electricity use doesn’t stay the same all day. It’s lowest early in the morning when most people are asleep, and usage rises once the day gets going, usually hitting a high point later in the day. After dinner, things wind down again.
Summer changes things fast. Air conditioners push usage to its highest, especially around noon to evening. In winter, morning hours ramp up for heating, then power surges again once everyone returns home.
Knowing these busy times helps you prepare. Summer peaks usually hit between noon and 6 p.m., and winter mornings and early evenings demand the most power for heat and chores.
Charging electric cars adds a fresh twist. Many people plug in at night, bumping up the load when lights and appliances are already running. Your backup power needs to handle these layers of demand — all of them.
“For residential dwellings, think about the times of day you and your family are most active — watching TV, blow-drying your hair, making coffee, running the dishwasher or tossing in a load of laundry,” states Family Handyman. “If everyone else in your community follows the same usage pattern, there’s much higher demand for electricity during those periods. And here’s a new wrinkle affecting peak hours — people charging their electric cars.”
Baseload vs. Peak Demand and New Generac Generators
Think of baseload as the bare minimum your home always uses, an assumption built into the engineering of new Generac generators. Your fridge quietly hums along, your Wi-Fi never sleeps.
Compare that to peak demand, which hits when you fire up the air conditioners, heat food in the oven, and tumble dry clothes all at once. That sudden spike stresses your system.
Picking a generator isn’t just about matching the low end. It needs to handle your worst traffic jam too. Much has changed, as electric cars in your garage or in your neighborhood and all those smart gadgets might not pull much juice solo.
Altogether, though, they bump up the baseline, and sometimes they even create new spikes that old data doesn’t show. If you drive an electric vehicle or keep adding connected devices, your old calculations will miss the mark.
Factor these changes in, and plan for growth and surprises. A too-small generator leaves you scrambling when you need power most. Get it right, and your home hums along no matter what you plug in.
Calculating Your Load by Determining Appliance Wattage
Manufacturers of new Generac generators say that figuring out how much power your house needs is important before picking a generator. Start by listing every single thing you want to keep running during an outage. Check each one’s label for the wattage.
Usually, it’s a small sticker or plate, often on the back or near the door. Sometimes you just see volts and amps. In that case, multiply those numbers to get watts.
Electricity usage monitors help when you’re not sure how much power something uses. Plug the monitor into the wall, then plug your device into the monitor. It shows you exactly how much electricity that thing is using.
These work well for stuff that turns on and off a lot, like a fridge. Some even estimate your long-term energy use.
If you want the big picture, go with a whole-house system. These hook into your electrical panel.
Now you can see how much power the entire house uses, broken down by circuit. It tells you which days and times you use the most energy. It even tracks big appliances like stoves or dryers that use 240 volts.
New Generac Generators and Your Running vs. Starting Watts
The size of new Generac generators and getting it right for your home matters more than most people think. Homeowners often get tripped up at this point. Running watts means the steady power something needs to keep going.
Let’s say a fridge keeps running at 700 watts. Things get trickier with anything that has a motor, and devices like air conditioners or well pumps need an extra push when they start.
That quick demand for power is starting watts. It can easily jump to two or three times the normal wattage. So, your 700-watt fridge may suddenly want 2200 watts just to start for a moment.
Your generator needs to be ready for that jump. If it isn’t, the fridge might not start, or worse, your generator could cut out and risk damage. Most folks just add up the running watts for every device they plan to use, then throw in the biggest starting watt they find.
Electricians have fancier ways to do the math. They use rules that factor in how and when appliances get used, and even those tiny surges from smart gadgets.
That’s where the advice to leave a 20-25% cushion comes from. It’s not just old-school thinking. It helps if you add new devices later or use more than you expected.
It makes things easier when you have smart devices or even an electric car plugged in. Systems that manage loads automatically make all this simpler. They let you avoid worrying about having too much running at once.
“Our appliance and electronic energy use calculator allows you to estimate your annual energy use and cost to operate specific products,” states U.S. Department of Energy regarding a helpful online tool. “The wattage values provided are samples only; actual wattage of products varies depending on product age and features.”
The Perfect Fit and Why Generator Sizing Matters
Once homeowners know their power needs, the next step is picking the right generator size from a bevy of dealership options for new Generac generators. This choice isn’t just about numbers on paper.
A properly chosen standby generator must work every single time you need it. Lives can be disrupted and important machines might fail if you get it wrong.
Buy a generator that’s too small and you’ll have nothing but headaches. The unit will struggle constantly. Large appliances could refuse to start, especially things like air conditioners or water pumps that use a big burst of power right at the start.
Breakers might trip again and again. Power will cut out just when you need it.
Push a small generator too hard and bad things follow, where you could burn out the engine. You might ruin the alternator, too.
Devices and gadgets plugged in could get fried from weak or unstable electricity. Instead of peace of mind, you’ll be spending on repairs and replacements. A too-small unit quickly wears down, turning into an expensive mistake that can’t be relied on.
The Pitfalls of Oversizing New Generac Generators
Buying a generator that’s too big for your needs wastes money right away, which producers of new Generac generators don’t advise. Large units burn more fuel every hour, even if they’re only idling. This means higher costs every time the power goes out.
Diesel generators, if run mostly at low power, can develop ‘wet stacking.’ That’s when unburned fuel builds up and starts to gunk up the exhaust. Problems like this can mean calling in a technician more often.
Sometimes, folks think bigger equals better, but that’s not always true. The real goal is finding a generator that matches your highest power needs with a little extra room for safety, without going overboard.
Proper sizing matters for more than just keeping the lights on. Power quality can take a hit if your generator is either too small or working too hard, as voltage swings and weird frequency shifts can fry sensitive electronics.
Homes today are full of delicate gear like smart TVs and health equipment. These can act up or even break from dirty power. Some generators, like inverter types, do a better job at keeping things steady.
Still, picking the right size makes a big difference, as it minimizes the strain on the unit, which lowers the risk of power problems. Choose well, and your appliances will run longer and behave as expected because they’re getting the steady power they need.
Steer Clear of Common Generator Sizing Blunders
Any technician for new Generac generators knows that skipping the proper generator sizing creates headaches later. Plenty of homeowners forget about hidden power draws.
Maybe it’s a sump pump you rarely use or a cluster of tiny chargers that sneak onto circuits. Every item matters — write them all down before making a final choice.
Surge power is tricky too. Appliances like fridges spike when they start, needing way more juice for a few seconds than during normal operation. Miss this, and your generator might groan and fail when you least expect it.
Some people size for today, not tomorrow. Got plans for an electric car or a new central AC? Get ready for disappointment if you didn’t size up. Shuffling devices every time you flip a switch feels stressful in an outage.
Don’t make this about home square footage—watts used matter more than floor space. Think coffee makers, space heaters, or well pumps. Check each device’s label. Do the math.
Environmental surprises trip up even the careful folks. High altitude saps generator strength, as do heatwaves. Always look at output ratings for your local conditions, not just the number on the brochure.
Finally: bigger units flex without fuss. Micro-managing loads during a blackout gets old fast. Pick something with a little headroom if you can. That way, you worry less and keep life comfortable, no matter the storm outside.
W. Danley Electrical
W. Danley Electrical is a champion in the world of new Generac generators, helping you execute the backup standby generator process from beginning to end. We prepare you for your installation, as well as obtaining permits, inspections, and assisting with repair and maintenance.
We also help you optimize and fine-tune your situation to determine the correct generator size. Get the most out of your investment. Contact us today.
