Best Generators
Being from a small city in middle Tennessee, I'm very familiar with the strong storms that commonly plague our area in the spring. It is not uncommon at all to experience several power outages (amongst other storm-related damages) several times each year. It doesn't take long for you to realize just how dependent your life is upon a steady supply of electricity. If you're visiting this site, chances are, you're searching for a backup power solution that is right for you. I've done my best to assemble a site that will provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to choosing the best generator for your specific need. Please, if you have a question that you haven't seen answered here on BestGenerators.org, drop me a line and I'll get back to you as soon as I can with an answer - and I'll likely take the time to write up a new article on the site so others with a similar question can get the answers they are seeking.
Home Generators
First, lets discuss the basics of home generator systems. Generally speaking, there are two different types of generators that you can purchase to supply power to your home in an emergency - Portable Electric Generators and Home Standby Systems. Read on, and we'll break down the differences between the two and provide you with everything you need to know to choose the right type for your situation. For further reading on this topic, be sure to check out our Portable vs. Standby Generators article.
Portable Home Generators
Portable electric generators (also known as "gensets") are designed for short-term AC power supply during an electrical outage or in a remote area where power is not available - like a campsite, construction site, etc. For home use, portable generators are commonly setup to only supply power to the most critical of appliances via an extension cord, but there are certainly some higher-end models that can be setup to power your entire home. Your average portable generator will supply power in the range of 3,000W to 8,000W, but you can find models that supply as little as 500W all the way up to 18,000W - likewise, the price of a portable generator can range from $300 up to $2500+. The major factors to consider when choosing a portable generator are:
- Power Surge / Continuous Wattage
- Brand & Reliability
- Price
- Fuel Type & Tank Size
- Noise Level
- Start Type (electric vs. recoil)
You can typically find several models at your local home improvement store, or you can order them online from a site like Amazon.com. Amazon typically offers free shipping on gensets, and in many states (like mine), you don't have to pay sales tax - that can mean pretty significant savings.
Home Standby Systems
Home standby systems are a more specialized generator, built solely to supply power to your home during an outage. They can use a variety of fuel sources, but the most common types are: natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas (aka propane). Home standby systems have a plethora of options, and they all add up price-wise. For a typical home, you're probably looking at somewhere between $2000 and $6000 for a standby system. For that price though, you're getting some pretty nice features like:
- Infinite Run-Time - with a fuel source like Natural Gas
- Auto-Starting - system can automatically come online when a loss of power is detected, and off when restored
- Higher Power Levels - a standby system can power your entire home
Keep in mind, this type of system is quite a bit more expensive than a portable generator setup, and will also require professional installation & maintenance. Some of your upfront cost can be recouped if and when you decide to sell your home, as this type of system does add to it's value.