The 11 Best Whole House & Portable Generators for 2024

Table Of Content

• Standby Generators Can Help You Weather Any Storm
• Whole House Generators Buyer’s Guide
• The Best Inverter Generators for Backup Power Almost Anywhere, Tested
• Honda EU3000IS1 Portable Home Gas Power Generator
• Best for Versatility: Westinghouse Dual Fuel Portable
• What’s the difference between a home standby generator and a whole-house generator?
• Westinghouse iGen4500 Inverter Generator
• 10 Ways to Prepare for a Summer Power Outage

The generator also features three removable sides, which allow for easy access should it require maintenance. This little guy only puts out 12,000 watts, so it may not be able to power an entire large house. But depending on the heating and cooling systems, it can supply power to most of a smaller one. This generator is a great option if you want a power backup for a few necessities. Sure, it’s still an investment, but it comes with a five-year warranty that covers parts, labor, and travel. And it does automatic weekly power checks at a low RPM to ensure that it’s working correctly when you need it without using more fuel than is necessary.

Standby Generators Can Help You Weather Any Storm

We hope that our guide was a helpful hand in your search for the best whole house generator. If you know other great generators that we overlooked, please share in the comments. Also, make sure it has cooled down because the fuel might spill or spark if you fill up when the engine is still hot. Then, redirect your generator’s critical circuits to the sub-panel from the main panel. On an average, you at least need an 8kW generator to run your house smoothly for a couple of days. First of all, you don’t have to worry about the extreme heat or cold affecting your family and you because the generator will maintain room temperature.

Whole House Generators Buyer’s Guide

The sheer strength and reliability of this generator make it an ideal emergency power option for people who are worried about damaging it during storage or transport. We also charged it with solar panels, but the day was slightly overcast, which kept it from charging quickly—it took about 5 hours to charge from 28 to 100 percent. A sunnier day or stronger solar panels would likely have charged it more quickly.

The best electric generators of 2024 - Popular Science

The best electric generators of 2024.

Posted: Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The Best Inverter Generators for Backup Power Almost Anywhere, Tested

The Generac Guardian 24kW is one of the largest air-cooled generators available, providing up to 24,000 watts of power when connected to a propane fuel supply. Homeowners looking for a generator that can handle increased power demands will appreciate this capable unit. It also offers Wi-Fi capabilities so you can keep tabs on the unit’s operation from anywhere. PerformanceTo test generators for performance, our expert engineers load up each model with a variety of essentials you might want to power during an outage, like a space heater, refrigerator, or window air conditioner.

We used an online wattage calculator to help us estimate the correct wattage for testing. In addition, we took note of the noise the generators produced when operating (some models are quieter than others), and we took portability into account. Before testing, we carefully researched more than 40 portable and standby generators and over a dozen high-capacity power stations. We also considered brand reputation—manufacturers like Champion, Honda, Westinghouse, and Briggs & Stratton are highly respected in the generator industry. When deciding on the best standby generator to provide power to your home, first consider the home’s power needs.

Best for Versatility: Westinghouse Dual Fuel Portable

Its Generac G-Force Engine is pressure-lubricated and built specifically for generator use because of which it requires less maintenance and servicing and is more reliable. "Homeowners choosing this option will need to ensure an ample supply of fuel on hand to carry them through several days of outage." It primarily focuses on the construction market, with generators designed for worksites. • Inverter generators are much quieter than portable generators because they throttle up and down to match demand rather than run at full power all the time. They have more sophisticated exhaust systems, which also help tamp down noise. • Because their engines are more complex, these models generally cost more than traditional portable generators with a comparable output.

There are no fuel gauges to monitor, maintenance to perform, or exhaust fumes to worry about. In the event of a power failure, plug your most important devices and appliances into the outlets of the Yeti 1500X, which includes a pair of 120V AC outlets or USB ports. In our quest to find the best home generators, we've delved into the details, scrutinizing factors like size, wattage, fuel source, battery life, and maintenance requirements across dozens of models. If you experience an occasional power outage or have less power needs, the smaller generator like the Generac 7210 with its 8kW power output would be enough. You can also consider getting a smaller dual-fuel generator or propane generator to cut your expenses on fuel.

Westinghouse iGen4500 Inverter Generator

But when it’s not under a constant aggressive electrical load, the Power+ Nexus fares much better. We did a number of construction projects with it, and although our worm-drive circular saw overloaded it, the Power+ Nexus easily handled cut after cut after cut from a smaller circular saw. This result was not surprising, given that the actual cutting time of a circular saw is so brief, but it was still gratifying to see. Because of how quiet the Power+ Nexus is, we appreciated that we could listen to music while toiling away. For this test we ran them all under a 1,700-watt, 1,800-watt, and then 1,900-watt load (using a variety of space heaters, vacuums, fans, and power tools) to confirm the running watts of each unit.

The EU2200i is ideal for camping and other outdoor events where generator noise might be frowned on. That enclosure is an important feature as it protects the inverter electronics and helps contain noise—the EU2200i is remarkably quiet. In testing, we measured sound levels of 68.9 decibels at the generator under no load. When we switched it to “eco” mode, which reduces engine speed when power isn’t called for, sound was reduced to 76 decibels. Portable generators, sometimes called backup generators, are used to provide temporary power when and where it is needed.

It was the only generator we tested that had a readout of the current load and remaining time on the face of the unit. This information also displays in the Bluetooth app, where you can switch eco mode on and off and reset the generator in case of an overload so it begins producing power again. When other generators overload, you need to shut them off and restart them manually. All of these added features in the Ryobi app have the potential to prevent trips outside to the generator in inclement weather.

As a result, they're much better for the environment than fuel-powered generators. Remember that standby generators are usually more expensive than portable generators and require installation. If you're wondering how much it costs to install a whole-house generator, check with the manufacturer before you buy. Many generators today are dual fuel, meaning they can take either propane or gas.

Lastly, as mentioned earlier, inverter generators can pair up to double the available power. Two 2,200-watt generators linked together, for example, behave like a single 4,400-watt generator. The ability to double up like this is a nice option to have, but it does bring the added responsibility of maintaining two engines instead of just one.

With a 20-pound propane tank, it can run for seven hours or 11 hours at half load on the internal 4-gallon gas tank. A 47-inch LPG hose is part of the set.While most portable generators include a push-button start, this model's electric start is key-operated for your convenience. It might not be enough power to keep major appliances or a central cooling system operational, but it will help to make short power outages more bearable. Another thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't have a carbon monoxide detector. Home standby generators are installed permanently, can run on natural gas or propane, and kick on automatically during an outage.

When we started and stopped things with bigger motors, like a table saw and air conditioner, the sine wave remained smooth. Running under these heavier loads, we measured the highest sound levels for the EU2200i at 81.2 decibels at the generator. At half the size and less than half the weight of the other models in this test, the Honda EU2200i inverter generator is incredibly portable. It’s easy to pick up, move around, or pack in a vehicle—and since the generator is fully enclosed, it can slip into tight spaces without getting caught on anything.