What size (watt) portable generator is good for a 40 foot finished basement split home in NH?

Question

We sometimes lose power due to storms for a few days. I'd like to get a generator to cover at least our heat and hot water.

Answer 1

yeah , what they said...i do hope you plan on exhausting this unit to the outside, more people die from co poisoning after a natural disaster than you realize...

Answer 2

You did say portable generator, so I assume that you will run extension cords to all the loads that you want to power. You're not going to connect it to your breaker panel through a transfer switch, so you don't have to power everything in the house.

In that case, it is a tradeoff of size, cost and how many items you want to power. At the minimum, you have the heating, hot water, refrigerator and perhaps a half dozen light bulbs. Your gas oven may also need power for the electronic igniter to work.

You haven't said what kind of heating you have. It could be all-electric, a gas-fired furnace, or something else. Also, it seems from your question that you have an electric water heater, which requires a lot of power.

I'll make a few assumptions:
Gas-fired furnace: 1200 watts
Electric water heater: 5500 watts (at 240 volts)
Refrigerator: 1800 watts
Light bulbs: 600 watts
Gas oven: 100 watts

These total 9200 watts, of which over half is your electric water heater. If you have a gas water heater, the total is 3700 watts.

Home Depot offers a 15,000 watt generator at about $2000. They also have a 5000 watt generator for $600. Make sure you get a dual voltage unit if you need to power the water heater.

You should have all your extension cords and portable lights ready in case of emergency. The electric water heater will require a special cord for 240 volt power. You should also have several 5 gallon cans of gasoline.

Answer 3

Its difficult to say without having your wattage requirements.

You can find the wattage required for each appliance you want your new generator to rum by looking for the manufactures tag. On it, you will find all you need to know: power requirements, make, model, serial, etc. Once you have found this for each appliance add them up and your new generator needs to be able to handle that load. If might be best to add some room for expansion after all it would be cool to have the only working TV in the neighborhood. Seriously, you need to allow some room for expansion.

It might also be a good time to review what you think you will need, as the higher the wattage rating on a generator the more it will cost and maintenance cost will also be higher.

Answer 4

You have to look at the equipment you wish to run. Your heater will have a wattage on the spec. panel as will your hot water heater. Also add say 80 watts per light bulb if you're using incandescents, 15 if they're flouro power savers. Add say 25% to cover peaks and to save overloading the generator.