You landed here because you want to handle any emergency power outages can throw your way. Better yet, you want to prevent the emergency in its tracks.
We want you to feel confident you found the right home standby generator, so we've compiled lists of the best-selling, top-rated and expert-recommended models for you this year.
Click through our customer picks below, or read up on our Home Standby Generator Buyer's Guide first.
The first step in selecting a good standby for your home starts with identifying the fuel type.
Standby generators up to 22kW will use mostly be either natural gas (NG) or liquid propane (LP), but if you're looking for a generator that runs on diesel, you'll need to step up to a liquid-cooled whole-house type that could cost considerably more.
Both LP and diesel fuels will require tanks large enough to properly run the generator. Similarly, the natural gas meter and gas lines will need to be the correct size.
Prior to installation, your contractor will verify this with you, but you can find this information in the installation manual on our product pages.
Next is to find out how much power you'll actually need during an outage and whether or not you want to only back up crucial systems like refrigerators and air conditioning, or the entire house.
Power Ratings
Larger generators, such as home standbys are rated by kilowatt (kW), which measures the generator's electrical power output. One kilowatt is equivalent to 1,000 watts or (1 kW = 1,000W).
The best way to determine the power needs of your home is to first decide if you want to power your central air conditioner or HVAC equipment during a blackout since it is the most power-hungry appliances in your home.
During summer months, a sweltering blackout could make life miserable, and an ice storm in the winter could crash your holiday plans — leaving pipes susceptible to bursting.
Sizing
If you plan to run your central air conditioner, you'll need a generator that's capable of running it.
So how can you tell what size you need? Easy, just look at the air conditioning unit's data plate and it'll tell you the size in either BTUs or Tons. There are 12,000 BTUs for each ton of capacity and 3.517 Kilowatts of energy.
So, if you have a 3-ton (36,000BTU) air conditioner, for example, it will require a standby generator that is 11kW or larger.
To find the perfectly-sized generator that will meet the demands of your home and air conditioner, use our Standby Generator Calculator.
Just like a light bulb needs a switch to turn on, your generator needs one too.
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) allows your generator to automatically spring into action the moment a power failure is detected.
It does this by continuously sensing utility power and after an outage is detected, it simultaneously starts the engine and disconnects power coming from the line and energizes your home's panel through generator power.
Getting the right switch is just as crucial as getting the right generator as they work together to restore lost power. In order to know which will work for you, you'll need to know the amperage of your electrical service panel. You can check this by locating the main breaker in your electrical panel (usually the big pull-out at the top). You can also ask your installer to verify this for you.
Typically, the average sized home has a 200-amp main breaker, so the maximum amount of electricity your home can consume is 200 amps. Smaller, older homes may have 100 to 150-amp service. It's very important to get the same amp switch as your home's panel.
Several manufacturers are now adding Wi-Fi options to their home standby generators. If you already have a standby that does not have Wi-Fi built in, you can install a wireless monitor to your existing standby generator.
Now that you know how to pick the perfect standby generator, you can backup your home with peace of mind. Imagine how great you'll feel once your home is protected against power outages of every kind.
You'll never worry about the power going out again!
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