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Rabekah Henderson is a contributing writer at USA TODAY Homefront specializing in home improvement, design and decor. She has experience writing about all things home and housing for Dwell, Apartment Therapy and the Spruce — she loves helping people improve their homes while doing the same herself. When she’s not writing, Rabekah can be found planning her next trip or snuggling her two cats. Rabekah is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Generators vary in their power source, size and wattage.
Standby generators offer emergency power, and they’re directly connected to the gas line.
Portable generators can power smaller devices and tools with the help of gasoline or solar.
Generators provide backup power during an emergency or power outage, and they’re a helpful appliance for homeowners. But there’s no such thing as a standard generator. Instead, you can choose from different generators for all power needs, from solar-panel-powered inverters to diesel-powered portable units.
“Homeowners have many options available when it comes to emergency power — backup power systems are not one size fits all,” said Jonathan Stern, director of communications at Generac, a generator manufacturer based in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
When choosing the right generator type for your home, consider your electricity needs, how you’d like to power the generator and what you want to use it for. Once you have your priorities, here’s what to know about the different types of generators available, why you may need one and how to maintain one.
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Generators come in various sizes, outputs and fuel sources for all kinds of uses. Smaller portable generators can be used on the go or when traveling. Larger gas generators can be installed permanently for whole-home backup power. Not all generators are gas-powered — some use natural gas, diesel or solar power to provide energy in an emergency.
Diesel generators are powered by diesel fuel, and they’re best for whole-home usage, as they’re quite large and not very portable. They’re more fuel-efficient than gas generators and they can handle extreme temperatures better than other types of generators, too.
However, with a decibel (dB) rating of up to 105 dB, diesel generators are loud.
Gasoline generators work similarly to diesel generators but are typically smaller and not too difficult to move around. Gasoline is often easier to find and store than diesel, but it can be expensive. Most gas generators have a 3- to 5-gallon fuel tank.
Gasoline generators aren’t as powerful as other types of whole-home generators, and they have a risk of fire if the gas line is ruptured.
Hand-crank generators are usually small and portable, and they can only charge small kitchen appliances and devices. Unlike the other generators on this list, a hand-crank generator doesn’t need fuel or solar panels to charge — it charges by the owner physically turning its crank.
It has a low energy output, so it’s best used for camping or in an emergency to charge phones or run lights.
Inverter generators provide low and consistent amounts of power to charge phones and laptops or power radios or lamps. They can’t be used to power large appliances or whole homes.
Inverter generators are best for travel or camping, as they can be used as a charging station for various devices. They can be powered with gasoline or a large battery, and they’re one of the quietest types of generators available.
Natural gas generators are powered by a natural gas line that runs straight to the machine. Because of this, they’re not portable — they’re typically permanently installed outside the home, like an air conditioner.
Natural gas generators are powerful enough to act as a backup generator for an entire home, but they risk being defunct if there’s a disruption in the gas line when the power goes out.
Portable generators are small and easy to move from place to place — some models even have wheels built into them. Despite their pint-size look, they can power construction tools and small appliances for DIY projects. They have “the flexibility of on-the-go power,” Stern added.
They’re not strong enough for use by an entire home, though. Portable generators are typically powered by gas or propane, but keep in mind that they’re typically quite loud little machines.
Solar generators harness the energy of the sun to provide emergency power. Some solar generators are fairly small and similar to inverter generators, providing low amounts of power for travel or camping with the help of a few fold-out solar panels.
Others can be much larger and paired with rooftop solar panels, allowing them to power an entire home in an emergency. In general, solar generators require less maintenance than gas-powered generators.
Standby generators power entire homes. They’re installed outdoors and typically connected directly to a natural gas line or powered by propane.
“These generators are permanently connected to a home’s electrical system and have the technology to automatically start when power is lost, regardless if the person is at home or not,” Stern said. Standby generators can be used in industrial or commercial settings, such as hospitals and schools, as well as in homes.
Generators are good to have whenever the power goes out. They provide a backup source of electricity to keep refrigerators running, phones charged and the lights on. While generators can seem like a steep upfront investment, they pay off in terms of security and unspoiled freezer meals.
They’re especially helpful for homeowners who live in climates with extreme weather or blackouts, those with wells since a well’s filtration and pump system can stop working when it loses power and homeowners who need to keep crucial medical devices up and running at all times.
Generators can also be helpful outside the home, especially for camping or construction. Solar-powered or inversion generators can power small devices even in the middle of nowhere. In contrast, portable generators provide an electricity source for power tools when the nearest outlet is nowhere to be found.
A generator’s power output is measured in wattage, with lower-wattage generators providing less power than higher-wattage ones. How much power you need depends on what you want to use the generator for.
If you plan to power your entire home with watts from a generator, look for one that’s 10,000 watts and above. Generators around 6,000 watts can power large appliances and heating and air conditioning systems, while generators under 3,000 watts are best for power tools and small devices.
“An easy way to estimate what size generator you need is to determine what appliances you’d like to keep powered and add up the total electrical load of each,” Stern said.
Generators can run on gasoline, diesel and natural gas. Gasoline and diesel are often used in portable generators, as they can be stored in fuel containers before use.
However, natural gas can be connected directly to a standby, whole-home generator, allowing for a round-the-clock power source.
But not all generators use fossil fuel. Some are powered by solar energy from permanent or portable solar panels. Others are powered by large batteries, charged with electricity before use or charged with physical cranking of a lever.
While generators are known for their durability, most require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly when it matters most. Here’s the maintenance that most generators need, along with how frequently it should happen:
Generators can last for years — even decades — with proper maintenance and use. But eventually, they’ll start to show their age, and you’ll need to start looking for a new one. These are the signs that it could be time to replace a generator:
After you’ve purchased a generator, no matter the type, don’t forget to add its regular maintenance to your to-do list. “Generators require annual maintenance to ensure they are fully functional and operating at maximum capacity, extending their lifecycle,” Stern said.
Remember that generators are electrical devices that must be approached cautiously when tinkering, repairing or maintaining. You should always remember electrical safety tips when working with a generator.
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Rabekah Henderson is a contributing writer at USA TODAY Homefront specializing in home improvement, design and decor. She has experience writing about all things home and housing for Dwell, Apartment Therapy and the Spruce — she loves helping people improve their homes while doing the same herself. When she’s not writing, Rabekah can be found planning her next trip or snuggling her two cats. Rabekah is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Alyssa Trostle is an editor at USA TODAY Homefront. Having read dozens of warranty booklets from every vehicle manufacturer and over 100 sample contracts from third-party providers, Alyssa is an expert in the auto categories of warranty and shipping categories. Alyssa earned an MFA in creative writing with a concentration in creative nonfiction from Chatham University, which honed her skills in writing and editing both creative and professional content. In her spare time she enjoys reading contemporary fiction and following Pittsburgh sports.
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