Since the beginning of tracking hurricanes, Florida has been hit with 125 hurricanes to date. The state experiences more hurricanes and tropical storms than any other US state.

These storms are prone to big damage to the state and can cause lengthy power outages.

Installing a whole home generator can keep your household functioning during these outages. Most homeowners don't have any idea of the generator size they might need to power their whole home.

Read on to learn more about whole home generators and what size you might need for your home.

Why It's Important to Get the Right Sized Whole Home Generator

When buying a generator to cover your whole home, getting the size right is important. If you're investing to cover the whole home, you want to ensure it actually can handle your whole home.

If you buy a too-small generator, you'll find it can't cover all the circuits and demands placed on it. After investing, it would be frustrating not to have all your energy needs covered.

Some homeowners are inclined to buy bigger. You don't want to buy bigger than you need as it can be wasteful and expensive to run.

Whole House Generator Size

When you're ready to install a whole house generator, one of the first things you want to do is find an electrical contractor. If they're an expert in generators, they should be able to help you calculate the size generator you'll need.

One of the biggest factors is the house size. Most people start by calculating the total watt usage they need to run the whole house. Then divide that number by 1,000 to get to the KWS usage.

Many customers will also look at their electric bills and calculate usage based on their bills.

Running, Starting, and Surge Wattage

Even when buying a large generator, it's important to factor in the extra wattage needed when running it.

You've probably already calculated the running wattage from the previous section. This is how much wattage it takes to run your home once it's running.

However, there are many items that, when starting up, create a surge. This is an increase in wattage needed from the running state.

The running wattage is how much energy is needed to keep the household running constantly. Experts suggest that a starting wattage can sometimes be as much as three times the running wattage.

The surge wattage will be the maximum power any generator can produce.

Generator Installation

Whole house generators will require a professional installation. Once you decide you're ready to secure your home with a generator, the electrician can consider the generator sizes available to meet your needs best.

If a permit is needed for installation, the electrician can secure that. You want to know you're hiring installers who are factory trained with the generator you've selected.

Get Your Whole Home Generator Installed Today

When you're ready for a whole home generator, the first step is choosing the right generator size to keep your whole home running when you lose power. Look at the wattage you use throughout your home as the first step.

If you have questions about a whole home generator or need help deciding on a size, we can assist you. Contact us today to learn more about whole home generators.