The basis for figuring out what size generator will best suit your needs is determining the overall square footage of your home, or business combined with the total wattage that will be used for your power needs.
Understanding Wattage
The overall wattage or power that your generator will need to produce depends both on the quantity and type of items or equipment you want to power. In order to accurately calculate your needs, it’s best to understand what starting wattage, running wattage and surge wattage are, respectively.
First, your running wattage is the total amount of electricity that you need in order to keep the device running. Second, just as it sounds, your starting wattage is the amount of electricity you need to start the device running. On average, the amount of power you need to start a device is usually three times the amount you need to keep it running. Lastly, surge wattage is the most power you can obtain from your generator.
Generac actually has a Residential Generator Sizing Calculator on their website to assist you in determining which size generator you need to power your home. To make things even easier for you, we went ahead and determined the average home square footage in our various service areas and selected the most common equipment that is run during a power outage to determine three size suitable Generator options best suited for your needs. See the results below.
Disclaimer: This calculator is intended for estimating purposes only. We recommend scheduling an on-site appointment to analyze your specific requirements before making a purchase decision.
Keep the following terms in mind while reviewing.
- Whole House – Want to run all of your appliances and electronics at the same time as if you never even lost power? This is the option for you.
- Partial Managed Power – If you don’t use all your appliances at the same time (most people don’t) then a smaller generator, paired with a Generac power-management Smart Switch, offers the next best thing to whole-house coverage.
- Full Managed Power – If you don’t use all your appliances at the same time (most people don’t) then a smaller generator, paired with a Generac power-management Smart Switch, offers the next best thing to whole-house coverage.
- Average Home Size: 1,462 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 10kW Home Backup Generator WiFi Enabled (Full Managed Power)
- Average Home Size: 1,279 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 10kW Home Backup Generator WiFi Enabled (Full Managed Power)
- Average Home Size: 1,528 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 3-Phase 20kW Automatic Standby Generator WiFi Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Full Managed Power)
- Average Home Size: 1,296 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 10kW Home Backup Generator WiFi Enabled (Full Managed Power)
- Average Home Size: 1,450 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 10kW Home Backup Generator WiFi Enabled (Full Managed Power)
- Average Home Size: 1,556 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 3-Phase 20kW Automatic Standby Generator WiFi Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Full Managed Power)
- Average Home Size: 1,572 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 3-Phase 20kW Automatic Standby Generator WiFi Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Full Managed Power)
- Average Home Size: 1,624 sq ft
- Generator Recommendations:
- Guardian 3-Phase 20kW Automatic Standby Generator WiFi Enabled (Whole House)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator WiFi-Enabled (Partial Managed Power)
- Guardian 18kW Home Backup Generator With Whole House Switch WiFi-Enabled (Full Managed Power)
Popular Types of Residential Generators in Florida
Guardian Series: The 22 kW* Guardian® Series home standby generator is the largest air-cooled home standby generator on the market. Not only does it deliver all the features and functionality customers have come to expect from the market-leading brand of home standby generators, but with an MSRP that is the lowest cost per kilowatt of any air-cooled home standby generator. Provides whole house coverage for many homes.
*Other sizes available in this series
Synergy Series: As the leader in the standby generator market, Generac continues to deliver innovation. Their new Generac Synergy 20kW variable speed backup generator, the industry’s first variable speed home generator available, provides homeowners with the highest level of technology available in the market today.
*Other sizes available in this series
QuietSource Series: Premium features are standard for the QuietSource Series, ultimate standby generator. Thanks to the low-speed engine, it’s so quiet you’ll forget you own a generator until you need it. Ideal for large residential and small to medium commercial applications. Low speed, automotive style liquid-cooled engine runs at only 1800 rpm during a power outage for a substantially quieter generator, greater fuel efficiency, and longer engine and alternator life. Standard aluminum, all-weather enclosure provides the ultimate protection from the elements. Aluminum’s natural corrosion resistance prolongs the life of your generator and is recommended for salt-air, coastal locations.
Protector+ Series: Generac’s Protector Series offers benefits that competitors can’t match: installation flexibility and cost reduction, as well as reduced emissions compared to diesel gensets, and is backed by the industry’s best warranty offered by Generac. Delivers best-in class power quality with less than 5% total harmonic distortion (THD) for clean, smooth operation of sensitive business electronics and appliances. Standard aluminum, all-weather enclosure provides the ultimate protection from the elements. Aluminum’s natural corrosion resistance prolongs the life of your generator and is recommended for salt-air, coastal locations.
Popular Types of Commercial & Industrial Generators in Florida
QuietSource Series: Premium features are standard for the QuietSource Series, ultimate standby generator. Thanks to the low-speed engine, it’s so quiet you’ll forget you own a generator until you need it. Ideal for large residential and small to medium commercial applications.
Industrial Series: An efficient choice for high kW applications, as well as for facilities where code requirements call for on-site fuel storage, like hospitals and 911 call centers, Generac industrial diesel gensets are custom configured to meet the specific requirements of each application. Heavy duty engines have proven their performance and reliability in industrial applications.
To determine which backup power generator is best suited for your business, please schedule your FREE Estimate with a trained GenerX professional.
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We’re happy to service the following areas: Bradenton, Clearwater, Sarasota, St. Petersburg
