Why You Need Backup Power
The average American experiences 5-7 power outages per year, with the average outage lasting 2-5 hours. But extreme weather events — ice storms, hurricanes, heat waves — can knock out power for days or weeks. During extended outages, you face spoiled food ($200-$500 per event), frozen and burst pipes ($5,000-$20,000 in damage), sump pump failure (flooded basements), and medical equipment interruption.
A generator turns a stressful emergency into a manageable inconvenience. The right size and type depends on what you need to power and how much you want to spend.
1. Portable Generators
Cost: $400-$2,500. Output: 3,000-12,000 watts. Gas-powered (some dual-fuel with propane). Powers essential circuits: refrigerator, sump pump, lights, phone chargers, and a few outlets. Requires manual startup and outdoor placement (carbon monoxide danger). Fuel consumption: 10-20 gallons per day at full load.
Best for: Occasional outages, budget-conscious homeowners, and renters. Downsides: Manual operation, noisy (70-80 dB), requires fuel storage, and cannot power whole house.
2. Inverter Generators
Cost: $500-$3,000. Output: 1,000-7,000 watts. Cleaner power output (safe for electronics). Significantly quieter than conventional portables (50-60 dB). More fuel-efficient because engine speed adjusts to load. Lighter and more compact.
Best for: Homeowners who need to power sensitive electronics, want quieter operation, or need a portable unit for camping and tailgating in addition to emergency use.
3. Whole-House Standby Generators
Cost: $5,000-$15,000 installed. Output: 10,000-40,000+ watts. Permanently installed on a concrete pad outside your home. Connected to natural gas or propane. Starts automatically within 10-30 seconds of a power outage via an automatic transfer switch. Powers your entire home — or selected circuits — without any manual action.
Best for: Homeowners in areas with frequent or extended outages, medical equipment dependence, home offices, and homes with sump pumps, well pumps, or HVAC systems that must stay running.
4. Generator Sizing
Add up the wattage of everything you need to power simultaneously. Essential loads: refrigerator (600-800W running, 1,200-2,000W starting), sump pump (800-1,500W), furnace blower (500-800W), lights (100-300W total), well pump (1,000-2,000W). A 7,500W portable handles essentials. A 14,000-20,000W standby handles most whole-home loads including central AC (3,500-5,000W).
Important: Starting wattage is 2-3x running wattage for motors (pumps, AC compressors). Size your generator for the highest starting wattage you will draw, not just running watts.
5. Installation and Transfer Switches
Manual transfer switch: $300-$800 installed. Required for safely connecting a portable generator to your home's electrical panel. Prevents backfeeding, which can electrocute utility workers. An electrician installs it next to your main panel.
Automatic transfer switch (ATS): Included with standby generators. Monitors utility power and automatically switches to generator power during outages. Switches back when utility power returns. No manual intervention needed.
Generators and Home Value
A standby generator is a premium feature that adds $3,000-$5,000 in resale value. In areas prone to power outages (hurricane zones, ice storm belts, rural areas), a standby generator can be the differentiator that sells your home. It signals preparedness and reliability.
When buying a home with a standby generator, verify the unit's age, maintenance history, and fuel source. Generators need annual service ($200-$400) and have a 15-20 year lifespan. Older units may need expensive repairs or replacement. An experienced agent helps you assess generator value and condition.