Preparing your Hampton Roads home for storm season means securing a reliable source of power for severe weather outages. Finding the exact whole house generator size for your property requires specific calculations rather than a simple guess. This guide walks you through assessing your electrical load, understanding starting versus running watts, and choosing a system that keeps your necessary appliances running safely during a blackout.
How Generator Capacity Works
Generators are measured in kilowatts (kW). To find your required size, you must calculate the total wattage of the appliances and systems you plan to run at the exact same time. Every electrical device in your home requires two different power levels to operate.
Running Watts vs. Starting Watts
Running watts represent the continuous power an appliance needs to function normally. Starting watts represent the sudden, initial surge of power required to turn the motor on. High-draw items like your central A/C, electric water heater, and sump pump demand significant starting watts. A generator must have a high enough capacity to handle the combined starting watts of your largest appliances without tripping the system breaker.
Choosing Your Coverage Level
Homeowners typically choose between two main categories of backup power. The right choice depends on your daily household habits and electrical needs.
Essential Power Coverage
A smaller unit, often ranging from 10kW to 14kW, powers only the necessities. This setup keeps your refrigerator running, powers a few select lighting circuits, operates essential medical equipment, and can handle a gas furnace blower or a single window A/C unit. It requires careful power management during an outage.
Complete Home Power
A larger system, typically 18kW to 26kW or more, powers the entire house just like the standard utility grid. You can run multiple large appliances, your complete central A/C system, electric water heaters, and everyday electronics simultaneously. This option provides full operational normality during extended storm outages.
The Importance of a Professional Load Calculation
Every home has a unique electrical footprint based on square footage and appliance usage. Installing an undersized generator leads to system overloads and potential damage to your electronics. Installing an oversized unit results in unnecessary fuel consumption and accelerated equipment wear.
An experienced electrician performs a formal electrical load calculation to prevent these issues. This professional assessment reviews your specific home circuit breaker panel and factors in the exact electrical draw of your household systems. This calculation guarantees your standby power system performs reliably and safely during heavy rain and wind events.
Professional Sizing Prevents Overloading
Accurately sizing a backup power system keeps your family safe and comfortable during Hampton Roads storm seasons. Guessing your electrical load often results in power failures right when you need reliability the most. Guy Smith Home Services relies on trustworthiness and years in business dating back to 1968. Our licensed and experienced professionals ensure your system is accurately sized, safely wired, and correctly installed.
Schedule Your Generator Walkthrough
Secure your home before the next storm hits. Schedule a walkthrough with Guy Smith Home Services to determine your exact backup power needs. We offer upfront pricing and expert electrical installations for homeowners in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. Call now to speak with an experienced professional today.