Whole house generators are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, but in particular, they have grown in popularity here in the USA.
In some States where power outages are commonplace, and the stormy weather constantly threatens the electricity supply to your home, a backup power supply is an absolute must.
This is why a backup generator is so good because in the event of a power outage all of the critical home appliances in your home will continue to receive power.
So you no longer have to worry about your freezer defrosting and the food going to waste, or having to light candles the next time your power goes out.
But the generator market is an incredibly saturated sector. There seem to be generators designed for just about anything nowadays. From portable generators for camping trips to generators to power your outdoor lighting to generators which can power your entire home.
The opportunities for a generator seem endless, so, understandably, you might become confused when you go on the search for the perfect generator for you.
That’s why we’re here to help, with this handy guide to the best whole house generators on the market.
It’s packed full of all the information you need to know about generators, suggestions of some of the best options on the market, and even includes an FAQ section to clear up any confusion you may have.
So with no further ado, let’s take a look at these generators.
In a hurry?
If you need a whole house generator in a hurry, why not choose the Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual Fuel generator.
We’ve ranked this one the best on the market because it’s packed full of amazing features which we think might make it the best choice for you, including:
- It has a running power of 9,500 Watts with a peak power outage of 12,500 Watts, which is more than enough to power your entire home.
- The device has dual fuel capability allowing you to choose between gasoline or propane as the fuel, this is convenient in case of emergency or if one type of fuel becomes short in supply.
- You can choose between a manual or a remote start as the device has compatibility for both, and even comes with a remote key fob which can be used to activate the device without being near it.
- It has wonderful safety features including low oil shutdown, which prevents damage to the device and potential fires, and a digital hour meter which allows you to constantly monitor the fuel usage and power output of the generator.
OUR TOP PICK
Our favorite whole house generator on the market is the Westinghouse WGen9500DF dual fuel generator.
We love this generator because it has so many excellent features, and is more than capable of generating more than enough power for your entire home.
The Westinghouse WGen9500DF has a continuous running power of 9,500 Watts with a peak power of 12,500 Watts and can operate for upwards of 12 hours continuously with a 6.6-gallon fuel tank.
This device is also great because it comes with dual fuel capability allowing you to choose between gasoline or propane.
Dual-fuel capability is great because it gives you a lot more freedom, and allows you to use propane if you cannot get gasoline and vice versa.
This device is also very versatile in how you can activate the device. Many generators will require a manual pull start to activate the device which might not be convenient in a lot of circumstances.
If you don’t want to have to go to the generator to manually start the device, this generator comes in handy as it comes with a remote start key fob which allows you to start the device without being close to the device.
It also comes with safety features, including a low oil shutdown feature to prevent damage to the generator should your fuel run low.
Best of all, this device comes with minimal assembly required, everything you need for setting up is in the box which allows you to get started with this product immediately.
With all this considered, it’s clear that this is the best option on the market.
Pros
- 9,500W running power with a 12,500W peak power
- Dual-fuel capability - choose between propane or gasoline depending on which is more convenient
- Remote start feature with key fob included, with manual start option still included
- 12 hours continuous run time on a 6.6-gallon fuel tank
- Safety features including low oil shutdown feature
- Minimal assembly required, everything that you need is in the box
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
EDITORS CHOICE
We also love the Pulsar G12KBN heavy duty portable generator. This device is very similar to the Westinghouse generator as it matches its power output.
Similarly, this product by Pulsar also comes with dual fuel capability for excellent convenience and can provide continuous power for 12 hours.
The G12KBN model also has a low oil shut off feature which prevents damage to the fire and reduces the risk of fire.
However, it differs from the Westinghouse model as it comes with a 3-in-1 digital meter that is displayed on the face of the product.
This digital device allows you to continually monitor the operation of your generator, this will allow you to easily identify when the generator needs refueling and monitor the performance of your generator.
Finally, despite the size and power of this device, it is easily portable. The G12KBN model comes with drop-down handles and large 10-inch wheels which can easily transport the device wherever you need to go.
So with everything considered, there’s no doubt that this is one of the best options on the market.
Pros
- Continuous running power of 9,500W with a peak of 12,500W
- Dual-fuel capability - choose between gasoline or LPG fuel
- Provides power for long periods - 12 hours of continuous power on a half load
- Easily portable despite its size due to its drop-down handles and 10-inch wheels
- Low oil shut off feature prevents damage
- The 3-in-1 digital meter allows you to monitor the operation of your generator
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
BEST VALUE
Another great choice is the DuroMax New XP12000E gas-powered generator.
This device performs slightly less powerfully than the models that have come before it, with a continuous power of 9,500 Watts and a peak of 12,000 Watts.
However, similarly to both the Westinghouse and Pulsar models, it has dual fuel capability and is compatible with both gasoline and propane.
Additionally, this device comes with the low oil shutoff feature which is an essential thing to look for if you have safety in mind.
However, this device goes a step further as it comes with an idle control feature.
This feature not only provides added safety to the device but is also a lot more cost-effective as it will ensure no fuel is lost when the device is not being used, making it both cost-effective and a more environmentally friendly option.
With everything in mind, it’s clear that this is a great option if you are looking for a whole house generator.
Pros
- Running power of 9,500 Watts, and a peak power of 12,000 Watts
- Compatible with gasoline and propane
- More than capable to power multiple household items
- Low oil shutoff feature for protection
- Idle control saves fuel when the generator is not in use
Cons
- Can struggle with extremely powerful air conditioning systems
RUNNER UP
You should also consider the All Power America APGG12000 portable generator.
Again, this device is slightly less powerful than the ones that we have looked at before it, with 9,000 Watts continuous operating power, and 12,000 Watts at its peak.
It also operates for a smaller amount of time than the other devices we’ve looked at, as it will only operate continuously for 10 hours.
However, this device does have features that its competitors do not. One of which is its operating noise.
For a device as big and powerful as this you would expect it to have loud operating noise, but this device is one of the quieter options on the market with an operating noise of 76dB.
With a quiet operating noise and a variety of starting options, there’s no doubt that this is one of the better choices on the market.
Pros
- 12,000 peak Watts and 9,000 continuous Watts
- Operates continuously for 10 hours at half load
- Low operating noise considering its size - 76dB
- Available in different packages
- Electrical start button and recoil start options
Cons
- The fuse regularly requires changing
RUNNER UP
Finally, you should consider the Generac 7033 Guardian Series generator. Generac is a great generator producer, and their 7033 model from the Guardian Series is no different.
If you want a stylish generator, this is the one for you as it comes with a sleek white protective cover that is built with aluminum for durability.
This device also comes with a 200 Amp Nema 3 whole house smart switch which makes it the perfect choice if you want to provide power to your home.
As well as this it has LED indicators that provide updates on the generator status allowing you to monitor performance.
Finally, it has protection within the device which allows it to safely provide power to the sensitive electronics in your home, which when combined with all its other excellent features, easily makes it one of the best options on the market.
Pros
- 200 Amp Nema 3 whole house smart switch
- LED indicators for generator status
- Aluminum enclosure for durability
- Smoothly operates sensitive electronics
- Provides a lot of energy for your home
Cons
- Battery not included - must be bought separately
Best Whole House Generator Buying Guide
Generators are a great investment simply because they have so much potential. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes which are all better suited to different situations.
You can get smaller, portable generators that are perfect for camping trips or family barbeques, and you can also get huge generators that supply enough electricity to power your entire home.
Whole house generators are a trend that is continually growing more popular as an increasing amount of people are choosing to install them in their own homes.
Whether you choose to use the generator as a continual source of power for your home, or simply as a backup in case of emergency, there are all sorts of benefits from a whole house generator.
But with so many different types of generators available it can be very difficult to determine which is the best one for you and your home. There’s no need to stress, however, because we’ve put together this great guide which is packed full of information about whole house generators.
The generators that we’ve looked at above are some of the best on the market, but if you’re still not sure, this buyer’s guide is packed full of all the information you need to buy the whole house generator which is perfect for you.
Fuel Source
One very important thing that you need to consider when buying a whole house generator is how you are going to power the device.
This is especially important if you live in an extremely remote area of the country as it can be very difficult to get your hands on the fossil fuels that you need to power the generator.
Most whole house generators will come with three different fuel options for you to choose from, these include natural gasoline or diesel, or propane.
Both gasoline and diesel are the traditional options we would consider when considering powering a device. The majority of vehicles are powered by gasoline or diesel, that’s because both of these materials are extremely easy to obtain.
However, it might become more difficult to obtain these fuels when you consider the amount that you will require to power the whole house generator. All whole house generators will come with an extremely large fuel tank and will require this tank to be full for them to operate properly.
Before you buy a home generator, you must consider the fuel source to ensure you buy one that you will be able to access easily. You should also consider the cost of different fuels.
Obviously, fuel prices fluctuate dramatically from day to day, however, on average, some fuel sources are more expensive than others so you should consider which is a better financial choice for you and your home.
Power
Another extremely important thing that you need to consider is the power that you require from the generator. Different generators will come with different power output abilities which will limit or expand the number of appliances that the generator can supply power to.
In order to power the majority of household appliances, you will need a generator that can produce between 5,000 and 7,000 watts of electricity. However, to operate all of these devices simultaneously, you should buy a generator which exceeds these measurements.
To ensure that you buy a generator that is powerful enough to provide electricity to all of your household, you need to calculate how much electricity all of your household appliances will require.
To do this you need to look at each of your electrical appliances and find the plate which states their starting amps. Once you have found the starting amperage, you also need to identify the volts for the device, you should then multiply these with one another and this will determine the watts that the device needs to run.
You should do this for all of the items in your household that you want to be powered by the generator to determine how powerful a generator you need to buy.
However, when buying a generator you should purchase one that has a peak load which is approximately 25% more powerful than what you need. This is essential to ensure that the generator always has enough power to supply electricity to your whole home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are whole house generators loud?
All generators, no matter the size or the amount of power that they generate, will produce a certain level of noise alongside the production of power.
When in operation, it is common for most whole house generators to emit upwards of 65 decibels, exceeding 100 decibels in some cases.
So before you decide to buy a whole house generator you should consider your neighbors and the area you live in as this might breach your neighborhood rules.
How long does it take to install a whole-house generator?
The installation of a whole house generator is a much lengthier process than the installation of a normal, portable generator.
But considering the amount of work that it includes, the installation is surprisingly quick. In most cases, a whole-house generator can be installed and ready to use in one day.
However, it can take longer if you do not have a suitable surface for the generator to rest on.
Where should a whole house generator be installed?
Most generators will come with a set of terms that you should follow in the installation process.
These include the whole house generator being placed outside, and also being left more than 5 feet away from any entrances to your home and also 5 feet away from any flammable materials.
It might also include the surface on which the generator is stored upon and other factors that may impact the operation of the generator.
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Jeremiah Pike
I'm an environment and energy blogger who teaches outdoor and energy enthusiasts how to be better informed when it comes to purchasing or maintaining a generator, solar panel system, or anything else related to your energy needs.