The Best Generators For Home Backup Power Of 2024
By, Scott NelsonUpdated
Our Top Picks
1. Best Overall: Westinghouse 12500 Watt Dual Fuel Home Backup Portable Generator
This product is remarkable because propane is a cleaner-burning, lower-cost fuel source that can be stored indefinitely while reducing overall engine maintenance. Read Review
2. Best For Price: DuroMax XP12000EH Generator
The XP12000EH offers power and versatility, making it ideal for powering your home's vital appliances and even your central air conditioning system during a power outage, storm, or emergency. You can also easily take this device to work or camp. Read Review
3. Best Technology: Champion Power Equipment 76533 4750/3800-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Generator
You will like this product cause the propane has such a long stable shelf life, so you don't have to worry about having fresh gas on hand in an emergency. Read Review
4. Best Powerful: Westinghouse 9500 Watt Home Backup Portable Generator
Whether you want to be prepared for a storm or need this generator to power your RV or RV, the Westinghouse WGen9500c provides plenty of power and is easy to use. Read Review
5. Best Design: Champion Power Equipment 100519 6250-Watt Open Frame Inverter
The unique thing about this product is that our Quick Touch Panel provides quick access to controls. At the same time, Eco Mode monitors real-time power consumption to reduce electrical loads and ensure quieter operation, longer engine life, and better fuel economy. Read Review
Home generators have become quite common as extreme weather events have become more common. Anyone who lives in a suburban area that often loses power after a storm knows there are dozens of hums nearby. You don't have to commit to a sizeable permanent unit in your yard if you don't want to; there are portable models you can use and take to camp and grill when needed. With prices dropping, generators are now affordable for just about anyone who wants to take them with them.
Before you buy a generator, it's essential to consider how and where you will use it. There are often laws, rules, and user restrictions in residential buildings, homeowners associations, campgrounds, or construction sites.
You can count on our team of experts who have spent over 16 hours conducting results through 3,589 real customer reviews. Because of this, We concluded that the Best Generators For Home Backup Power is the Westinghouse 12500 Watt Dual Fuel Home Backup Portable Generator. And -second-product is another choice for you while keeping the product's quality and functionality.
RELATED: We've researched and tested the top 10 most powerful inverter generators and compiled them all in this article for you.
Our Top Picks
This generator is easy to transport and powers your home Produces up to 12,500 watts of peak power and 9,500 watts of operating power. Comes with a 6.6-gallon fuel tank and 12-hour fuel gauge Instant backup power for critical equipment.
This device may produce noise.
The generator is powered by a robust 457cc Westinghouse four-stroke OHV engine with durable cast iron sleeves, automatic low oil shut-off, and a digital timer.
Plus, you'll love this product because it has a VFT data center that displays output voltage, frequency, and usage time, keeping you informed with real-time information and scheduled maintenance. This product has two standard household GFCI 120V 5-20R outlets, one switch-ready 120V L14-30R and one RV ready 120/240V 14-50R; all outlets have rubber covers for added safety.
The generator is powered by a 457cc DuroMax OHV engine driving a fully charged power panel. This allows the user to achieve a maximum output of 12,000 watts. Protect your investment by automatically shutting down the generator when low oil levels are detected. It features an easy-to-use keyless electric start, and an optional kick starter is also available.
This device is a bit expensive.
Be ready for anything with the 12,000-Watt DuroMax XP12000EH Portable Dual Fuel Generator. Nicknamed "BEAST," the device provides the power typically found in a home standby but in a portable package.
Plus, this dual-fuel generator runs on gasoline or propane, giving you the freedom and flexibility to choose your fuel. While gasoline is a proven fuel choice, liquid propane lasts longer, costs less, lasts longer, and won't clog or damage carburetors. The control panel also features a voltmeter, circuit breaker, fuel level gauge, idle speed control, and DuroMax's unique MX2 switch that doubles the 120 volts for heavy loads.
Instantly powers your 3800W portable generator with gasoline or propane, plus the unit holds 1 gallon of oil Features a low oil shutoff sensor You can use a convenient toggle switch to start the 224cc Champion engine The Intelligauge can track voltage, hertz, and hours of use to monitor power output easily and track maintenance intervals. The Cold Start Technology optimizes the generator for easy starting in cold weather.
This generator can leak gas if you use it in the wrong way.
The Champion's 3800-watt RV-Ready electric starter generator is dual-fuel, allowing the 224cc engine to run on gasoline or propane. With Intelligauge, Volt Guard, and Cold Start Technology, it offers up to 9 hours of gasoline-run time or 10.5 hours of propane run time.
Furthermore, the generator is equipped with a battery for easy touch start: push-button electric start and an internal charger to charge the battery while the generator runs. It's a great addition to your RV and an affordable and practical solution for power outages or other emergencies.
Includes key fob that can be used to control it remotely. You can leave it permanently plugged into the house, and it will automatically turn on during a power outage. It weighs 222kg and rolls thanks to its large wheels easily. Automatic shutdown when the oil level is low and the indicator light on the control panel is on.
If you plan on moving it from one place to another, you may need some help getting it in and out of the trunk.
The Westinghouse WGen9500c is just what you're looking for in a generator, providing everything an average-sized home could need during a power outage.
Besides, with 12,500 watts of starting power and 9,500 watts of operating power, it can power all the lights and appliances you can't live without, so you and your family can keep working during a power outage. It has an electric start button and key fob and is dual-fuel, meaning it can run on gasoline or propane.
It is 50% quieter and 20% lighter than a traditional 5000W portable generator. Equipped with an efficient mechanical design that reduced the overall area and weight by 20%. The Intelligauge monitors voltage, frequency, and run time Cold Start Technology ensures quick starts in cold weather.
This generator is a bit difficult to use and control.
This product will give your life new meaning with our feature-rich, innovative technology and designs. This inverter is a quiet, lightweight, cost-effective power solution that's smaller and quieter. The 301cc engine produces 6250 watts and 5000 running watts and will run at 25% load for 13.5 hours when the 4.2-gallon fuel tank is full.
Additionally, from 23 feet, the inverter operates at 69 dBA, about as loud as a vacuum cleaner. It will safely connect your sensitive electronics as our hybrids generate only clean energy (less than 3% THD).
The Eco Mode feature allows the engine to adjust its fuel consumption automatically. You can connect any two WEN Inverter Generators with a WEN Parallel Kit to increase the total power that can be drawn from the Parallel Kit. Designed to reflect a pure sine wave, the generator limits total harmonic distortion to less than 0.3% at idle and 1.2% at full load. It maximizes fuel economy by activating the Eco-Mode.
This device doesn't have wheels.
This generator produces clean, reliable power and limits total harmonic distortion to less than 0.3% at idle and less than 1.2% at full load, making it powerful enough to safely power laptops, phones, tablets, and other sensitive electronic devices.
In addition, our 79.7cc four-stroke OV engine runs at an incredibly quiet 53dB at quarter load, rivaling the sound of everyday conversation and delivering non-intrusive energy where needed. The compact size and carrying handle make transporting the generator from one job site to another easy.
Our pack panel includes two standard 120V 20A household outlets and one 120V 30A RV outlet. It has one 120V/240V four-pin outlet and one 12V DC power outlet. The fuel tank holds up to 3.4 gallons of gasoline. It will give you up to 7.5 hours of run time at half-load.
This generator is difficult to run many devices or electronics simultaneously.
Do you remember when you could leave the lights on? WEN's 6000 Watt Portable RV Generator has everything from backup to recreational power. The powerful 272cc OHV four-stroke engine produces up to 6000 watts peak and 5000 reliable watts.
In addition, the digital display shows voltage, frequency, and run time, making it easy to schedule routine maintenance and monitor generator performance. The included wheel handles and compact size make it easy to carry and store.
More To Consider
What to Look For in a best generators for home backup power?
You may have some trouble making a purchase if you don't research it thoroughly. You are expected to invest time and focus on best generators for home backup power before investing in them. Usually, it will take you a long time to research a favorite product. But rest assured, we are here to assist you with your best generators for home backup power issue, no matter what time of day or night.
Although choosing a product is complicated, it will be more accessible and more available to everyone with today's information technology network. You are now given available sources of information such as famous websites, sale forums, or even customer's feedback. It can be said that information from these sources about best generators for home backup power will be beneficial to you.
So now you are expected to focus on needed criteria about best generators for home backup power. All of them will come with your investment.
Fuel Source
The majority of portable generators run on gasoline and can generally keep fridges and lights running for several hours. These generators can't be relied upon for long-term power backups, such as when there is no electricity for several days.
Propane and natural gas are used more often for large home-standby generators. These fuels can be used for larger home standby generators as they are cleaner-burning and offer on-demand power.
Solar or battery-powered power sources are an alternative to traditional fuel-powered generators. These machines have different capabilities, and their run time can vary widely. However, they might be the best match for you if your power requirements are less than minimal. They are typically used for camping only, not home.
Automatic Start
Wattage
However, this number does not represent the entire picture. Wattage is made up of three parts: power needed to turn on an appliance and power required to maintain it running. It also includes power necessary to sustain a power surge, which is when regular juice returns to normal and all appliances start to work again. Many appliances use more power for startup than their run energy consumption. You could overload your generator when you turn on appliances and other devices. If the generator can't provide enough power, it could overload. You need to know how many watts your generator can generate, depending on whether it is powering just one item or the whole house.
An increase in generator costs is generally associated with a higher wattage. Most people agree that it's better to have enough power than not to be able to run your fridge or keep cool by a fan.
Size
Be aware that the clearance between your home and generator may be determined by local codes or model specifications. A small generator may require only 18 inches of clearance.
Type
Warranties
Certain warranties may also include travel expenses for technicians to visit the generator and fix it. However, this depends on which manufacturer you are using.
FAQs
What Regular Maintenance Should Be Performed On A Home Generator?
You should get basic maintenance information from the manufacturer of any generator that you buy. However, most generator models will work fine if you follow these guidelines.
Run the generator at least 30 minutes per month or perform a weekly self test
When storing a gasoline-powered generator, add fuel stabilizer.
Regular oil changes are a must for your generator.
How Do You Safely Run A Home Generator?
A whole-home generator or standby generator must be connected to a switch. This disconnects your circuit panel and the electrical grid, allowing power to flow through the circuits from the generator.
You must manually start the power transfer for portable generators. These products have different safety requirements.
Does The Portable Generator Need To Be Grounded?
Yes. It is important that the generator be correctly grounded in order to protect your safety. The generator must be grounded properly to avoid electrocution. Grounding is a subject matter that must be adhered to by all authorities, federal and state.
Where Is The Best Place To Put Your Home Generator?
Natural gas generators do not produce as much fumes than natural gas ranges. Gasoline-powered generators can produce carbon monoxide exhaust fumes, which is why it's important to select the ideal location. These are the reasons why utility companies and local codes often have specific requirements for placement.
A generator should generally be located at least 5ft from any windows or doors. While some generators are able to be mounted as close as 18inches from the house, it is still important that the generator is at least 5ft away from any air intake areas on the property.
It is not advisable to use portable generators in an indoor environment, such as a garage. This type of generator is best placed outdoors, away from windows and doors.
Can I Use The Generator During Inclement Weather?
Although you can use your generator in any weather or temperature, protect it from the elements whenever it is not being used to stop it from shorting out and rusting. It is not recommended to run the generator indoors.
Can I Vent The Exhaust Out Of An Enclosed Area?
No. The generator should not be used in enclosed areas or homes. The portable generators can only be run outdoors where there is adequate ventilation. As with all gasoline engines exhaust, generators contain poisonous carbon monoxide.
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