Best Generator for Home by Consumer Reports: Top 6

2. A-iPower SUA2000E Gasoline Electric-Generator for Home

A-iPower SUA2000E is the best value for your money when it comes to a generator for a home emergency. This set provides an amazingly good quality home generator for a very affordable price. It performs exceptionally well and powers a reasonable number of appliances within the house. It has a 459cc four-stroke engine and delivers up to 9,500 running watt of energy. It comes with a strong inbuilt tank that contains about 7 gallons of fuel.

3. Kohler 20RESCL-200SELS Air-cooled: Best standby generator

Kohler 20RESCL is a fast response generator that operates silently. It is also a 20,000-watt air-cooled generator that works with the group 51 battery type. It keeps your home safe, comfortable, and secure. Even users nickname it as the best generator for home power outage, and so do we too. As a custom, generators from Kohler are usually cost-effective, and this model is not an exception. This generator model is uniquely air-cooled to prevent over-heating. It starts up automatically after a power out and produces up to 20,000 Watt. It is plated with a 100% corrosive-proof enclosure.

4. Duromax XP12000EH Dual Fuel Portable-Generator

The Duromax portable generator is one of a kind and has been nicknamed “Beast” because it generates more power than a usual portable generator does. It can power a complete, central air conditioning system alongside other appliances in the house without any hinge at all. It is a bi-fuel system generator that is started using an electric key. Its maximum watts are 12,000 units and 9,500 running units while on gasoline while on propane, its peak watt is 11,400 units and 9,025 running units. It can run 120V and 240V at the same time. It features a control panel with a circuit breaker that indicates a low oil level.

5. Power Solutions PSC2200 Inverter Generator

This eZV2200 is portable and works smartly, safeguarding your gadgets and electronics. It is quite affordable and easy to move around due to its portability. The generator set comes with an eco-mode throttle that automatically adjusts it to maximize fuel use and hence, increase run time. Its sound, while working, is said to 57 Decibel, way lesser than the noise level. It can work continuously for about 6 hours run time with a 75% load on. It is a 4-stroke powered engine and it gives an output of 2200 Watt peak and 2000 Watt running unit.

6. Generic 5946 Portable Generator Compliant

The generic 5946 portable generator is an excellent generator and the sixth on our list. It is affordable and has a range of power options from 800 to 17,500 Watts. Due to its portability, it is usually an excellent choice for outdoor events and camping too. It is built with a muffler to produce a noiseless operation. It comes with a circuit breaker that prevents circuit overload, durable wheels that are never flat and a fold-down handle. Its fuel tank capacity is 7.2 gallons. It has a CARB Compliant.

Portable vs. Whole House Generators: Which is right for you?

It is wise to have an alternative source of power as a backup for your home, this prepares you for any eventuality, whatsoever, that there might be. Although the problem is identified, which is a power outage, and the solution is provided. That is investing in a backup power generator for your home. But, the question of how to get started is not answered yet. To begin with, there are two types of generators: the portable and the Whole house generators. 

• Portable Generator: The portable generator is, as the name implies, portable, hence mobile. But more than just that, a portable generator costs less than the whole house generator. And unlike the whole house generator, it powers fewer gadgets. This generator can be used to power a TV, just a few bulbs, and perhaps the refrigerator.

• Whole House Generator: On the other hand, the whole house generator, which is sometimes called the stationary model, is a permanently fixed one. It is installed just outside the home and cannot be moved from place to place, like in the case of the portable generators. It is most times automated and comes on immediately there is a power outage. The cost of procurement is usually expensive, the capacity is large, depending on the size of your home and what you need to power.

Now that both types have been identified, deciding which one is good for you is a step solved already. Is your home a large one with parents and children? What gadgets, devices, and machines do you need to keep powered up? Are they large and numerous? Do you have a large budget? If yes is your answer to all of these questions, then the WHOLE HOUSE GENERATOR is your best catch. If it is just a small apartment with little to power up, and with a low budget in place, the PORTABLE GENERATOR should be your choice.

However, to pick that which is best for you, make sure you consider your family size, budget, and most importantly, the equipment you have to use with the generator. This last factor will, then, lead you to know the right Wattage required to power your entire house.

Types of Portable Generator Fuel Choices on The Market

While deciding on a generator to choose or buy, fuel is an essential factor to be considered. It is the most critical choice to make because it matters. The availability of fuel and cost should be found. There are four common fuel types for generators. They are the gasoline, Natural gas, Diesel and Propane. These four are the most used for modern electric power generators.

• Natural gas

Of the most common fuel types, natural gas supplies the least amount of energy. Still, it is the most accessible and most convenient fuel type to use for standby whole house generators, since it provides a constant and uninterrupted supply of fuel. It is usually not available in rural areas but is cost-effective.

• Diesel

Diesel is an appropriate fuel type for portable generators. It is the most commonly available fuel. It is compatible with engines that work on the mechanism of spark plug ignition. This is because these engines rely on the heat generated by compression to ignite the fuel. The diesel has the most energy of the four common fuel types. It also has a longer shelf life than them but tends to absorb moisture from the air, which renders it polluted to be used as fuel. The diesel generators are found in RVs and other portable generators. Most of which comes with an internal tank that is capable of holding fuel enough for a day’s use at home.

• Liquid propane

Propane or Petroleum gas is also a burning fuel in generators. It is, notably, appropriate for sizeable whole house generators, and it produces more energy, which is slightly higher than the natural gas. The propane fuel is usually stored in tanks of large volumes. However, space is required in these tanks so that the liquid propane can evaporate for the generator to use. So the containers are not filled to the brim.  

• Bi-fuel system

The bi-fuel system in modern generators is an advancement that allows the use of diesel and natural gas as fuel all at once to generators. It has been a great solution to fuel problems and power applications for decades now. Storing just a little amount of fuel can pose the risk of running out of fuel at dire moments whereas, storing a large amount would have to come with a cost for maintenance. Otherwise, the fuel becomes degraded or contaminated. These disadvantages make the bi-fuel generator set the best choice and stand. It is cost-effective and just a little higher in cost that the diesel-only generator set. It guarantees an extended run time benefit. 

How to Pick the Best Home Generator: Easy Guide

Here are some factors you should consider when choosing your new generator.

• What are your power needs? It is crucial that you know the devices you intend to power with the generator. Calculate their power need, as this will influence the generator type to get, with respect to Wattage.
• What fuel type would your generator use? As explained above, make sure your generator of choice uses a fuel type that is readily available, safe, and worth it. The bi-fuel system has proven to be the best so far.
• What is the fuel’s efficiency? You definitely, would not want to keep refilling the fuel tank every hour. Know the efficiency of the fuel and its run time. If the in-built tank is not large enough, an external one can be made for it.
• What is the weight of the generator? The weight of a generator is proportional to its size. The lightweight (portable) generators having high Wattage will be more expensive. Whereas, the heavier models will require wheels and much labor to move or install them. Consider all of these before buying a generator.
• What engine type is the generator? Note the type of engine that your intended generator has. One with a 4-stroke engine does not require that you mix oil with fuel while the 2-stroke engines do. The latter is less expensive but cumbersome to fuel. Also, certain engine types have measures to prevent overheating. This is a fantastic factor to note when buying a set of generator as some models lack this feature.
• Is the generator set noisy? Noise is mathematically rated to be sound above 70decibels. It is advisable to think twice when you see a generator with a noise level higher than this. Do not buy a generator set that would cause noise pollution to you and your neighborhood.
• Maintenance: Be sure to choose a set that is easy to maintain. The perfect choice would be a maintenance routine that is cost-effective, efficient, and healthy for your environment. Consider a generator set that is easy to maintain.

How Much Would a Good Generator Cost?

The prices of the generator vary depending on where you want to buy from and the brand of your choice. You can purchase an excellent 3kW unit portable generator for an amount less than $500, an 8kW for about $1,500 to $2,000. The more the power generated, the more expensive a portable generator is likely to be. In fact, you can purchase a 2000watt hand-carry portable generator for around $300.

Wrapping It Up 

Conclusively, to keep your home, house, and family safe and fully powered during power outs and emergencies, make the right choice. This article has been of help. Put the information provided into work, buy one of the best generators for homes, and enjoy all of the comfort and endless electricity in your home. You can can check the comparison once again for the right choice.