A generator can give you tremendous peace of mind that your lights will stay on even if your community loses power. This protects your fridge and its contents, keeps your heating or cooling system running, and ensures you can charge your phone or use essential electronics. In Wisconsin, where storms and outages can happen year-round, a reliable generator can also help prevent frozen pipes, sump pump failures, and food spoilage.
Yet, not all generators are created equal. Choosing a system that’s too small may leave critical appliances without power, while an oversized unit can add unnecessary cost. If you’re wondering what size generator you need, here’s a guide on how to choose generator sizes so you can select the right option for your home and lifestyle.
If you have questions about generators in Madison or the rest of Dane County, call us at (608)-837-3638 to get a consultation.
Generator Sizes
Before deciding which size is right for your home, it’s important to understand the different generator categories and what they’re designed to power. Generators typically fall into four basic size ranges:
- Recreational: Recreational generators produce up to 2,000 watts. These are ideal for short outages and can power essentials like a refrigerator, lights, and small electronics.
- Midsized: Midsized units generate around 3,500 watts, allowing you to run a fridge, several electronics, and a window or portable air conditioner.
- Large/Portable: Large portable generators provide up to 7,500 watts, making them capable of powering a well pump, sump pump, gas furnace, dishwasher, or range.
- Home Standby: With capacities reaching 20,000 watts or more, home standby generators can power your entire home automatically during an outage.
How to Choose Generator Size
So how do you determine the right size? The key to choosing the correct generator is evaluating both your power needs and how often outages occur in your area. Homes prone to frequent outages benefit most from a whole-house standby generator, while occasional outages may only require powering a few critical circuits.
Start by listing the appliances and systems you want to keep running, such as heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, medical devices, or sump pumps. A licensed electrician can help calculate your total wattage needs and recommend a system that won’t overload your electrical panel.
Budget is another factor. If possible, choosing a generator with slightly more capacity than your minimum requirement gives you flexibility and room for future needs. Also consider whether you want automatic operation. Only standby generators paired with a transfer switch will turn on automatically the moment power is lost.
Do you need help choosing the right generator for your Madison home? Call (608)-837-3638 to talk to our generator experts today.
Generator Installation
If you decide to add a standby generator to your home, professional installation is essential for safety and performance. Action’s licensed electricians handle every step of the process, from permitting to final testing. During installation, we inspect your electrical panel and install a transfer switch to ensure seamless and safe power delivery.
Our team can typically complete generator installation in as little as one day. Proper sizing and installation help prevent power fluctuations, equipment damage, and safety hazards during an outage.
If you have a power outage, keep your home protected with a generator. Call (608)-837-3638 to schedule generator installation in Dane County.
Why Choose Us?
Action has proudly served the Dane County area since 1989. Our experienced electricians and HVAC professionals are committed to delivering dependable solutions backed by honest recommendations and upfront pricing. We focus on proper system sizing, safe installation, and long-term reliability.
If you need a whole-house standby generator in Fitchburg or Madison, call (608)-837-3638 or contact us online for help.
