What size generator do you need (watts)?

For the essentials — fridge, freezer, lights, TV, phone chargers — around 2,500-3,500 W covers most homes. Add a well pump or a window AC and you’re at 4,500-6,500 W. Whole-house backup including electric heating or central AC needs 8,000+ W and usually a transfer switch installed by an electrician.

Power stations are silent, emission-free and safe indoors, but store limited energy: a 2 kWh unit runs a fridge for maybe 12-18 hours, then needs recharging. Fuel generators produce power for as long as you have fuel — better for multi-day outages. Many people pair them: the power station indoors at night, recharged by the generator running outside during the day.

An inverter generator produces clean, stable power (safe for laptops and electronics), adjusts engine speed to the load instead of running full speed constantly, and is dramatically quieter — 55-60 dB versus 70-80 dB for a conventional unit. It costs more per watt, but for home backup and camping it’s almost always worth it.

No. An open door is not enough — carbon monoxide accumulates in attached garages and seeps into the house. Run it outdoors only, at least 6 metres (20 feet) from doors, windows and vents, with the exhaust pointing away from the house, and install a battery-powered CO detector inside. This is the single most important rule of generator ownership.