When the electricity goes out panic sets in. It’s a nightmare; and in the darkness your first thought is likely to be: the food! This perfect storm of bad luck certainly feels anything but perfect. You need something to help light the way while you wait for power to be restored. You need a generator; and that’s why we here at Study Finds scoured the web to find the consensus best whole house generators you can trust to keep you out of the dark.

You’ll want to assess your needs before shopping for a generator. What will need powering if electricity goes out? Generators are not one size fits all. So it’s best to figure out what kind of wattage you’ll need the generator to, well, generate. Compact Diesel Generator

Another factor to consider is if you’ll want a generator living on your property. Much like an air conditioning unit, generators can be hardwired to your house. They can also be bulky. If this thought doesn’t sit well, you can find plenty of portable options instead.

Rather than worry about the electric company taking too long to restore power, check out our list of the best five home generators, according to the pros. Of course, we want to hear which generator keeps your lights on, so comment below to let us know!

If you’re looking to go big in power, this may be an option for you. Keep in mind this model (~$5,650) will sit on your property; it’s not portable, but it’s worth it according to expert reviews.

This generator will make sure everything’s covered, according to Bob Vila: “While most homes only need 5,000 watts for essential appliances, this standby generator can produce up to 22,000 running watts, ensuring that the whole home has electricity during a power outage, not just the essentials.”

Bob Vila also notes the options with this model: “This standby whole house generator is a dual-fuel product that can operate on both liquid propane (22,000 running watts) and natural gas (19,500 running watts). It can also connect remotely through Wi-Fi so users can get regular updates on the status of the system.”

And if you need more convincing, Forbes raves about its low cost and high output, writing, “if you need a ton of power at a surprisingly affordable cost, look no further than the Generac Air-Cooled Standby Generator. This workhorse outputs an awesome 22,000 watts of power—enough to keep not just your home powered but possibly your neighbors’ houses, too. With the lowest MSRP per kilowatt of any comparable home generator we reviewed, this Generac generator is our top choice for those who need a lot of power.”

Though this generator (~$4,000) won’t power the sun, but it’ll cover the things most important to you. And, importantly, it’ll always be ready when you need it.

The Spruce writes, “A standby generator is ready at a moment’s notice to keep important systems running during a power outage. The Champion 12.5-kW Home Standby Generator is equipped with a NEMA 3R outdoor-rated 100-amp transfer switch that covers 12 circuits. Instead of setting up a portable generator and plugging in a network of cords in the aftermath of a power failure, this generator will automatically keep appliances and systems you deem most important running. It can handle up to a 4-ton AC system.”

When the power goes out you can remain at ease if you have this unit installed. Norwall Power Systems writes, “No worries over flooded basements, spoiled food in the refrigerator or freezer, or frozen pipes in the winter that burst and flood your home. Flashlights, extension cords, and refueling portable generators in the dark are history. The Champion 12.5kW Home Standby Generator detects outages, starts automatically in seconds, and delivers continuous, reliable power to your home.”

If you prefer a portable generator that will cover basic needs, here is a great option that landed on many experts’ lists.

“Its starting power is 5500 watts, and its continuous running power is 4500 watts, so it can handle most household appliances under basic conditions. The DuroMax XP5500EH electric start generator also comes with a dual fuel option. This unit can be powered by gasoline or propane, depending on your local availability,” writes Linquip.

This generator is also budget friendly (~$500) according to Electronics Hub: “For a basic household generator, you don’t need to spend a fortune if you go with brands like DuroMax. It is one of the brands that offer budget options for mid-range generators.”

Though you may want to make sure you have enough fuel on hand at all times. Electronics Hub also mentioned that one drawback to this generator is that the “fuel tank should have been larger.”

Another highly rated portable option is dual fuel model. According to Thomas, the Westinghouse WGen 9500DF “has 9,500 running watts and 12,500 peak watts when powered with gasoline and slightly less when powered with propane. On a full tank, you can get up to 12 hours of run time.”

A cool feature also mentioned by Thomas is that it has “a remote start key fob so you can power it from inside the house.” Pretty handy considering most power outages are due to inclement weather.

One thing we haven’t discussed yet is noise. Some generators as I’m sure you’ve heard can be quite obnoxious. But you won’t run into that issue here. The Strategist writes, “half of all five-star reviewers describe this portable generator as “quiet,” including one who keeps it on the porch without disturbing any neighbors.”

And because of that, The Strategist did rate this model as the “Best quiet inverter generator” out of the twelve that made their list.

You’ve heard the name; and you’ve seen their products many places. The reason for it? They’re trusted.

House Grail shares its thoughts on this Kohler generator: “When they say that they will keep your house powered no matter what, they mean it. These generators are used at hospitals and stadiums and airports around the world, so our guess is that they can probably do a good job at your home.”

Though they have a solid reputation for producing quality products, House Grail did note that they have “unhelpful support staff.” Something to keep in mind should you be interested in this generator.

Generator Advisor ranks this generator number 8 on their list of 10 and writes: “In the event of a significant power outage, it runs pretty smooth even on higher loads. Some minor adjustments may come along due to slight vibration and known engine throttle problems that can cause dirty power flow. The cause is often a faulty carburetor gasket that’s relatively cheap to replace. Cold-weather users will want to pick up a carburetor heater.”

But never mind the refrigerator, everyone wants to know about the important things, like electronics. “In addition to being very quiet for its size, it also has low levels of harmonic distortion, so you don’t have to worry about running your HD TV or laptops with this unit,” writes Generator Advisor.

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

I’m a former personal trainer who is now exploring and sharing my creative side. Anyway, sarcastic humor is how I typically communicate. I fully embrace being an introvert, which only means that I spend my time reading, writing, or thinking. Well, it means much more, but we don’t have time.

I’m a student for life and I try to provide value by sharing what I learn.

I’m sure the other gensets are good equipment. However, as a professional generator tech who deals with garbage generac / gener”crap”! Don’t buy from this company. Unreliable tech support. Horrible programming and software. Not to mention you can forget about warranty coverage. Lastly they are only assembled in America. Most component’s are outsourced from overseas.

Hate these ad filled sites! And why no pics of the units your reviewing?

I have a generac since fall 2018 and it has failed 5 winters in a row. The first 4 were warenty now I fight. I would never recomend a Generac. The warrenty only covers minimum travel time for service tech and I have paid more in travel than whaT the generator was to buy.

I’ve heard mixed reviews on Generac’s performance in extreme cold weather in addition to the external body not faring well in extreme heat and cold. Curious why Cummins generators never made the list? Their new ones are getting good reviews for residential.

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