6 Best Whole House Generators Spring 2024 Reviews & Buying Guide

Table Of Content

• Avoid carbon monoxide
• The Best Dual-Fuel Generators for Home and Outdoor Use, Tested
• DuroMax 8000/10000-Watt Dual Fuel Electric Start (XP10000DX)
• EcoFlow Delta Pro Portable Power Station
• Honda 5000/7000-Watt Electric Start with Co-Minder (EM5000SX)
• Home Generator Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Backup Power Shipshape
• All You Need to Know About Emergency Generators

It does a 5 to 12-minutes self-test weekly and during the process, it consumes less fuel and runs at a lower RPM than it normally does. The generator boasts a durable build with its powder-coated finish that makes its corrosion-resistant aluminum perfect for all weather conditions. Its pressure-lubricated engines are capable of handling all the rigors of generator use without needing much maintenance. Moreover, Generac allows you to monitor your generator’s status from anywhere in the world with the mobile link connectivity feature on your phone, tablet or PC. The feature allows you to access crucial information like your generator’s maintenance schedule and current operating status. If you're looking for ways to keep the power in your home on during outages, a whole home generator might be a fit.

Avoid carbon monoxide

The overall look and feel is very similar to that of the gas generators we tested. It has a handle at each end and weighs roughly the same as the Honda EU2200i, about 45 pounds with the two batteries. We would prefer to see a single top handle as on the other models, which would make this unit much easier to carry with one hand.

The Best Dual-Fuel Generators for Home and Outdoor Use, Tested

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The Generac Guardian 3-Phase 20kW generator is one of the largest, most powerful air-cooled 3-phase generators on the market. If your home or small business needs dependable 3-phase power back-up look no further than this Generac Guardian. This generator has all the features you’ve come to love of a Generac, easy-installation, Wi-Fi control and monitoring, and durable, all-weather construction that’s built to last. With a noise level of 67 dbA, this unit’s noise is impressively low for the level of power output. The only thing missing from this package is an automatic transfer switch, which is sold separately.

DuroMax 8000/10000-Watt Dual Fuel Electric Start (XP10000DX)

You can either buy the generator by itself or along with the 200-amp automatic transfer switch. With a power output of 4,000 watts, this Dewalt is a good fit for small-to-medium-size homes. It won’t keep the furnace or central AC running, but it can handle multiple appliances and electronics at once, thanks to its four covered outlets. The built-in hour meter helps you stay on top of maintenance measures like changing the oil and checking the filters. Our testers also like the heavy-duty, never-flat wheels, as well as the CO detection technology. We measured sound levels of these generators idling with no load, and while running under load at 2 feet and 25 feet.

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Once installed, we tested the generator by shutting off the electricity at the meter, and it started automatically in about 15 seconds. Surprisingly, the Briggs & Stratton only generated about 72 decibels of noise during operation. We turned on an HVAC unit, electric range, and all the lights in the house. We even plugged in some power tools as well, and the generator provided enough power for it all.

Honda 5000/7000-Watt Electric Start with Co-Minder (EM5000SX)

However, the RYi2322VNM was not able to handle the starting watts of a worm-drive circular saw with a manufacturer-stated max wattage of 2,100 watts. This result makes us skeptical of the Ryobi generator’s listed 2,300-watt limit. The Honda and DeWalt generators, both listed at 2,200 starting watts, got the same saw running, although the DeWalt struggled with the task.

If you are thinking of purchasing a traditional generator, we advise contacting the manufacturer and asking what the THD of the specific model is. According to Honda, even its traditional generators have a low THD, but that isn’t the case for all brands. The trick is understanding the generator’s available power and knowing that you might need to, say, unplug the microwave if you’re going to run a space heater, which generally has a much higher running wattage. Most current generators now have phone apps that give you instant feedback on how many watts you’re using, so you can adjust accordingly. For some of the more practical elements of our evaluation, I drew on my own experience as a long-time generator owner.

As the smallest in power, they also tend to be the most affordable inverter generators. It starts with a commercial-grade Honda iGX390 engine with electric start and CO-Minder carbon monoxide detection. Wrapping up the major highlights, it’s also compatible with Honda’s My Generator app where you can monitor or turn on/off the generator remotely. To determine the best portable generator for home use, we wanted a model that has a balance of everything.

The GP3300i model is a 2500-watt gas-powered unit that features multiple outlets and USB ports for charging things like a small fridge or freezer, tablets and mobile devices. It’s only 59 lbs, so transport and storage is easier than larger units and it features quiet inverter tech that aims to help reduce noise pollution when the unit is running. A portable generator is a great compromise if you don't want or need to keep a full-sized generator around. Unlike many portable home generators, this one is powered by either gas or propane with up to 34 hours of runtime and it only weighs 39 lbs. Much like the Champion generator above, this one can also be linked to another generator to double the power output, and it also comes with a 3-year limited warranty. Honda generators enjoy a stellar reputation for longevity, quality, and durability, and we saw nothing that contradicted this.

A small to medium-size house in the U.S. typically uses a minimum of 5,000 to 7,000 watts, so you should expect most generators to have a minimum of 8,500 to 10,000 watt outputs. It gives no sense of the time remaining or the power usage, nor does it offer maintenance reminders. Also missing is a remote shut-off and a remote reset option in case the generator overloads.

Large whole-house generators have an output of 10,000 watts or more, which means enough power for all your appliances. On average, they run from 140 to 200 hours on a propane tank, a shorter duration than their smaller counterparts. Most U.S. homes need at least 5,000 to 7,500 watts to cover minimum needs, so you’ll see standby generators offer nine to 20 kilowatts. Whole house generators will typically start at 22,000 watts and can run as high as almost 50,000.

For those who don’t like the noise and exhaust of a normal generator, portable power stations may be for you. If you’re going to be outside for a while you can also pair it with a solar panel for charging off the road and off the grid. If the Explorer 300 isn’t exactly what suits your needs the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240 and Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 are also great picks, worth a look. Such models are still portable but much larger and typically in the price range of $1,000 to $5,000. We’re currently looking into this size and will update this guide once we reach some conclusions. The Ego Power+ Nexus Portable Power Station PST3042 offers power similar to that of the Honda EU2200i with none of the drawbacks of a gas engine.

Finally, the Generac 7210 is fitted with a 200 amp automatic transfer switch that provides you with a whole-house circuit coverage. Buying a whole house generator requires you to pay close attention to such specifications as the fuel type, power output, ease of installation and maintenance. You need to carefully consider how big your house is and the total wattage you need to power your home and all appliances. With these factors in mind, take a look at our picks and decide which one is best for you. In addition to manufacturing products sold under the Briggs & Stratton brand name, it makes gasoline engines used by other generator brands. Install an interlock device instead, which costs $100 to $200 less than a transfer switch and can be installed in less time by an electrician.