How to Choose a Portable Generator - A Plain-English Guide
Last verified: September 2026
Everything you actually need to know to pick the right portable generator for your home — no jargon, no overbuying. Rather have a hand deciding? My number is (330) 200-8042.
Choosing a Generator, at a Glance
A portable generator keeps the fridge cold, the lights on, and the furnace running when the power quits — but only if you pick the right one for your home. This guide walks you through it in plain English: what to power, how big to go, which fuel, and how to hook it up safely. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 How big a generator do I actually need?
Start with what you'd keep running in a two-day outage, then size for the starting surge of the biggest motor on the list — fridges, furnaces, and pumps briefly need several times their running watts to start. Add up the running watts and add that surge on top, with a little room to spare.
2 What's the single most important feature?
An automatic carbon-monoxide shutoff. Generators give off carbon monoxide — an invisible, deadly gas — and a built-in sensor that shuts the engine off on high CO is a genuine lifesaver. Look for a model meeting the PGMA G300 or UL 2201 safety standard.
3 Gasoline or propane?
Gasoline is easy to find and gives full power but goes stale in months. Propane stores for years, burns cleaner, and makes less carbon monoxide. A dual-fuel generator runs on either, which is the most flexible choice for backup power that mostly waits.
4 Can I run my furnace or well pump on it?
Yes, but not with cords — those wired-in loads need a transfer switch or interlock kit installed at your panel by a licensed electrician, and a generator with a 240-volt outlet. Well pumps especially need a larger unit with plenty of starting surge.
5 Is it safe to just plug it into a wall outlet?
No. Never use a double-ended cord to 'backfeed' your home through an outlet — it can electrocute a utility worker and start a fire. The only safe hookups are a transfer switch or interlock. To power a few things directly, use outdoor-rated extension cords instead.
6 Should I buy new or used?
New gets you a warranty and today's safety features, including the CO shutoff that older units lack. A good used unit can save money if it's been run and maintained — but insist on seeing it start, and be wary of one that 'sat for years' with old fuel in it.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Choosing a generator is one of my favorite things to help with — get it right once and it serves you for years. I'll look at your home and your must-run list and help you find the right size and the safe way to hook it up, with nothing to sell you. $99 flat for a visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).