Operation and Monitoring

Portable generators are manually operated. This means that you need to take it out of storage, carry it outdoors to the appropriate area plug it into your home, and add a fuel source such as propane ¹, which you will need to store nearby. This has some drawbacks because you must be at home when the power goes out for it to work. If you are away from home, you may return to find spoiled food or a burst pipe.

Standby generators are designed to switch on automatically when they sense a drop in power. You do not need to be home when the power goes out, and the transfer of power is nearly seamless. You will experience only a few seconds without power before the generator comes on. In addition, the generator will be hooked up to a more consistent energy source—either natural gas or propane—so you do not need to worry about storing the fuel and the risks associated with it or about refueling the generator during an extended power outage.

Costs

The average cost of a portable generator is between $500 and $2,000 for a generator that can handle up to 7000 watts, which can power most of the lights and appliances in a single family home. There is little setup cost beyond the purchase of fuel, which costs around $30 for 48 hours of use, for a total of $530-$2,030.

A standby generator costs around $3,000 to $5,000 for a model that can power your entire home. In addition, you will spend between $2,000 and $4,000 on installation, including the technician and plumber, for a total of $5,000 to $9,000 installed.

Use

Portable generators come in a number of sizes, which ultimately determines how much you can run on them. Ideally, you want a generator large enough to power your HVAC system, lights, and refrigerator. Some are also large enough to power a stove or microwave. In some cases, you may need to turn one item off to power another, such as shutting off the lights to run the stove or turning off the hot water heater to run a well pump.

Standby generators are also sized accordingly and most have a total power load. Running more electrical appliances than the load can handle will cause the generator to shut off. In most cases, your installer will talk to you about your home’s energy use and help you choose the correct size. A standby generator will power things like a well pump ², water tank, furnace, lights, and small appliances, but it may not be able to handle the load of the stove, microwave, and home security system at the same time. For prolonged power outages, choices need to be made to determine which things to power.

Maintenance

Portable generators need little to no maintenance beyond making sure that they are empty of fuel before storing and checking that there is no corrosion or loose wires before running.

Standby generators require more maintenance. In addition to running once a week automatically, the generators require periodic service. Some generators indicate a problem or need for maintenance by flashing a yellow or red light. Others simply require yearly inspections. If your generator has been running for 24 to 48 hours straight, you need to have it serviced. If it has been running for 10 days, you need to have the oil and filters changed as well. Many generator companies offer a maintenance plan where you pay a monthly fee, and they automatically perform the maintenance check. They also remain on call in case your generator has a more immediate problem. These types of plans range in cost depending on the area and type of generator but typically cost around $400 a year.

Return on Investment

Standby generators are known to increase your property value after installation, particularly in regions where power loss is common. In most cases, you can expect a return on investment of around 54% at the time of resale. Portable generators do not increase the value of your home because you have the option of taking them with you when you move.