How to Choose a Generator for Your Home

Choosing the right generator isn't about picking the biggest machine you can find. It’s about matching its power to what you actually need to run, deciding between a grab-and-go portable model or a fully automatic standby system, and picking a fuel type that makes sense for your property and budget.

And if you're in California, there's an extra layer: making sure your generator is CARB-compliant and installed to meet local codes. This guide is here to walk you through it all, minus the technical headaches.

Your Guide to Power Outage Peace of Mind

Here in California, power outages have become a frustratingly common part of life. Between Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during wildfire season and an over-stressed grid on hot summer days, getting left in the dark is no longer a rare event. The whole point of this guide is to cut through the confusing specs and give you a straightforward, practical plan for choosing a generator.

This is more than just buying a piece of equipment; it's an investment in your family's comfort and security. It's no surprise the global generator market is now valued at around USD 24.11 billion—homeowners everywhere are realizing just how critical reliable backup power has become. You can even explore the market statistics to see just how big this trend is.

Making the Right Choice for Your California Home

We're going to focus on the four make-or-break decisions you'll face when picking a generator. Think of this as your roadmap to finding the perfect fit for your home without the guesswork.

• Figuring Out Your Power Needs: First, we'll show you how to do a quick "power audit" of your home. You’ll learn how to calculate exactly how much juice your essential appliances need, no engineering degree required.

• Portable vs. Standby Models: Next, we’ll break down the real-world differences between a hands-on portable unit and a "set-it-and-forget-it" standby generator that powers your whole home automatically.

• Understanding Fuel Types: Propane, natural gas, or gasoline? Each has its own pros and cons. We'll demystify them so you can choose the most practical and reliable fuel source for your situation.

• Navigating California's Rules: Finally, we’ll cover the non-negotiables for our state. This includes understanding what CARB compliance really means and why professional installation isn't just a suggestion—it's a requirement.

By the time you're done reading, you'll have the confidence to choose a generator that keeps the lights on, the fridge cold, and your family safe when the next outage hits. A solid plan is the first step toward feeling prepared, and our team at RC Generators and Electric is always here to help you build one.

Four Key Decisions for Choosing Your Generator

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don't be. It all boils down to these four questions. This table gives you a quick snapshot of what you need to consider to land on the perfect generator for your home.

Think of these four points as the foundation of your decision. Get these right, and you'll have a backup power solution that gives you true peace of mind for years to come.

How to Calculate Your Home's Power Needs

Figuring out how much power your home actually needs for a backup generator shouldn't feel like a difficult math problem. The goal here is simple: avoid overspending on a unit that’s way too powerful, or worse, getting stuck with one that can't even run your essentials during a California power outage.

Let's walk through how to create a quick "power budget" for your home.

First things first, take a walk through your house and make a list of the absolute must-haves. These are the non-negotiables you can't live without when the grid goes down. Think survival, not luxury.

For most California families, an essentials list looks something like this:

• Refrigerator/Freezer: Keeping food from spoiling is priority number one.

• A Few Lights: Just enough for the kitchen, bathroom, and a main living area.

• Medical Equipment: Critical devices like a CPAP machine are non-negotiable.

• Wi-Fi Router: Staying connected is key for news and updates.

• Phone Chargers: Communication lines need to stay open.

Once you have that list down, you can add a few "nice-to-haves." These are the appliances that make an outage more comfortable, like a TV, microwave, or maybe a small window AC unit for those hot summer days.

Understanding Starting vs. Running Watts

Here’s a small detail that trips up a lot of people. Any appliance with a motor needs a big jolt of electricity to get going—this is its starting power. Once it’s humming along, it uses a much lower amount of power, known as its running power.

Your refrigerator is the perfect example. The compressor requires a huge surge of power just to kick on, often two or three times its normal running power. If your generator can’t deliver that initial surge, the fridge won’t start, even if the generator could easily handle the running load.

When you're adding up your total power needs, you only need to account for the single highest starting wattage among all your appliances. You won't be firing everything up at the exact same second, so just add that one big number to the combined running wattage of everything else.

Putting It All Together

To make this easy, grab a piece of paper and make two columns: one for the appliance and one for its wattage. You can usually find the wattage on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device.

Here’s a quick reference chart for common appliances to get you started:

Add up the running watts for everything you plan to use at the same time. Next, find the single highest starting wattage from your list and add that number to your total. This final figure gives you the minimum wattage your generator needs to produce.

If you're curious about the mechanics behind this, you can learn more about how a home generator works in our detailed guide.

Still feeling a bit unsure about your calculations? That's what we're here for. The experts at RC Generators and Electric can perform a professional load calculation for your home to make sure you get the perfect size. Contact us today for a free consultation and take all the guesswork out of the equation.

Portable Power or Whole-Home Standby

One of the biggest decisions you'll make is choosing between a portable generator and a whole-home standby system. This goes way beyond just power output—it’s about how you want to experience a power outage. Are you okay with a hands-on, budget-friendly fix, or do you need the seamless, automatic peace of mind that comes with a permanent solution?

Think of a portable generator as the DIY approach to backup power. When the grid goes down, it’s on you to get things running. You’ll need to wheel it out of the garage, fire it up, and run heavy-duty extension cords to the appliances you want to power, like the fridge or a small window AC unit.

That manual effort, however, comes with a huge upside: affordability. For California homeowners who only deal with short or infrequent outages, a portable unit is a great way to keep the lights on without a massive upfront cost. It’s flexible and perfect for powering just the essentials.

The Hands-On Approach with Portable Generators

The flexibility of portable generators has made them a go-to for many, especially in places prone to unpredictable weather or public safety power shutoffs. The market for these units is booming, valued at around USD 4.96 billion and expected to hit nearly USD 6.78 billion by 2030. That growth shows just how many people see the value in a versatile power source. You can dig into the numbers in this full portable generator market analysis.

Because they require your active involvement, portable units also demand some serious fuel planning. You have to think about storing gasoline safely and, more importantly, having enough of it to last through a multi-day outage.

This image gives a great breakdown of how long you can expect a 10-gallon tank to last with different fuel types.

As you can see, your fuel choice makes a massive difference in how often you’ll be heading out to refuel—a critical detail to consider during a long emergency.

The 'Set It and Forget It' Standby Solution

On the other side of the coin is the standby generator. This is a permanent, weatherproof unit installed outside your home, looking a lot like your central AC unit. It’s wired right into your home's electrical system through an automatic transfer switch (ATS).

When the power goes out, this switch senses it instantly, disconnects you from the grid, and automatically starts the generator. Within seconds, power is restored to your entire home. You don’t lift a finger. That seamless transition is exactly why so many California homeowners opt for a standby system.

For families with critical medical equipment, people running a business from home, or anyone in an area with frequent, lengthy outages, a standby generator isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. It provides total continuity and safety without you ever having to step outside.

This hands-off reliability is a true game-changer in a stressful situation. Standby units typically run on natural gas or propane, giving them a steady, long-term fuel source without the hassle of refueling. To see a full breakdown of the advantages, take a look at our guide on the benefits of a Generac standby generator.

To help you decide, here’s a quick comparison to see how the two types stack up based on what matters most to you.

Portable vs Standby Generator At a Glance

Ultimately, the right choice comes down to your priorities. If you just need a low-cost way to power a few key appliances and don't mind a little manual setup, a portable generator is a solid pick. But if you're looking for total, automatic protection for your entire home, a standby generator is the undisputed winner. Contact RC Generators and Electric for a personalized assessment to see which option truly fits your home and lifestyle.

Choosing the Right Fuel for Your Generator

Deciding on the right fuel for your generator is one of the most important calls you'll make. It’s a choice that directly shapes how convenient it is to use during an outage, what your ongoing costs look like, and—most critically—how reliable your backup power will be when you actually need it. Let’s break down the real-world pros and cons for homeowners here in California.

When the lights go out, it all comes down to three questions about your fuel: How easy is it to get? How safely can I store it? And what’s it going to cost me over time? The answers will steer you toward the perfect fit for your home.

Gasoline: The Readily Available Option

Gasoline is everywhere, which is exactly why it’s the go-to for most portable generators. In fact, gasoline-powered units command the largest slice of the market at roughly 42.4%, thanks to their widespread availability. You can learn more about these portable generator market trends to see why so many people start here.

But there's a catch, and it's a big one: gasoline has a terrible shelf life. If it’s not treated, gas can start going bad in as little as 30 days. That means you can’t just fill up a few cans and forget about them until the next emergency. You’re stuck constantly rotating your supply, which is a real hassle.

Propane: The Stable and Reliable Choice

For homeowners who are serious about being prepared, propane is a fantastic choice. Its biggest selling point is stability. Propane doesn't degrade, so you can store it in a tank indefinitely. That "set it and forget it" quality makes it incredibly dependable for both portable generators and larger standby systems.

You can keep smaller tanks on hand for portable units (just like for your BBQ grill) or have a large, permanent tank installed to run a whole-home standby generator. It’s a versatile fuel that’s ready to go the moment you need it, which is a huge stress reliever during an outage.

Natural Gas: The Ultimate Convenience

When it comes to permanently installed standby generators, you just can’t beat natural gas for convenience. It connects directly to your home’s existing utility line, giving you a virtually endless fuel supply. No tanks to refill, no fuel to store, no last-minute runs to the gas station.

The trade-off for this amazing convenience is that it absolutely requires professional installation. You’ll need a licensed electrician and plumber to make sure the gas line is connected safely and correctly. It is not a DIY job, but the peace of mind it delivers is unmatched.

What About Diesel?

You'll hear about diesel generators, and for good reason—they're known for being fuel-efficient and built to last. However, they're much less common for residential use. Diesel engines tend to be louder, and the fuel is trickier to store safely at home compared to something like propane. For those reasons, you'll mostly see them in commercial or industrial settings.

Ultimately, making the right fuel choice boils down to what you prioritize—the effortless convenience of natural gas, the long-term stability of propane, or the immediate availability of gasoline.

If you're weighing the options for your home, our team at RC Generators and Electric can walk you through the decision. Give us a call today for a free consultation to figure out the best fuel solution for your specific needs in Los Angeles or Ventura County.

Navigating California's Local Regulations

Picking a generator in California isn’t just about wattage. Our state has some of the strictest rules in the country, designed to keep our air clean and our communities safe. Getting this part wrong can lead to fines, but more importantly, it can create serious hazards for your family and neighbors.

The first and most important rule is that any generator sold or used here must be CARB-compliant. CARB, or the California Air Resources Board, sets tough emissions standards for the kind of small engines found in generators. A CARB-compliant model is simply built to run cleaner, which is a non-negotiable in our state.

Safety and Placement Are Key

Beyond emissions, local rules get very specific about where and how you can run a generator. This isn't just bureaucratic red tape—these regulations exist to prevent things like carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly.

Here are a few of the big ones to keep in mind:

• Distance is Your Friend: Never, ever run a portable generator inside your home, garage, or any enclosed area. It needs to be outdoors, at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents. That distance is critical to keep exhaust fumes from seeping inside.

• Keep It Dry: An outdoor generator needs protection from rain and snow. A good generator canopy or a purpose-built, ventilated enclosure is your best bet to keep it running safely.

• Mind the Noise: Most communities in California, especially residential areas in Los Angeles and Ventura County, have noise ordinances. Before you buy, check with your city or county for their specific decibel limits and quiet hours. You don’t want to be that neighbor.

Why Professional Installation for Standby Generators Is a Must

If you’re stepping up to a whole-home standby generator, the rules get even stricter. This is absolutely not a DIY project. In California, installing a standby generator requires permits and has to be done by licensed professionals to be considered safe and legal.

You’ll need a licensed electrician to install the automatic transfer switch (ATS). This is the brain of the system that safely disconnects your home from the utility grid before the generator turns on. It’s what prevents dangerous back-feeding, a situation that could seriously injure utility workers. Likewise, a licensed plumber must handle all natural gas or propane connections.

Trying to cut corners here is a bad idea. It will void your warranty and put your home at a massive risk of electrical fires or gas leaks. The only way to do it right is to work with certified local pros who know the codes inside and out.

Ready to find a safe, compliant generator that’s installed to the highest standards? Contact RC Generators and Electric today. Our licensed electricians ensure every single installation in Los Angeles and Ventura County meets all state and local codes, giving you true peace of mind.

Making Your Final Decision with Confidence

You've put in the work, crunched the numbers, and weighed the options. Now it’s time to bring it all together and pick the right generator for your California home with total confidence. The best decision is never about one single factor; it's about finding the perfect balance between your power needs and the practical realities of your property.

Think of this as more than just buying a piece of equipment. You're investing in an insurance policy against the unknown—a way to guarantee safety, comfort, and continuity for your family when the grid goes down.

Your Final Sanity Check

Before pulling the trigger, run through this quick mental checklist. It’s a simple way to confirm you’ve covered all the critical bases and are making a choice you’ll be happy with for years to come.

• Power Needs Confirmed: Did you calculate your total wattage requirements, making sure to account for the high starting draw of your biggest appliances? The generator you choose should comfortably handle that peak load.

• Generator Type Selected: Are you ready for the hands-on approach of a portable generator, or does the set-it-and-forget-it convenience of a standby system better match your lifestyle? Be honest with yourself here.

• Fuel Source Finalized: Do you have a solid plan for sourcing and safely storing fuel? Whether it's the endless supply of natural gas or the on-site reliability of propane, make sure it’s a choice you can depend on in an emergency.

• California Compliance Checked: This is a big one. Does the model you’re eyeing have clear CARB-compliant certification? In our state, this isn't optional—it's the law.

Remember, the goal isn't just to buy a generator. It's to build a reliable backup power solution. That includes professional installation, a maintenance plan, and knowing exactly what to do when an outage hits.

Choosing the right generator is a big decision, but it’s one that brings an incredible amount of peace of mind. By thinking through these key points, you can make sure your home is truly prepared for anything. For more deep dives and pro tips, feel free to explore our full library of articles on all things generators.

Ready to protect your home from the next outage for good? Our team of local experts is here to help. We can provide a personalized consultation to help you select and install the perfect generator, ensuring it's done right from day one. Call RC Generators and Electric now for a free estimate!

Common Questions About Choosing a Generator

After going over all the details, it's natural to still have a few questions floating around. We get it. To help clear things up, we’ve put together some of the most common questions we hear from California homeowners, with direct answers to help you feel totally confident in your choice.

How Much Maintenance Does a Generator Need?

That's a great question, because proper maintenance is what guarantees your generator will actually fire up when you need it most.

For a portable generator, the key is to run it for about 30 minutes every month. This keeps the engine parts lubricated and the battery charged. You’ll also want to keep an eye on the oil and use a fuel stabilizer if you plan on storing gasoline for a while.

A standby generator is a bit more hands-off, but it still needs some love. Most modern units from brands like Generac run a weekly self-test for 10-15 minutes to make sure everything is in working order. Beyond that, we strongly recommend a professional service at least once a year. A technician will change the oil, replace filters, and inspect all the electrical connections. It's a small investment that ensures it’s ready for any emergency.

Think of generator maintenance like changing the oil in your car. It’s a simple, preventative step that keeps a much bigger, more expensive problem from happening down the line. A well-maintained generator can easily last for 15-20 years.

Can I Install a Standby Generator Myself?

Here in California, the answer is a hard no. Installing a standby generator isn't a simple DIY project; it involves complex electrical wiring and often requires connecting to a natural gas line. For safety and legal reasons, this work must be done by a licensed electrician and, if needed, a licensed plumber.

Trying to install it yourself is incredibly dangerous. You're risking electrical fires, gas leaks, and even carbon monoxide poisoning. On top of that, a DIY job will void your generator's warranty and won't pass the required local inspections. Always hire a certified professional who knows the ins and outs of Los Angeles and Ventura County building codes.

How Loud Are Generators?

Noise is a totally valid concern, especially in tight-knit neighborhoods.

Portable generators are usually the loudest, often running between 70-80 decibels—that’s about as loud as a vacuum cleaner. The good news is that newer inverter models are much quieter, sometimes getting as low as 50-60 decibels.

Standby generators, on the other hand, are designed to be neighbor-friendly. Most modern units operate around 60-70 decibels, which is similar to the hum of a central air conditioner. Manufacturers have made huge strides with sound-dampening technology, so today’s models are a world away from the noisy machines of the past. Always check the decibel rating and your local noise ordinances before you buy.

Ready to get a generator that’s perfectly matched to your home, installed safely, and compliant with all California regulations? The licensed experts at RC Generators and Electric are here to help. We provide professional, code-compliant installations throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County.

Contact us today for a free consultation and personalized estimate!