Generator Checklist

No matter what part of the country you live in weather outages and brown outs that take you off the electrical grid are always a possibility. The consequences become more serious when you lose electrical power for more than a day at a time. A portable gas generator that powers your critical electrical appliances can be a simple solution to a perilous problem. Our portable generator FAQ will answer some of your questions.

Here is a simple checklist to use to help in choosing the correct generator to protect your home and your family from electricity outages, or to power a camping trip or tailgating party.

• Determine your wattage needs. Determine how much wattage you need to power the electrical appliances you care about. For help, try our What Size Generator Do I Need worksheet. If you decide to purchase a portable generator, don’t forget that in most cases you will also need a transfer switch to safely power the circuits in your home.

• Understand electrical terms. You’ll see a lot about watts, volts, amps and more. This glossary of terms will make it more clear.

• Standby or portable? A portable gas generator is almost always the best choice for brief emergency power, camping and tailgating but considering your budget, convenience, and power needs, a natural gas or propane powered standby generator may be more suitable for you. See our Standby Generator FAQ.

• Survey home power issues. Locate your existing electrical service panel and gas line to target any potential problems before buying a generator. Portable generators should be used with a transfer switch to power electrical appliances that are hard wired into your house circuits, like a furnace fan.

• Perform product comparisons. Compare power outputs, run times, and prices, as well as what’s included in those prices, such as accessories, warranties, support and installation.

• Determine financing options. Some retail stores offer financing options for generator purchases. Amazon offers FREE Super Saver Shipping and provides no interest financing on select items. When shopping our online generator store special shipping and financing options are displayed from the shopping cart. You are not committed to purchasing any item you place in your shopping cart and you do not have to enter credit card information to view your shopping cart.

• Consider included items. Does the generator come with warranty or maintenance package? What about a power cord, oil, wheels, and funnel? Here are some generator accessories.

• Consider additional costs. How much more will it cost for installation by a qualified professional? Will you need an accessory like a cover for protection from the elements or a transfer switch?

• Establish your budget. Generator prices fall across a wide range, so determining how much you’d like to spend is important.