If you’re thinking about installing a whole home generator for your Fort Wayne area home, you’re in the right place. Doc Dancer Plumbing, Heating, AC & Generators is one of the most experienced generator installers in Allen County.
But as you start looking into it, one of the first questions that always comes up is: how big of a generator do I need to run everything in my house?
There’s a lot that goes into figuring that out, and in this blog, we’ll walk you through what to consider so you can choose the right home standby generator and feel confident you’re fully covered.
How a Whole Home Generator Works
Before we dive into generator sizing, it helps to understand how a whole house generator works and what it’s designed to handle when your power goes out.
A home standby generator is permanently installed outside your home, usually in a spot similar to where a central AC unit is or would go. It’s connected directly to your home’s electrical panel through a transfer switch, which automatically kicks on during a power outage. Once activated, the generator runs on natural gas or propane and produces the power your home needs to keep everything running until utility service is restored.
Smaller standby generators are designed to cover just the essential items—things like your refrigerator, lights, sump pump, and maybe a few other circuits. But a properly sized whole house generator can power your complete home, including your HVAC system, kitchen appliances, water heater, medical equipment, electronics—everything you depend on day-to-day.
This is exactly why getting the size right is so important. If your generator isn’t large enough, it simply won’t be able to keep up with your home’s full power demands when you really need it. The larger the generator capacity, the more of your home it can handle during an outage. Smaller units work well for basic emergency needs, but larger systems provide full backup power for complete peace of mind.
What Size Generator Do I Need for My Whole House? Key Factors to Consider
Choosing the right size whole house generator depends on your home, your needs, and what you expect your generator to handle during a power outage. Here are some key considerations for your generator installation in Fort Wayne:
The Bigger the House, The More Power You’ll Need
The larger your home, the more things there are drawing electricity—more rooms, lights, outlets, and devices. A smaller home might get by with an 11kW to 14kW standby generator, while a larger two-story home with multiple bedrooms, living spaces, and finished basements may need something in the 20kW to 24kW range to cover the full load.
More Appliances Mean More Power
Every appliance you want running during an outage adds to your generator’s load. Things like your refrigerator (600-800 watts), freezer (500-700 watts), electric stove (2,000-5,000 watts), washer and dryer (1,500-5,000 watts), sump pump (1,000 watts), and water heater all pull a lot of power, especially when they start up. The more of these you want running at once, the more capacity your whole house generator will need.
Heating and Cooling Are Big Energy Users
Your heating and air conditioning systems are some of the biggest energy users in your home. A typical central AC unit may need 3,000-5,000 watts to run, with a higher surge when starting up. If you want your HVAC system to keep running comfortably during an outage, that can easily add several thousand watts to your sizing calculation.
Special Equipment Can Bump Up Your Power Needs
If you rely on a well pump (around 1,000-2,000 watts), medical equipment, or work-from-home electronics like servers or home offices, you’ll need to include those, too. Even smaller loads can add up quickly if you’re trying to power everything at once.
Larger systems do cost more upfront to install, but having the right size backup generator keeps your whole house running during an outage. That extra investment can help you avoid costly damage to appliances, your HVAC system, and food spoilage. More importantly, it gives you the comfort, safety, and peace of mind of knowing your home stays fully functional no matter how long the power is out.
How to Size a Home Generator
Now that you know what affects the size, let’s talk about how to determine how much power your home will need during a power outage. While working with a professional is always best, here’s a simple way you can start estimating:
- Make a full list of what you want to power. Write down every essential you want running during an outage—your refrigerator, sump pump, furnace, air conditioner, water heater, well pump, lights, outlets, kitchen appliances, and any medical or work-from-home equipment.
- Check each item’s wattage. You’ll often find this on an appliance’s label or user manual.
- Account for starting (surge) wattage. Many appliances need extra power when they first turn on—sometimes double or triple their running wattage. Be sure to include these surge numbers in your total.
- Add everything together for the total load. Add both the running wattage and surge wattage to see your total generator capacity needs.
- Leave room for safety. You never want your whole house generator running at 100% capacity nonstop. Leave an extra cushion so your backup generator isn’t strained, which helps it last longer and run more reliably.
Just randomly guessing at generator size can leave you underpowered when you need it most. A professional load calculation looks at your home’s total electrical demand, accounts for how appliances start and run, and ensures your generator can safely power your entire home without overloading or shutting down. Getting expert help means your system is properly sized, safe, and fully ready in the event of an outage.
Doc Dancer Can Expertly Size and Install Your Whole Home Generator
At Doc Dancer Plumbing, Heating, AC & Generators, we help Fort Wayne homeowners get the right whole-house generator for their homes. We install trusted brands like Honeywell® and Generac®, carefully sizing your system based on your actual power needs. Our team handles everything—professional installation, proper location setup, and code-compliant wiring so your system operates safely from day one.
After the install, we also provide full generator maintenance and repair services to keep your system running smoothly for years to come. We know you want the peace of mind and security that comes with reliable backup power—and when you work with Doc Dancer, you get all that and more, knowing our team can handle all of your generator needs.
Request a Quote for Your Generator Installation in Fort Wayne, IN
Generator capacity is something you have to get right, or frankly, it’s not worth it. You’re spending real money to protect your home, so make sure you’re fully covered by hiring knowledgeable generator installers, like Doc Dancer, who can properly size your system.
Contact Doc Dancer today to request a custom quote for your whole house generator installation in Fort Wayne, IN. We can schedule quickly and do great work, guaranteed!