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Avatar for Chain O'Lakes Electric LLC
Chain O'Lakes Electric LLC
5.0(
16
)

Serving Ellsworth, MI and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2021

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"Great job by the electricians. They arrived early, called the boss and asked questions when they were not sure. Offered suggestions on how to bring the property up to code, identified the problem and installed a smart thermostat. Job well done."
Generator install
Generator install
Generator install
Generator install
Electrical projects

+14

Response time7 hrs
6 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by43%of homeowners
Avatar for Blue Waters Electric, LLC
Blue Waters Electric, LLC
4.2(
5
)

Serving Ellsworth, MI and surrounding areas

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Exceptional customer service. Always timely and knowledgeable with answering questions. Was able to schedule our new build very quickly and got the job done to a high standard. Highly recommend Blue Waters Electric!"
Response time2 hrs
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Grizzly Electric, LLC
1.3(
2
)

Serving Ellsworth, MI and surrounding areas

In business since 1995

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Grizzly Electric, LLC is a licensed and insured company committed to reducing energy cost and lowering energy bills for our customers while providing quality service. We serve the beautiful Grand Traverse area as well as Western and lower Michigan. Specializing in panel upgrades, generators, custom lighting, hot tubs, fixtures and much more. We offer flexible payments and affordable electrical services

Recess Cans
Carport Recess Cans
Generator Install questions, answered by experts

A home that is 2,500 square feet will likely need a 20kW to 25kW generator. Consult your local generator installer to confirm the generator size needed to power your home before purchasing a new one. Be sure to consider how much power your necessary devices need to run.

To determine the right size generator for your house, you should calculate the total wattage of the appliances and devices you want to power during an outage. List all essential items, note their start-up wattages, and add them together.

Here are some typical wattage requirements for common appliances:

  • Refrigerator: 600 watts

  • Large dehumidifier: 700 watts

  • Large window air conditioner: 1,400 watts

  • Water heater: 3,000 to 4,500 watts

  • Electric furnace: 5,000 to 25,000 watts

A 7,500-watt generator might be sufficient for essentials like a refrigerator, freezer, well pump, and lighting circuits. However, for high-demand items like a water heater or furnace, a whole-home generator is a better choice. A portable generator may be enough if you only need to power a few critical items.

While home square footage can offer a rough estimate, it is not always a reliable indicator. For reference, here are some typical generator sizes based on square footage:

  • 1,000 sq ft: 6–9 kW

  • 1,500 sq ft: 7–10 kW

  • 2,000 sq ft: 10–14 kW

  • 2,500 sq ft: 12–16 kW

  • 3,000 sq ft: 16–20 kW+

For the most accurate sizing, consult a professional who can calculate your home's peak and average power consumption and recommend the optimal generator.

A portable generator can supply power to selected appliances and circuits in a home, but it's generally not designed to handle the entire household's electrical needs simultaneously. Portable generators have limited wattage capacity, so they are only designed to power essential devices and electronics temporarily until local power is restored. If your power needs outweigh the capabilities of a portable generator, consider installing a whole-home generator instead.

To reduce AC startup power for a whole-house generator, install a soft start kit or hard start capacitor, which lowers the initial surge by gradually ramping up the compressor. Using a smart load manager can also help by staggering startup loads, preventing a system overload and future costly repairs.

The average cost to install a home generator is $5,200, but total costs can range from $500 to $18,000 or more. The final price depends on several factors, including the generator's size, type, brand, fuel source, and the cost of labor and assembly. The generator's size is the most significant cost factor, as units that can power larger homes with higher energy demands cost more.

Cost breakdowns by generator type are typically as follows:

  • Portable or Emergency Backup Generators (1kW–7.5kW): $500–$2,000

  • Partial-Home Generators (9kW–20kW): $2,000–$6,500

  • Whole-House Generators (22kW–48kW): $5,000–$18,000

To ensure you get the right size unit for your needs without overpaying, consider hiring an electrician to calculate the electrical load of your essential appliances. It is also recommended to get at least three quotes from qualified installers to find the best fit for your budget.

The Ellsworth, MI homeowners’ guide to generator installs

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.