Anyone who's spent a New England winter without power knows how miserable it can get. The right generator makes all the difference — but the right choice depends on your home, your budget, and how much inconvenience you're willing to tolerate during an outage.
Portable Generators: Pros & Cons
Portable generators are the lower-cost entry point. They run on gasoline and can power select appliances when connected via extension cords or a manual transfer switch. The trade-off is that they require you to be home, have fuel on hand, and physically start them when the power goes out — which isn't always convenient at 2am in a January ice storm.
- Pros: Lower upfront cost, moveable, no permanent installation required
- Cons: Must be started manually, requires storing gasoline, limited power output
Standby Generators: Set-It-and-Forget-It
A whole-home standby generator is permanently installed outside your home, connected to your natural gas or propane line, and wired into your panel via an automatic transfer switch. When the power goes out — even if you're away — it starts automatically within 10–30 seconds. You don't have to do anything.
- Pros: Fully automatic, runs on gas/propane (no refueling), can power your entire home
- Cons: Higher upfront investment than portable units, requires professional installation and permits
What Size Do You Need?
Generator output is measured in kilowatts (kW). A 10–14kW unit covers the essentials: sump pump, refrigerator, lights, and key outlets — enough to stay safe and comfortable. A 20–22kW unit can run your entire home including HVAC. The right size depends on what matters most to you during an outage. We help you work through that during the assessment process. We install and service generators throughout Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter, Rochester, Durham, Hampton, Somersworth, Newmarket, Stratham, and into Southern Maine — including South Berwick, Kittery, and York.