When the power goes out, it can cause significant disruptions to your daily life. From food spoilage and loss of heating or cooling to damage to electronic devices, power outages can be costly. That’s where whole house portable generators come in — they are designed to provide reliable backup power to keep your home functional and comfortable during emergencies.
Whole house generators are capable of powering essential appliances, lights, and even HVAC systems, ensuring your family can ride out the outage with minimal disruption. When considering a portable generator for home backup, it’s essential to factor in key features such as fuel type, wattage capacity, runtime, and ease of operation.
Top Portable Generators for Whole House Backup Power
| Generator Model | Links |
|---|---|
| Westinghouse 14500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Generator | Amazon Link |
| Westinghouse 28000 Peak Watt Home Backup Generator | Amazon Link |
| Westinghouse 12500 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator | Amazon Link |
| Westinghouse 13500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Generator | Amazon Link |
| Generac Guardian 10kW Home Standby Generator | Amazon Link |
1. Westinghouse 14500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Generator
The Westinghouse 14500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Generator is one of the most versatile options for homeowners in need of reliable backup power. This model is capable of running on three types of fuel: gasoline, propane, and natural gas, offering great flexibility based on what is available or most cost-effective.
With 14,500 peak watts and 11,500 running watts when using gasoline, this generator is powerful enough to keep a large home running during an outage, including lighting, refrigerators, and other essential appliances. One of the most appealing aspects of this generator is its impressive runtime of up to 19 hours when running on gasoline, meaning you can power your home for a long stretch without needing to refuel.
The generator also comes with a remote start feature for easy operation, as well as multiple outlets to accommodate various devices.
2. Westinghouse 28000 Peak Watt Home Backup Generator
For those who need even more power, the Westinghouse 28000 Peak Watt Home Backup Generator is an excellent choice. With a peak wattage of 28,000 and running wattage of 20,000, this generator can provide substantial backup power for larger homes or homes with higher energy demands. It’s capable of running larger appliances like air conditioners, water heaters, and more without strain.
Running on gasoline, the Westinghouse 28000 Peak Watt Generator offers a runtime of up to 11 hours at 50% load, making it a solid choice for extended use. While it doesn’t offer as long a runtime as some other models, its high power output makes it a standout option for homeowners with significant power needs.
This generator also features easy-to-use controls and multiple outlets for connecting various devices.
3. Westinghouse 12500 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator
The Westinghouse 12500 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator offers a great balance of power and fuel flexibility. With a peak wattage of 12,500 watts and running wattage of 9,500 watts, this model is ideal for homeowners looking to power a variety of essential devices during an outage.
The dual fuel capability allows you to run the generator on either gasoline or propane, depending on availability and preference. This makes it particularly useful for homes that may have one fuel type more readily accessible than the other. Additionally, it offers a runtime of up to 12 hours, providing extended power without frequent refueling.
Thanks to its portable design, this generator can be easily moved around and stored, making it a flexible and convenient option.
4. Westinghouse 13500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Generator
Another great option for those who want the flexibility of multiple fuel sources is the Westinghouse 13500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Generator. With the ability to run on gasoline, propane, or natural gas, this model gives you the flexibility to choose the most convenient or cost-effective fuel option depending on your circumstances.
With 13,500 peak watts and 10,500 running watts on gasoline, this generator can power essential appliances in your home. The up to 19 hours of runtime on gasoline is an impressive feature, ensuring that you can keep your home powered for a long time without needing to refuel. Whether you’re using it to power lights, refrigerators, or HVAC systems, this generator can handle the load.
Like other Westinghouse models, this generator is easy to operate, with a remote start feature for added convenience.
5. Generac Guardian 10kW Home Standby Generator
If you’re looking for a home standby generator that automatically kicks in during a power outage, the Generac Guardian 10kW Home Standby Generator is a reliable option. With 10,000 watts of power, this generator can provide backup power for essential appliances in smaller homes or homes with lower power needs.
Unlike portable generators, which require manual start-up, the Generac Guardian 10kW is an automatic backup system that kicks in as soon as it detects a power failure. It runs on natural gas or LP gas, and while its wattage is lower compared to other models, it’s still more than capable of keeping your home powered during an outage.
One of the benefits of this standby generator is that it doesn’t require the manual effort of starting the generator in the middle of an outage. Once installed, it works automatically to ensure your home remains powered without intervention.