Expert Advice & Frequently Asked Questions

Load shedding is an automatic feature on some generator and transfer switch combinations that temporarily turns off lower-priority circuits when total home demand approaches the generator capacity limit, then restores...

A home with a heat pump requires a Generac generator of at least 22kW for whole-house coverage because heat pumps draw higher amperage than gas furnaces, particularly during defrost cycles...

A 22kW Generac generator can run a central air conditioner up to 4 tons, a gas furnace, a refrigerator and freezer, a well pump, a sump pump, all home lighting,...

Yes, a generator can power an electric stove or range, but it requires a generator of at least 22kW and ideally 24kW to 26kW because an electric range draws 8,000...

The Generac Guardian series is air cooled. All Guardian residential models from 10kW to 26kW use air-cooled G-Force engines that rely on ambient air flowing through the generator enclosure to...

To manually test a Generac generator, press the MANUAL or TEST button on the generator controller. The engine will crank and start, run at operating speed, and produce power output...

Yes. A generator to keep a freezer running during a power outage requires only 100 to 400 watts of running power per chest or upright freezer, making freezer protection one...

The wire gauge for a 240-volt circuit depends on the breaker amperage. A 20-amp 240V circuit requires 12 AWG wire. A 30-amp 240V circuit requires 10 AWG wire. A 40-amp...

An electric dryer requires a dedicated 240-volt, 30-amp circuit wired with 10/3 NM-B cable for new installations, paired with a 30-amp double-pole breaker and a NEMA 14-30 four-prong outlet. The...

A dishwasher requires a dedicated 120-volt, 20-amp circuit wired with 12/2 NM-B cable paired with a 20-amp single-pole breaker. NEC Section 210.11(C)(2) requires dishwashers on a dedicated circuit. Most dishwashers...

12 AWG wire is rated for 20-amp circuits and pairs with a 20-amp breaker. 10 AWG wire is rated for 30-amp circuits and pairs with a 30-amp breaker. Use 12...

An electric water heater rated at 4,500 watts or 5,500 watts requires 10/2 NM-B wire on a dedicated 240-volt, 30-amp double-pole circuit. A 4,500-watt, 240-volt water heater draws 18.75 amps....

A 22kW Generac generator on propane requires a minimum 500-gallon tank for extended outage coverage. At 50 percent load, the Generac 22kW consumes approximately 1.1 gallons of propane per hour....

A Generac generator that starts and then shuts off within seconds to minutes is typically experiencing one of four conditions: low oil pressure triggering the protective shutdown sensor, an overcrank...

To size a whole house generator, add the running wattage of every load that will be covered, then identify the largest simultaneous motor starting surge to check against the generator...

A 22kW Generac generator produces approximately 91.6 amps at 240 volts single-phase (22,000 watts divided by 240 volts equals 91.6 amps). This is why a 22kW generator pairs with a...

The Generac 14kW Guardian is the right choice for homes that only need essential circuit coverage: furnace, refrigerator, lighting, outlets, and well or sump pump, without central air conditioning. The...

A standby generator for a well water pump needs enough surge capacity to start the well pump motor reliably on every cycle throughout the outage. A standard 0.5 HP submersible...

The wire size for an air conditioner disconnect is determined by the nameplate Minimum Circuit Ampacity (MCA), not the unit wattage. If the AC nameplate shows MCA of 20 amps,...

A washing machine requires a dedicated 120-volt, 20-amp circuit wired with 12/2 NM-B cable and a 20-amp single-pole breaker. NEC Section 210.11(C)(2) requires laundry area receptacles to be on a...