Free sizing calculator
What size generator does your home need?
Check off what you want running when the power goes out. We'll recommend a Generac size in seconds. No amperage or wiring knowledge needed. Estimates are free.
Generac Authorized Dealer
Voted Best Electrician in the Hudson ValleyStart here
How much of your home do you want to back up?
Essential circuits uses a transfer switch with up to 16 circuits. Check off what you want running. We confirm the exact circuits, and how many your generator can carry, at your free estimate.
Step 1
Your home
Step 2
Heating and cooling
Step 3
Water
Step 4
Kitchen and laundry
Step 5
Extras
Free estimate
Get your free in-home estimate
Send us your result. A project manager reviews it and calls to set up a free visit to confirm the size and the spot.
Send your request from this calculator and get code GEN500: $500 off an approved generator install.
Not combined with other promotions running at the time.
Doing a generator and a mini-split? Send a request for both at the same time and go ahead with both, and you get $500 off each quote. Offers combine like this: one current site promotion plus one other offer, like a calculator code. Joining the TZ Signature Plan does not add more promotions on top.
Outages happen here
Hudson Valley power outages are a real, local problem
When the grid goes down, it can be days before power is back, especially on rural roads and up the mountain. A standby generator kicks on by itself within seconds, whether you're home or not.
38,000+
Central Hudson customers were out of power at once after a single storm on July 3, 2025. That was about 12% of its customers, from Germantown to Garrison, with Woodstock, West Shokan and West Hurley hit hardest.
7 years
in a row, NYSEG has missed New York State's target for how often its customers lose power, according to the NYS Department of Public Service in June 2026.
Sources: Hudson Valley One, July 3, 2025; NYS Department of Public Service, June 2026.
Outage cost check
What would a power outage cost you?
Check what applies to your home. The costs add up fast, and a standby generator protects against them.
This outage could cost you
For a 3-day outage.
- Spoiled food (fridge and freezer)$300
- Hotel and eating out (3 days)$675
- Basement water cleanup$3,500
Typical Hudson Valley costs, for illustration. Your actual costs depend on your home, insurance and the season.
Propane run-time calculator
How long will your propane tank run your generator?
Pick a generator size and your tank, and see how long you'd have power in a long outage. Most homes run around half load. Full load is everything on at once.
Generator size
How much are you running?
Your tank would last about
A 22 kW generator at half load, with about 400 gallons of usable propane, running 24 hours a day.
Half load
2.45 gal/hr
59 gal/day, 6.8 days
Full load
3.71 gal/hr
89 gal/day, 4.5 days
Fuel use from Generac's published specs for current air-cooled Guardian models. Generac calls for a propane tank of at least 250 gallons, and tanks are typically filled to about 80%. Real-world use varies with load and weather. Ask us about a tank monitor so you always know your level.
Before your visit
Where will your generator go?
Take a walk around your home with these typical guidelines in mind. It helps you pick a spot you're happy with and makes your visit faster. Every home and model is different, so our team checks the exact spot against code, the manufacturer's install manual and your utility's rules.
5 ft
Away from windows and doors
At least 5 feet from any window, door or vent, or anywhere air can get into the home.
18 in
Off the house wall
It sits about 18 inches out from the wall, which leaves room for the gas and electrical connections.
5 ft
Open space above
About 5 feet clear above the top of the unit. No spots under decks, overhangs or tight spaces.
Away from propane tanks
Keep it clear of propane tanks and other ignition sources. We measure the distance code requires at your visit.
Away from bedrooms
Today's generators are insulated and run fairly quietly. Still, the farther from bedrooms, the better.
Closer means lower cost
Shorter connections cost less to install. For essential circuits, closer to your main panel is best. For whole home, closer to your electric meter is best.
Have propane? Meet in the middle
Look for a spot between your panel or meter and the propane tank. That keeps both connections short and the cost down.
Financing, service and peace of mind
Check on it from your phone
New Generac generators are Wi-Fi connected, so you can see your generator's status anytime from your phone.
Financing that fits
Financing through Wisetack (terms from 3 to 60 months) and Synchrony (promotional financing), on approved credit. See financing.
Want longer terms? TZ Signature Plan members get access to extended financing on new systems, if they qualify. See the TZ Signature Plan.
Generator maintenance plans
Regular service keeps your generator ready for the next outage. See our generator maintenance plans.
Generac Authorized Dealer
We install and service Generac generators, so you're covered long after install day.
Outages happen here
We do both generators and mini-splits
When the power goes out in winter, a home without heat gets cold fast. Even a smaller generator can back up a mini-split, so you always have a warm room to stay in until the lights come back.
Doing a generator and a mini-split? Send a request for both at the same time and go ahead with both, and you get $500 off each quote.
Offers combine like this: one current site promotion plus one other offer, like a calculator code. Joining the TZ Signature Plan does not add more promotions on top.
Common questions
What size generator do I need for a 2,000 sq ft home?
For whole-home backup, most 2,000 to 2,500 sq ft homes in this calculator come out at 18 to 22 kW. Central air, an electric range or an EV charger push it higher. Essential-circuit setups are often 14 to 18 kW. Use the calculator above for your home, and we confirm the size at a free in-home estimate.
What's the difference between essential circuits and whole home?
Essential circuits uses a transfer switch with up to 16 circuits you choose, like the well, heat, fridge and lights, and is limited to about 70 amps of load. Whole home covers every circuit in the house through a transfer switch at your meter or main panel.
Can I run my EV charger, hot tub or electric stove on a generator?
Yes, with a whole-home setup. These big loads don't fit on an essential-circuit switch. We pair them with load management modules so you can stay on an air-cooled generator instead of a much larger liquid-cooled unit.
What are load management modules?
They pause a big appliance for a moment when the generator is busy, then turn it back on. They let a smaller, more affordable generator safely run a larger home.
Should my generator run on propane or natural gas?
Either works. Natural gas is the simplest if you already have it. With propane, tank size and placement matter. We size the tank and plan the connection at your free estimate.
Can I check on my generator from my phone?
Yes. New Generac home generators are Wi-Fi connected, so you can see their status at any time from your phone. Our generator maintenance plans also include remote monitoring options.
Is financing available?
Yes. Financing through Wisetack (terms from 3 to 60 months) and Synchrony (promotional financing), on approved credit. Want longer terms? TZ Signature Plan members get access to extended financing on new systems, if they qualify.
How long will my propane tank run my generator?
It depends on the generator size, how much you run and how full the tank is. Use the propane run-time calculator on this page with Generac's published fuel use. Generac calls for a tank of at least 250 gallons, and tanks are usually filled to about 80%.