The first step before purchasing a generator is deciding how many starting watts you need. A generator’s capacity is measured in starting watts (also called surge watts) and running watts. The higher the surge wattage, the faster your appliance will start; however, it can only do so for a short amount of time. A generator could be too strong for your home if it has a maxed-out surge capacity and you would not be able to use all of your appliances.

Before shopping for an emergency generator, you should know the specifications of all of your home’s electrical appliances. A surge wattage calculator can determine what size generator is needed to power them all at once. When thinking about the installation of the best residential generators in Brooklyn, NY, it is important to think about future growth too – new appliances can affect the specifications of your system.