Whole House Generator Sizing Guide for North Carolina Homes
Hurricanes on the coast, ice storms in the Piedmont, summer thunderstorms everywhere: North Carolina loses power often enough that a whole house generator has become a mainstream upgrade. Sizing is where most homeowners get confused, so here is the simple version.
Step 1: List your must-run loads
Refrigerator, freezer, well pump, sump pump, furnace blower or heat pump, medical equipment, lighting, Wi-Fi and a few outlets are the essentials for most families.
Step 2: Decide on whole-house or essential circuits
An essential-circuit setup with a smaller generator and a transfer switch covering 10 to 16 circuits is the budget option. Whole-house backup with a 22 to 26 kW unit and a 200 amp automatic transfer switch runs everything, including central air.
Step 3: Account for motor starting
Air conditioners and well pumps draw several times their running current at startup. Modern Generac and Kohler units manage this with load shedding, but sizing still matters.
Typical sizes
- 14 kW: essentials plus a small AC
- 18–20 kW: most 3-bedroom homes with one AC
- 22–24 kW: larger homes, two HVAC systems
- 26 kW+: large homes, pools, EV charging during outages
What installation involves
Concrete or composite pad, generator placement per code clearances, automatic transfer switch, electrical connection, coordination with your propane or natural gas provider, permit, inspection and startup. See generator installation for details, or jump to your city, for example generator installation in Greensboro or Fayetteville.
Portable generator owners
Never backfeed through a dryer outlet. A manual transfer switch or interlock kit with an inlet box is inexpensive and keeps linemen and your family safe.
Questions? Call (888) 592-6466 for a free sizing consultation.