Wattage (kW): defines how many appliances/systems a generator can power at once — from essentials (fridge, lights, pump) to full-home loads (HVAC, laundry, kitchen, etc.). (A&E Heating and Cooling)
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): measures power “cleanliness.” Low THD (< 5 %) delivers stable, safe electricity for sensitive electronics (smart devices, CPAP, routers, laptops). (A&E Heating and Cooling)
Sound rating (dB): real-world noise levels. ~50–60 dB ≈ dishwasher in another room; 60–70 dB ≈ normal conversation. Placement, distance, landscaping, and run-cycles affect perceived noise. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
Load handling / load management: ability to manage simultaneous or surge loads (e.g. well-pump startup + heat-pump + kitchen). Good load handling prevents overloads or brownouts when multiple devices cycle on. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
Anything beyond those four is mostly marketing — don’t get distracted by extra bells and whistles. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
| Use Case | Wattage (kW) | THD | Sound (dB) | Load Handling / Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials only (fridge, lights, outlets) | 7–11 kW | < 12% | 65–75 dB | Basic surge capability (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
| Essentials + heating (heat pump / furnace) | 11–14 kW | < 10% | 60–70 dB | Surge support, light load management (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
| Rural with well-pump demands | 14–18 kW | < 8% | 60–70 dB | Strong surge response (well pumps start high load) (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
| Full “live-normally” home (kitchen, HVAC, laundry, lights) | 18–24 kW | < 5% | 58–68 dB | Good automatic load management + surge overhead (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
| Large homes / heavy simultaneous use | 24–30+ kW | < 5% | 58–65 dB | Advanced load balancing + surge capacity (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
| Sensitive-electronics-heavy (smart homes, home offices, medical devices) | Any sized to load — but THD & clean power is critical | < 5% | 60–70 dB preferred | Stable, clean, balanced output (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
| HOA / small-lot / noise-sensitive neighborhoods | 11–18 kW typical | < 8% | < 65 dB preferred | Quiet operation + modest load capacity (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
| Homes planning remodels / HVAC upgrades / EV charging / expansion | 18–26 kW recommended | < 5% | 60–70 dB | Built-in surge overhead and growth capacity (A&E Heating and Cooling) |
Wattage first — ensures capacity meets real demand (not just marketing claims). (A&E Heating and Cooling)
THD second — guarantees clean, stable power for modern electronics. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
Noise rating third — ensures comfort, compliance with neighbors or HOA, and avoids nighttime disruption. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
Load handling last — ensures the unit responds reliably when multiple high-load devices start simultaneously. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
This cuts through brand-to-brand marketing and focuses you on the specs that matter for real-world usage — especially in Oregon & Washington environments. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
Many homes here rely on well pumps, heat pumps, HVAC, and seasonal storms/outages. Spec-accurate generator sizing avoids food spoilage, water interruption, or heating loss.
Rural or semi-rural properties might need strong surge capacity (e.g. for well pumps) — undersized or poor-quality generators can fail when demand spikes.
Sensitive electronics are common (smart homes, remote work, medical devices) — they need clean, stable power (low THD).
Shared-wall, HOA, or small-lot neighborhoods benefit from low-noise units to avoid disturbing neighbors.
Future-proofing: remodeling, EV chargers, expanded HVAC or home additions require capacity and load handling overhead.
The guide is published by a company with 17+ years of experience serving homeowners across Oregon and Washington (including the Columbia River Gorge, Portland/Gresham Metro). (A&E Heating and Cooling)
It emphasizes plain-English, actionable spec translation — not marketing hype — which builds credibility and clarity. (A&E Heating and Cooling)
Spec thresholds and use-case mappings reflect realistic Pacific Northwest home power needs, not generic national averages.