Power outages can leave you without access to electricity. While options like backup battery systems can reduce carbon emissions and downtime during power outages, they are often expensive and need solar panels to charge.
For this reason, many people choose to have a whole house generator. How long a whole house generator can run continuously during an outage depends on many factors that we will discuss in this article. Some of these factors include the type of generator, the fuel source, and the amount of energy your home consumes.
How Long Can A Home Generac Generator Run Continuously?
Generac natural gas generators can run continuously, as long as they’re functional. Depending on your tank size and energy needs, Guardian propane models will run for 1.5 days up to 7 weeks. Protector models can run about 1 day up to 2 weeks. Diesel models can run for 1.5 days up to 10 weeks.
Just like a gas stove or furnace, a natural gas powered Generac standby generator will run for as long as it’s functional. While it’s recommended to shut the generator down frequently for maintenance, natural gas powered models can keep your home powered, even during an extended outage. One exception could be if your home losses it’s natural gas fuel supply.
On the other hand, tank powered Generac generators have a limited continuous run time. These models can only run for as long as you have fuel remaining in your fuel tank. This means smaller fuel tanks and higher energy needs will result in consuming your fuel supply faster. During an outage, you may need to have your fuel service provider refill your fuel tank.
This could be difficult if they are busy with other customers, if roads are blocked or inaccessible due to down trees or power lines, or area-wide fuel shortages. Some find peace of mind in having plenty of fuel on hand, while others find it in having an unlimited fuel supply via their home gas line.
How Long Can A Home Generac Generator Run On Natural Gas?
Of the 29 Generac home standby generators, 26 can connect directly to the natural gas main in your home, meaning it can run continuously for several months or longer in theory.
There are a couple of exceptions. As noted earlier, proper maintenance is important to keep your generator running properly. Generac generators are designed to run for a total of about 3000 hours of use in their lifetime, which is just over 4 months of collective running time. However, if your generator does not have regular maintenance it may not last the full 3000 hours of generator run time.
This may not sound like a lot, but the average home experiences only 7 hours of blackouts per year, according to the United States Energy Information Administration. In 2021, even extended power outages only ranged as high as 20-25 hours in Texas and Oregon, with the most extreme outages being 80 hours for the year in Louisiana.
At 7 hours per year and 3000 of total run time, the average standby generator should be able to run enough hours for your lifetime and then some, assuming it still runs properly.
Actually, standby generators could probably last longer than the rated 3000 hours of operation with routine maintenance. The opposite is also true. If they are not maintained properly, they may last less than 3000 hours.
In order to properly maintain the generator, it’s important to shut the generator off frequently. This will allow for an opportunity to check the oil level and replace as needed. As part of periodic maintenance, you’ll also want to check and clean the air filter.
Generac recommends changing both the oil and oil filter after either 200 hours of use, or 2 years, whichever comes first. This means if you are without power for about 8 days or so, you’ll want to shut the generator down to replace fuel and the oil filter.
Each generator is different, but it’s also a good idea to change the spark plugs after the amount of time specified. For Generac generators, its every 4 years or 400 hours of use, which is about 16-17 days of continuous use.
Of course, it’s always best to follow the instructions in the owners manual and refer to the Generac Maintenance Schedule for a comprehensive guide on maintaining your generator.
How Long Can A Home Generac Generator Run Off A Fuel Tank?
All Generac generators can connect to a fuel tank on your property. Depending on your tank size and energy needs, Guardian propane models will run for 1.5 days up to 7 weeks. Protector models can run about 1 day up to 2 weeks. Diesel models can run for 1.5 days up to 10 weeks.
The same 26 of 29 Generac home generators noted above can be configured to run on liquid propane instead of natural gas. In this case, you’ll need to have a propane fuel tank on your property to store propane. To run a generator, propane tank sizes suggestions range from as small as about 100 gallons up to very large tanks at 1000 gallons.
Generac Guardian models can run on half or full load and range from 7.5 kW models to 26 kW. At half load on a small tank, these propane generators will last between 1.5 and 5 days, depending on the model. At half load, these models will get as much as 48 days of run time on a large tank without needing to be refueled.
For a full load, a Generac Guardian models can run for about 1-3 days for a small tank and nearly 30 days on a very large tank.
Protector models consume more fuel per hour, as they have a higher power output. Models range from 25 kW up to 150 kW. With a small tank, Protector models may only last a day or less depending on the load its run at. If they are connected to a very large tank, they could last 1-2 weeks with a small load and 3-7 days at full load.
The remaining 3 models are diesel generators, so they will need to be connected to a fuel tank as well. Diesel generators can run on a small tank at a low load for about 4.5 to 7 days and high load for about 1.5 to 3 days. If a large tank is used, it can run for 6 to 10 weeks on a low load or 2 to 4 weeks on full load.
The amount of power you need will change from home to home, but in general you will likely not be able to power your entire home, unless you have a fairly large generator and fuel tank, or if your energy needs are low enough. You will however be able to power essential devices, such as refrigerators, pumps, computers, WiFi, lights, and possibly some air conditioning.
You may want to consider having solar power with a battery back up instead, if access to fuel is a concern for you. Not only is solar power a much cleaner option than a fuel powered generator, but it can be recharged indefinitely.
Unlike natural gas generators which could have issues with fuel lines during storms and propane tanks, which can run low and be difficult to refill during outages, solar panels will continue to output power, unless they are all significantly damaged.
Maintaining access to electricity is also important for avoiding food waste in refrigerators, minimizing temperature related medical issues, and being able to cook food in electric stoves or ovens.
This makes solar power with a battery backup an attractive option in place of fuel generators. Generac has some backup battery options, which compare nicely to other brands, such as Tesla’s Powerwall or Enphase.
How Long Can A Portable Generac Generator Run Continuously?
Generac’s portable generators have shorter run times than the standby generators. According to Generac spec sheets, portable generators will run for about 6-14 hours on 25% load and about 4.5-32 hours on half load. A typical runtime for half load for portable generators is about 10 hours. At full load it would be closer to 5 hours.
Portable generators may be able to provide you with decent coverage power during outages, however most models are not intended to be used for back up power. Instead, they are intended for use in remote locations, such as when camping, emergency situations, working on a construction site, or other outdoor uses that require power.
To make sure you are finding a generator that is best for your needs, check out the Generac product webpage. If you are looking for a home standby generator, you may be able to find installers in your area who can walk you through the benefits of each model. A 12000 watt generator is a popular option, but Generac does not make this size generator for standby power. In that case, you’ll need to consider the 14000 watt generator.
As with many major financial decisions for your home, it’s best to get multiple quotes from various companies to ensure you are betting the best option and price for your needs.
