How to Choose the Right Generator for Your Home?

Have you ever been stuck in a power outage and wondered just how long you’re going to sit in the dark? Maybe you light every candle you own, grab a flashlight, and start rationing your phone battery. It’s like the apocalypse. Yep, I’ve been there.

Darling, have you bought that generator? Huh?

In fact, just recently here in Seattle, a huge windstorm knocked out power for over 700,000 people. But Trooper Johnson says that was only a fraction of the windstorm’s aftermath. Whole neighborhoods went dark, fallen trees everywhere, power lines down, some homes even got hit directly. We’re still repairing some of those. It was chaos.

So, the big question is, how do you keep the lights on when Mother Nature decides to flip the switch? Today, we’re talking generators—what they are, the different types, and whether you should consider one for your home. Spoiler alert: if you’ve ever said “never again” while eating cold leftovers in the dark, this one’s for you.

Hey, I’m Charlie with Armada Design and Build here in Bellevue. Around here, we don’t just remodel homes. We also help families get prepared for real life. And nothing’s more real than sitting in the dark during a windstorm wondering if your ice cream is melting—which it is, of course. So, the first thing I want to talk about: the types of generators. Portable generators and permanent generators.

First, we’ll start with the most common type—the portable generator. As the name suggests, you can move them around. Pull them out of the garage, wheel them into the driveway, plug it in, fire it up, and boom, you’ve got power. Most run on gasoline, though some can run on propane or even natural gas. They’re super versatile. You can power just a couple of lights and the fridge, or you can go bigger and run most of the house. It all depends on the size of the generator. The tri-fuel option is great.

This is a true story: once when I was out of town, my 16-year-old daughter had to set it up during a storm. And guess what? She did it in no time. House lit up, fridge running, Wi-Fi back on, crisis averted. I just had to direct her over the phone. Very good. I like to think of it as the ultimate teen survival badge.

Now, the pricing. What do these things cost? Smaller models start around $1,000, while the larger ones big enough to run most of your home are easily $3,000, $4,000, even $5,000. Still a whole lot cheaper than a fridge full of spoiled groceries and a hotel bill when your house goes dark, plus all the inconvenience.

The second type I want to talk about today are permanent generators. These are installed outside and always there. They’re the heavy hitters—the ones hardwired into your home that kick in automatically the second the power drops. That’s called an automatic transfer switch. It reads the meter, boom, it comes on. They usually run on your home’s natural gas supply, or propane if you don’t have gas. And the beauty is you don’t have to do anything. The moment the power drops, they take over. A few seconds later, it’s like nothing ever happened. Lights, heat, fridge, even your morning coffee machine—it all keeps running. And when the power company finally restores the grid, your generator shuts itself off, flips back over to the incoming power, and you’re done. Very seamless.

I actually installed one of these for my elderly neighbor a few years ago right next door. For him, it’s been a total game changer. He doesn’t have to worry about fumbling with gas cans or pulling cords in the middle of a storm. He just hears a click and the house keeps humming. That’s real peace of mind.

Now, these permanent built-in automatic transfer generators are definitely more of an investment. Depending on the size of your house and the size of the generator you want, you’re probably looking at $7,000 to $10,000 installed, easily up to $20,000 depending on how much you want to run. But if you live in an area where outages happen regularly, that’s money well spent in my opinion.

So, how do you decide? Here’s the simple breakdown. If you want something a little more affordable, a little more flexible, and you don’t mind a bit of hands-on setup—you’ve got to go out, fire it up, hook it up, the whole process—then you go portable. If you want zero hassle, automatic peace of mind, and never lifting a finger in the middle of a storm, go permanent.

Think of it like this. A portable generator is like owning a trusty SUV—it’ll get you through the storm if you’re willing to drive it. A permanent generator is more like autopilot—you don’t even have to touch the wheel.

At the end of the day, whether you pick a portable or a permanent generator, having one keeps your home running when it matters most. No cold dinners, no spoiled food, no sitting in the dark playing board games by candlelight. Unless you actually like that sort of thing—in which case, you don’t need a generator.

Here at Armada Design and Build, we don’t just design beautiful kitchens and remodel bathrooms. We also help make your home safer and more reliable. If you’re thinking about getting a generator, we can walk you through the options, recommend the best fit for your home and your budget, and handle the installation. Don’t wait until the next big storm leaves you powerless. Call Armada today, and let’s make sure your home is always ready for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.

And hey, if this was helpful, hit the like button, subscribe for more home tips, and drop a comment below. Would you rather have a portable generator you can move around, or a permanent one that runs automatically? I’d love to hear what you guys think. Thank you very much. See you in the next one.