Hurricane Season PSA: Your Generator Can Harm Your Air Conditioner!

You may have already heard, but the Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be “extremely active” in 2020, expecting as many as 25 named storms. With the amount of hullabaloo surrounding hurricanes in Louisiana, residents have good cause to worry about what will happen if they are left without power for weeks at a time. Year after year, Louisiana’s generator sales reflect the growing concern that hurricane season will leave many without power. But before you rush to purchase a generator, consult with a professional who will help you determine the right type of generator for your home. One of the biggest problems most people face while searching for generators is that they don’t know that the size and age of the generator can impact its efficiency and even damage the HVAC system! Hopefully, this blog will give you enough information to have an idea of which type of generator will work best for your home!

Types of Generators

Your choice of generator should depend largely on the size and location of your home. For homeowners, there are two types of generators that will be most useful for your needs: Portable and Whole-House (or Standby) Generators. There are many different generators that fall under these two broad categories, so it is beneficial to gather as much information as you can before you invest in your next generator.

Portable Generators

Portable generators typically run on gasoline, and you can take them (depending on their size) wherever you go! These types of generators are great for keeping the refrigerator running, and sometimes, if they are big enough, you can plug in a window unit to keep cool. These are great for camping or a brief emergency where you will only need them for a little while.

The Limitations of Portable Generators

While portable generators are useful in a pinch, they are not a long-term solution, due to their limitations. These setbacks can be attributed to three qualities:

• Gas Retention. The biggest setback with portable generators is that you must always keep gas on hand and should never refill your portable generator while it is running. Depending on the size of the gas tank, you may need to refill the generator every few hours, or even every hour, depending on the model. (What a hassle!)
• Because they are portable, these generators do not typically come with soundproof enclosures.
• Limited Power Supply. A portable generator simply does not have the power capabilities, or KW (Kilowatts) to support your whole home.

Whole House or Standby Generators

The Whole House Generator is the most popular style of generator, and it also comes with the most risks! If you invest in a Whole House Generator, proper installation done by an experienced electrician will help you save time and money. If the generator is installed incorrectly, you could experience unexpected malfunctions, tripped breakers, and a short lifespan.

Powering Your Home with a Whole House Generator

These generators usually run on Natural Gas and are tied directly to the house’s main electrical panel. These are the preferred generator option for the following reasons:

• Whole House or Home Standby generators have a switchover that detects when the electricity goes off, so the generator starts automatically. They will also often let you know when it is time for maintenance.
• Sizing Options. If you do everything right, you will acquire the services of a professional to evaluate your home and help determine the right generator for your needs. Thankfully, these generators come in a variety of sizes, so there is an option for every home.

Accurate sizing is especially important because an undersized generator can end up burning out your home appliances due to improper voltage. Imagine losing your refrigerator, freezer, TV, and computers just because your generator was the wrong size! Here is how you can prevent damage caused by an improperly sized generator.

Sizing Your Generator to Fit Your Home

All generators are sized in Kilowatts, or KW for short.  10 KW = 10 Kilowatts, 20 KW = 20 Kilowatts, 30 KW = 30 Kilowatts, etc.  Your electrician will need to look up all the specs on each appliance to know how many watts it uses. They will use this information to calculate how many Kilowatts your generator should be able to handle. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Your electrician must also consider longevity. If the KW calculations add up to 10 KW and you only install a 10 KW generator, there’s a chance that the unit will run at full blast nonstop and won’t last for very long. In this case, a slightly bigger generator is better because it accounts for any variance in Kilowatts.

• The Car Analogy. Your generator is similar to a car running at full throttle nonstop. If your car is constantly pushed to the limit of its ability, the motor will fail. However, if you run a car on the highway in cruise control at 70% power, then you can preserve your car’s capabilities, and it will have a longer lifespan.

This chart below will help you track utility Kilowatts and determine what size generator you should consider. Once you’ve added all of this up, you should multiply the final watts by 1.3 (30%) to give your generator necessary wiggle room.

How Does My Generator Affect My HVAC System and Air Conditioner?

Your HVAC system is the final piece of the puzzle. Air Conditioning systems use what we call Start Up Amp Draw. Simply defined: Your AC draws more electricity when it first starts than when it is running regularly. All appliances with motors have something like this, but your AC has the strongest Start up Amp Draw. When considering generator options, call your AC tech to add a Hard Start Kit and a Time Delay Relay to your outdoor unit.

• Hard Start Kit. This acts as a jump start for your AC unit, giving it a little more boost during the start up, so it doesn’t strain your generator.
• Time Delay Relay. This keeps the air conditioner off for five minutes to prevent short-cycling (turning on and off again quickly). By doing so, the Time Delay Relay protects your precious compressor.

In houses with multiple units, talk to your AC technician to stage them to come on at different times to reduce the strain of the generator. The following chart should give you a better idea as to the kind of generator that is right for your home and HVAC unit!

Appliance Usage List is an estimated wattage of electrical items in most homes.

Appliance                                              Wattage                        Appliance                                          Wattage

EX:  6000 watts x 1.3 = 7800 watts so you need a generator that produces at least 7.8 KW