While hurricanes are typically more severe in the southeastern United States, New Yorkers will still often experience heavy tropical storms during hurricane season. These storms can lead to loss of power, which is inconvenient for most of us and dangerous for some. Luckily, there are a lot of backup power options on the market that can provide supplemental power whenever the power goes out, whether it’s due to a storm or not, and hurricane season is the perfect reason to invest in one.
To help New Yorkers find the best generators for hurricane season, we are going to break down different types of generators and their capabilities, typical cost, and the maintenance required to keep them running when you need them. This way, property owners can understand exactly how much they need to invest to get what they need.
Best Generators for Hurricane Season in New York
The best generator option for your home during a hurricane depends on three factors:
- The number of appliances or rooms you need/want powered in the event of a hurricane
- The amount of time and frequency of power outages
- Your budget
There are also other factors like portability and fuel type, and we will cover those as well while we consider these three core points.
What Type of Generator is Best?
There are a few major types of generators: Compact, portable, and standby. The table below explains some of the core differences between the three:
| Wattage | 800 – 6,500 | 1,000 – 16,000 | 10,000 – 60,000+ |
| Power Use Case | A few select appliances | Up to 2-3 whole rooms | Most/whole home |
| Fuel Options | Solar/Gasoline | Gasoline/Propane | Natural Gas/Propane/Diesel Fuel |
| Portability | Portable | Portable | Stationary |
| Price Range | $200 – 1,500 | $400 – 7,500 | $3,000 – 30,000+ |
Compact Generators
Compact generators are convenient mixed-use generators that can be used for portable power when out and about camping, as well as in-home as a backup power source for a fridge and some lighting.
While you generally don’t want to rely on these for long-lasting power outages due to their limited wattage and fuel/energy capacity, they can be helpful in keeping food or temperature-controlled medications cold for a few hours at a time.
- Wattage: 800 – 6,500
- Power Use Case: A few select appliances
- Fuel Options: Solar/Gasoline
- Portability: Portable
- Price Range: $200 – 1,500
- Best For: Homes that only expect short power outages, only need one or two appliances covered in case of emergencies, and want a generator that can be used for recreational activities like camping, boating, etc.
Portable Generators
Portable generators are one of the most commonly used emergency generators, as their larger form factor provides better bang for the buck in terms of power output and energy capacity without giving up too much portability.
They also often come in dual-fuel options, making them extremely versatile. They can be used as backup power for multiple rooms over several hours on one tank of fuel, as long as you aren’t running too many major appliances together, but generally don’t supply enough power for whole-home coverage, especially if you’re looking to maintain your climate control/central air.
- Wattage: 1,000 – 16,000
- Power Use Case: Up to 2-3 whole rooms
- Fuel Options: Natural Gas/Propane/Diesel Fuel
- Portability: Portable
- Price Range: $400 – 7,500
- Best For: Homes that want to be prepared to keep a few highly-trafficked rooms powered for longer storms, and/or property owners looking to get the best bang for their buck on a tight budget in exchange for a larger form factor than compact options.
Standby Generators
Standby generators are the gold standard in home emergency power, replacing portability with high power output, direct access to home natural gas lines to avoid the need for fuel refills, and automated start-up to immediately provide backup power the moment a blackout begins.
They are stationary and significantly more expensive, but they can run a whole home if you purchase and install the correct size generator, including central air if you’re willing to invest more heavily.
- Wattage: 10,000 – 60,000+
- Power Use Case: Most/whole home
- Fuel Options: Gasoline/Propane
- Portability: Stationary
- Price Range: $3,000 – 30,000+
- Best For: Homes that experience more frequent power outages, larger homes that don’t want to settle for only a couple powered rooms during storms, and/or property owners that simply don’t want to fuss with refilling or turning on their backup power system, preferring a powerful “set it and forget it” option that will kick on automatically when they need it.
Choosing the Right Generator
Now that you understand what each generator type can do, it is important to understand how to make a final call on what generator is right for you. While the information above should equip you with all the information you need to make a decision on the type of generator you need, it can be difficult to understand which models offer what you need across such broad price ranges.
If you’re having trouble and want more specific data on pricing, power output options, fuel capacity, or anything else, contact our Strong Island Electric team. We can take you through the options and help you find the generator for your home, and even provide the installation services to ensure the best generators for hurricane season in New York are set up and ready to go when you need them.
Recommended Brands
If you just want some quick brand recommendations without having to call in, we have extensive experience with generators of all types and can offer some. At Strong Island Electric, we stand behind the brands we have installed in countless customers’ homes that have proven their reliability and cost-effective use over time.
These include:
- Generac
- Kohler
- Cummings
- Briggs & Stratton
Local Teams for Local Needs
To cater to customers in different areas, Skaggs-Walsh has local expert teams that specialize in the equipment our customers need. The team assigned to your service needs may vary based on your location, utilities, and current demand. You can expect the same great service from all of our electricians on our Strong Island Electric team, who are experienced in generator installations of all kinds.
Strong Island Electric For Generator Installation in New York
Superior service involves more than merely getting the job done. At Skaggs-Walsh, we deliver the products and benefits of a big company with the personal touch of a small local business. We give you the best of both worlds by combining premium materials, local workers, around-the-clock availability, and high-quality work.
Contact us today for more information on the best generators for hurricane season in New York.
