How Much Propane Does a Generator Use?

Written on: September 2, 2024

When you run your home with propane, you’ll find there a lot of benefits, but one of the most important is that you can use propane to power a whole-house generator. When storms or extreme weather causes power outages, a stand-by generator turns on automatically, and can run key equipment or everything in your home. As extreme weather becomes a year-round problem in our state, having a source of backup power is a necessity, not a luxury. Outages are more frequent and can last longer. During extreme cold or extreme heat situations, a power outage can be deadly, not just inconvenient.

When we are talking to customers looking to purchase a standby generator, the most common questions are about how much propane it will use and how long a supply of propane will last while powering a generator.

Propane Usage

As a rule of thumb, you should expect a propane-powered generator to burn 2 to 3 gallons an hour. That means an average 5 kw stand-by generator will run for one to two days on a 100-gallon propane tank. A 500-gallon tank would keep the same generator running for 7 to 10 days. Most homes have storage tanks that are 100 to 500 gallons. The size of your propane storage tank will depend on the size of your home and what appliances and equipment you run on propane.

Pico’s equipment experts will talk to you about your needs to ensure you choose a generator that can handle the desired emergency electrical power requirements of your household. And when you’re a Pico customer, you know you’ll always have reliable propane deliveries. And if you sign up for our Keep-Full automatic delivery service, we’ll make sure you’re full before a bad forecast.

Size Matters

The main factor to determine what size generator you need is the electric load you require to get you through an emergency. Powering everything—100% load—will require a much bigger generator, and will use a lot more propane. Ask yourself what is essential: medical equipment, lights, refrigerator, sump pump, furnace fan, security system, TV/computers. But keep in mind those high-wattage items, the equipment that will use a lot of propane to run, such as air conditioning, heating, clothes dryer, water heater, oven/stove.
Our team can help you create a zone, such as the kitchen, that is fully powered during an outage, so you can stay moderately comfortable while making your propane supply last longer.

Generators come in a range of sizes and prices; a small, easy-to-place 8-kilowatt (kW) unit, for example, can operate power essentials such as lights, refrigerator, TV, and other small appliances. A large 25 kW commercial-grade generator, on the other hand, can easily run an HVAC system in addition to those smaller items.

The Bottom Line

The only downside to a backup generator is that it costs a bit more than a portable gas-fueled generator. But, when you do the math, the investment usually pays for itself quickly compared to dealing with the expense (and hassle) of a power outage—especially if your neighborhood is prone to them. Another thing: According to Consumer Reports, a properly installed whole-house generator can increase the value of your home by as much as 5%. That’s a great return on your investment, before you ever need to use it.

Have questions about how a whole-house generator can provide peace of mind? We sell and install generators from Kohler and Generac, and our experts can answer all your questions. Stop by our showroom or contact us any time. We’re here to help!