Just Lived Through an Outage? What Your Experience Says About the Generator You Need

If you have lived through a power outage that happened recently or in the past, you already know more about your generator needs than any online calculator can tell you. Maybe the refrigerator warmed up, the sump pump went quiet, or the house turned unbearably hot while the window units sat dead. Those moments show what your household can’t go without.

At Boudreaux’s Electrical Services, Inc., your local PowerPro GENERAC dealer, we help families turn that experience into a plan. This short buying guide covers the questions we hear most.

What Size Generator Do I Need?

“What size generator do I need?” is the first question, and the answer starts with your outage. Think about what you missed most:

• Essentials only: refrigerator, lights, internet, a few outlets, and a window AC or furnace fan.
• Comfort and convenience: central air conditioning, the water heater, the range, and the well pump or sump pump.
• Whole-home: everything, including a second AC unit, pool equipment, or a workshop.

Sizing comes down to adding up running watts, then accounting for the higher starting surge that motors need, especially air conditioners. Under-sizing the generator will cause it to struggle or trip {shut-down}. Oversize it and you spend more than you need to. A load calculation done at your home gives you the right number the first time.

Do I Need an Air-Cooled or Liquid-Cooled Generator?

“Do I need an air-cooled or liquid-cooled generator?” depends mostly on your load and how you’ll use it.

Air-cooled Generac standby generators are compact, cost-effective, and a good fit for many homes. They typically cover essential circuits or a moderately sized home when the loads are managed with smart load shedding.

Liquid-cooled generators work like a car engine, with a coolant system. They’re built for larger homes and heavier loads, and for long outages where durability matters. They generally cost more up front, but they’re the right tool for bigger power demands.

Neither one is better in every case. The right choice is the one that matches your home.

Generator Fuel Source Options: Propane, Natural Gas, Diesel

Fuel choice affects cost, convenience, and how long you can run. Here are the generator fuel source options:

• Natural gas: If you have a utility line, you get a continuous supply with no tank to refill. It’s the most convenient option for many homes. Since it relies on utility infrastructure, it’s worth discussing during planning.
• Propane: Stored in an on-site tank, so you control your own supply. It stores well and suits homes without natural gas service or people who want fuel independence.
• Diesel: Common for larger commercial and industrial units, with a high energy content per gallon. Fuel does need to be rotated and maintained over time.

Understanding BTU Consumption

BTU consumption tells you how much fuel your generator burns, and it matters most when planning a propane tank size or checking that your gas line can support the unit. Natural gas holds roughly 1,000 BTU per cubic foot, and propane holds roughly 91,500 BTU per gallon. A generator’s fuel use climbs with its load. One running at half load uses considerably less than one at full load.

We review the manufacturer’s fuel consumption specs for your model and check your gas line and meter capacity, so there are no surprises when you need the generator most.

Why Choose Boudreaux’s Electrical Services as Your GENERAC PowerPro Dealer?

This is the question that matters most, because a generator is only as dependable as the people who install and service it.

We’re family-owned, and we’ve been at this for over 40 years. Neal and Malissa run the business, and you’ll deal with the people whose name is on the truck. We’ve served our community through plenty of storms, and we know what Louisiana outages demand.

We’re licensed, and you can verify it. Don’t take our word for it. Look us up with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors license search before you hire anyone, including us.

We’re a PowerPro GENERAC dealer. That means we install and service Generac standby generators as our focus. Panel upgrades and transfer switches are part of the job, so the whole system is designed and installed properly together.  We offer a turnkey solution.

We do the homework first. Every recommendation starts with your home’s actual load, fuel availability, and budget, not a one-size-fits-all package.

We stay with you after installation. Generators need maintenance, and ours are monitored so you can see your system’s status at a glance. You can request generator maintenance through our contact page.

Our neighbors vouch for us. Read what customers say on our Google review pages, here and here, and follow our projects on Facebook.

Start with a Free In-Home Consultation

You’ve lived through an outage, so you know exactly why this matters. The best time to choose a generator is while that memory is fresh and before the next storm is on the radar.

Schedule your free in-home consultation and we’ll walk through your home, review your electrical panel, talk through fuel options, and size a Generac system to fit. There’s no pressure, just straight answers from a local family that has kept Louisiana homes powered for over four decades.

Request your free consultation at boudreauxselectrical.com today.