Top 10 Best Portable Generators (Inverter) Reviews & Guide

In some cases, you may be able to repair a generator yourself if you’re generally handy and have some basic technical repair skills. There are some helpful online resources, like this video.

For most people, though, trying to do a repair yourself isn’t a great idea.

This is especially true if your generator is still under warranty, as trying to fix something on your own will disqualify the warranty. You should always have it fixed by a certified repair person.

You can find a list of qualified people through the manufacturer. You can also generally find help from any authorized dealer. Most experienced small engine mechanics should also be able to help with most common generator problems. 

The answer depends entirely on the size of your air conditioner.

For most air conditioners, you’ll be looking at 2800-3500 starting watts and 1300-2000 running watts.

The Yamaha EF2400iSHC uses a high current that can easily start a high efficiency 13,500 BTU air conditioner even in temperatures up to 110-Degree F.

There are a lot of situations where an extension cord will be necessary.

For example, if you want to use your generator to power an indoor appliance, you’ll need to run an extension cord outside to your generator.

It’s important to only use a heavy duty extension cord. It’s also very important to make sure the extension cord is in good condition without any cuts and with all three prongs in working order.

As long as you use a heavy duty cord in good condition, it’s perfectly safe to use an extension cord with your portable generator.

Yes, building an enclosure for your generator can be a very good idea. A major reason for building an enclosure is to reduce the overall noise level. An enclosure can significantly bring down the generator’s total noise level.

Enclosures also protect the generator from the elements and prevent any dust or debris from causing damage.

Making a DIY enclosure can be done pretty easily at minimal cost.

There are a number of helpful tutorials available, including this video.

That depends on what exactly is meant by an entire house but the answer is likely no.

You should be able to run a handful of appliances in the home but there is no way that a portable generator has enough power to run the entire house’s power.

If you run two generators in parallel, you’ll be able to run more of the home.

When using a portable generator as a backup power supply after a power loss, you’ll generally have to pick and choose what tools and appliances are more of a priority.

You can use our Wattage calculator to estimate how much power you are going to need.

You should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for all maintenance.

Typically, you’ll be told to check the oil before every use. After so many hours of use, it will be time to change the oil.

For the Generac GP2200I, it’s recommended that you change the oil after 50 hours of use. For the Honda EU2000i, it’s recommended that you change the oil every 6 months or every 100 hours, whichever one comes sooner.

You should always use the type of oil recommended by the manufacturer.

Honda recommends SAE 10W-30 while Yamaha recommends 10W-40.

Yes, in fact, it’s important that you keep your generator at least 15 feet away from your house.

It’s vital to keep a healthy distance in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

You should never run your generator inside a closed area like a home.