#Decibel chart comparison generator#
#Decibel chart comparison portable#

The third and final thing you must keep in mind is that there are variables when it comes to sound.

#Decibel chart comparison portable#

Inverter generators are generally very quiet, for example, while portable and permanently fixed units produce more noise.

#Decibel chart comparison generator#

You also have to compare the same generator types when consider noise. Your choices for fuel will include natural gas, propane, diesel, and gasoline. Before looking at decibel levels, decide first what type of fuel you want. If you’re set on a diesel generator, it is no good looking at decibel levels produced by natural gas units. The second thing to keep in mind is that when you shop for a quiet standby generator, you have to compare apples to apples. Buying a too-large diesel generator also poses the risk that you will never run the diesel with enough load (the power your house draws from the generator), which can result in wet stacking the generator’s engine, which will damage it over time.

Purchasing an over-large generator for your house will result in wasted dollars, as larger generators are more expensive, and unnecessary noise. It’s important to consider how much power your house requires not just because of the risk of purchasing an underpowered unit but because you also do not want to purchase a unit that produces more power than you need. However, the more appliances you can do without, the smaller (and quieter) the generator you can purchase. To enjoy these conveniences, you will need a larger, whole-house generator, which will produce more noise. Smaller lights, televisions and gaming systems, small kitchen appliances, irons, computers, cell phone chargers, etc. Not included in this list are all the smaller appliances you likely run at the same time. Below is a list of common, large household appliances and their power requirements: A small, 7.5kW standby generator will make more noise than some larger units.īefore purchasing a generator, you should take an inventory of what you will want your standby generator to power during an emergency. This comparison breaks down at smaller levels among similar-type generators, however. But depending on your needs, you might not want that smaller generator. A 35kW generator will always produce more noise when it’s running under a normal load than will a 17kW generator. The first is that, in general, the larger the size of the generator, the more noise it will produce. When looking for a quiet generator, there are several things you have to keep in mind. Things to Keep in Mind when Looking for a Quiet Generator How Much Power Do You Need? Consumers, therefore, conduct thousands of searches on Google every year for “quiet generator,” and understandably so - noise ordinances or the need to appease neighbors may require such a concern. Simply put, there is no such thing as a silent generator. One drawback to standby generators is their noise.