Answer first: for most houses, a portable generator of about 3,500 to 5,000 running watts will keep the fridge, the sump pump, the furnace fan and some lights going through an outage. Generators on LEND-IT.CA start around $25 a day for a 2,200 watt inverter and run $50 to $70 a day for 4,000 to 8,000 watt units. Battery power stations rent from $25 a day for quieter, smaller loads. Whatever you rent, it runs outside, away from doors and windows, and it never plugs into a wall outlet.
Ice storms and heavy wet snow bring down lines across Ontario and Quebec most winters. Renting makes sense for the storm you can see coming, or for the week after one hits, when the hardware stores are already out.
How big a generator do you need?
Add up the running watts of what you actually need to keep on, then check the starting watts of the biggest motor. Motors (fridges, pumps, furnace blowers) draw two to three times their running watts for a few seconds when they start.
Rough figures for common loads. Check the label on your own appliances:
Fridge - 700 running watts, 2,200 to startSump pump, 1/2 hp - 1,000 running watts, 2,000 to startFurnace blower, 1/2 hp - 800 running watts, 2,000 to startLED lights, phone and internet - 200 running watts, 200 to start1,500 W space heater - 1,500 running watts, 1,500 to start
A fridge, sump pump, furnace fan and lights come to about 2,700 running watts, plus headroom for the biggest motor to start. That is a 4,000 to 5,000 watt generator. Drop the space heater and stagger when the motors start, and a smaller unit can manage. A 2,200 watt inverter will run a fridge and lights, but not a sump pump and a furnace at the same time.
What does it cost to rent a generator?
Live listings right now:
Honda EU2200i inverter generator - $25 a day . Quiet, 2,200 watts, the right size for a fridge, lights and chargers.Champion 3,650/4,550 W portable generator - Toronto, $50 on weekdays, $60 on weekends, $45 a day for three or more days . Listed for power outages and emergency backup.Firman 8,350 W generator - Ottawa, $65 a day . 6,700 running watts, enough for a fridge, sump pump and more.10,000 W portable generator - Brampton, $70 a day or $120 for two days , 8,000 running watts on gasolineHonda generator - Gatineau, $40 a day Wacker GP2500 - Aurora, $95 a day
Rates are set by each lender. See everything in the equipment category .
Is a battery power station a better choice?
For an apartment, a condo balcony you are not allowed to run fuel on, or a short outage, often yes.
A power station makes no fumes and no noise and can sit indoors. It will not run a sump pump and a furnace for a two-day ice storm. A fuel generator will.
How do you run a rented generator safely?
This is the part that matters most, and it is not optional.
Outside only. Never in the house, the garage (even with the door open), a shed or under a covered porch. Place it well away from doors, windows and vents so exhaust cannot drift inside. Carbon monoxide has no smell.Have working carbon monoxide alarms on every floor before you start it.Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Backfeeding the house wiring can injure or kill utility workers on the line. Run heavy-duty outdoor extension cords to the appliances, or have a licensed electrician install a transfer switch.Let it cool before refuelling, and store fuel away from the generator and the house.Keep it dry. Clear the snow from a spot on the driveway, and use a cover designed for running generators if it is snowing.
Read the lender's instructions when you pick it up, and ask them to show you the start-up if you have not used that model before.
What about staying warm?
A generator running the furnace fan is the best way to heat the house, because the furnace is built for it. Electric space heaters draw a lot: a DeLonghi area heater rents for $5 a day in Ottawa, but at 1,500 watts it takes most of a small generator's output. Propane forced-air heaters, like the 38,000 BTU unit at $10 a day in Toronto, are for garages, job sites and outdoor spaces, not for living rooms. Follow the manufacturer's ventilation instructions for any fuel-burning heater.
When should you book?
Before the storm. When a freezing-rain warning goes out, generators go fast. Message a lender when the forecast turns, not when the lights go out.Ask about fuel. Most generators come back with a set fuel level. It is on the listing, or ask.
FAQ
What size generator do I need for a house during a power outage?
For a fridge, sump pump, furnace fan and lights, about 4,000 to 5,000 watts. A 2,200 watt inverter handles a fridge and lights on their own.
How much does it cost to rent a generator in Ontario?
Listings on LEND-IT.CA run from about $25 a day for a 2,200 watt inverter to $50 to $70 a day for 4,000 to 10,000 watt portable units.
Can I run a generator in my garage?
No. Run it outside, well away from doors, windows and vents. Carbon monoxide builds up quickly even with the garage door open.
Can I plug a generator into a wall outlet?
No. It backfeeds the house wiring and endangers utility workers. Use extension cords to the appliances or a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.
Is a portable power station enough during an outage?
For a fridge, lights and phones over a day or so, often yes. For a sump pump and furnace through a multi-day outage, a fuel generator is the better fit.
Related reading: how do you preserve a fall harvest without buying the machines .
