When disaster strikes, it will not only leave you powerless, but out of power as well. Many homeowners don’t usually give much thought to purchasing a generator until it’s too late even though unexpected power outages happen commonly during winter season. A sudden storm or natural disaster can leave you and your family without power for hours, and in certain circumstances, even days. This is why it is important for homeowners to be prepared for the worst, especially during winter season. Having a reliable, high-power generator at home can help you weather the storm and make things a bit easier until the power is restored.

Having a heavy-duty generator can restore a sense of normalcy whenever you are left in the dark due to the harsh winter weather. Since everything you rely on probably works on electricity, a 13,000-watt generator will be more than enough to power the things that will matter most during a power outage in winter, such as the electric water heater and other important every-day appliances such as kitchen appliances etc. While the good quality, heavy duty generators will cost a bit more than portable generators, the advantages of getting one is priceless during winter.

Gas vs. Diesel Generators

Gas generators are simple to use and require less maintenance as compared to portable diesel generators. This also means that gas generators are lighter and cheaper. Gas powered generators are also more robust in nature, and the prevalence of gasoline fuel makes them a popular choice for homeowners. The only downside of having a gas-powered generator is that they are highly volatile, and flammable. Apart from that, you cannot store the fuel in a gas-powered generator.

On the other hand, diesel generators are considered to be louder and heavier as compared to gas-powered units. The fuel non-flammable so it’s not considered volatile, making it a safer option. Also, the fuel of a diesel powered portable generator can be stored. One problem that does arise with these heavy-duty portable generators is that it can thicken in cold temperatures. Generators powered by diesel also burn cleaner as compared to gasoline powered portable generators. At the end of the day, it’s always best to figure out which option works for you, and falls cheaper in your area.

Best Heavy Duty Generators

Many of the heavy-duty generators that have been included here provide lots of power and loads of extra features that make them worth the investment. The heavy-duty generators that have been included in this list go above and beyond to help homeowners save a little piece of their sanity when the power goes out during winter.

WEN 5613K

Features:

• Weight: 330 lbs.
• Noise Level of 82 dB
• Includes sturdy wheel and easy-grip handle kit
• Includes four 120V (20A) outlets, one 120V (30A) RV outlet, one 120/240V (30A) twist lock, one 240V outlet, and one 12V DC car-charger-style outlet
• Fuel Capacity of 8 gallons (87 octane minimum)
• EPA III 4-stroke OHV twin-cylinder engine produces 13000W starting watts and 11000W rated watts
• 8-gallon fuel tank provides 7.5 hour run time at half load

Overview

One of the reasons why most people do not go for the stationary whole-house generators is because they are extremely expensive to run and maintain, they weigh a ton (or pretty close) which makes them hard to move and transport, and they don’t do much for the environment. But, more importantly, the large stationary generators cost a lot since they will power just about everything in your home during an outage. The only thing is, most people do not need power in every room. This is where the portable option comes in. When talking about sturdy, portable generators, the WEN 5613K comes to mind, mainly because of its portability and ease of use. The WEN 5613K is a more affordable option as compared to the larger stationary generators and is a practical one as well when it comes to getting yourself a reliable power option that doesn’t cost you an arm or a leg.

Portability and Light Weight Makes it Easy to Move

The portability of the WEN 5613K heavy-duty generator is what gives it a level of versatility that cannot be compared to the huge, stationary generators. The 330-pound WEN 5613K generator comes with a wheel kit and handle so that it can be easily transported. The portability of the WEN 5613K means that it cannot only be used at home during those winter power outages, but also when going out on a camping trip in your RV during the warm summer months.

Yamaha EF12000DE

Features:

• Twin-cylinder 653cc, 4-stroke, OHV engine delivers 12,000 watts maximum AC output
• 2 / 100.0 amps @ 120V – 39.6 / 50.0 amps @ 240V dual voltage output
• Heavy-duty design, Cast iron cylinder lining — Optimal heat dissipation
• Oil Watch Warning System
• Auto Voltage Regulation
• Transistor Controlled Ignition (T.C.I.)
• Auto decompression automatically opens the exhaust valve to reduce initial back pressure
• USFS-approved spark arrestor
• Ground Fault Circuit Interruption shuts off power when it senses a leak to ground
• Fuel gauge to monitor how much fuel is left in the tank
• Electric starter — (Battery NOT included)
• AC non-fuse thermal breaker
• Wheel kit — easy to move around
• Highest Yamaha output gasoline-powered (120/240- volt) output generator
• Electric start (battery not included)
• Compact and very portable
• Provides 8 hours of continuous operation
• Oil warning system
• Noise Level of 77dB at 7 meters

Overview

Next, we have the Yamaha EF12000DE, which is a powerful heavy-duty generator that falls within the 11,000 and 14,000-watt range and has a maximum power of an impressive 12,000 watts. The Yamaha EF12000DE also happens to offer the best output of any fuel-powered generator of the portable variety in the Yamaha lineup. The Yamaha EF12000DE was clearly built to have an immense amount of power, with a really long run-time, making it one of the best options when it comes to a portable heavy-duty generator.

Long Run-Time

The Yamaha EF12000DE boasts of a 11.4 gallon fuel tank which allows it to run for an impressive 8 hours with a full tank. This alone can easily get you through the day comfortably even with no power from the grid. The run-time can be extended if you refrain from using power tools such as a hand drill or air compressor that can drain lots of energy.

Multiple Receptacles for Ease of Use

One of the main features of any portable, heavy-duty generator is the number of gadgets it can power. This mainly has to do with the amount of receptacles in a generator. The Yamaha EF12000DE features up to five receptacles including a 50A 250/125V twist lock, two 20A 125V outlets, a 30A 125V twist-lock, and a handy 30A 250/125V twist-lock.

Fuel Efficiency

Apart from the fuel gauge to monitor how much fuel is left in the tank, the Yamaha EF12000DE also has other smart features that enhance its fuel efficiency. The Economy Idle feature in the Yamaha EF12000DE lets the unit go in idle mode automatically whenever there is no load so it doesn’t run when not in use. This also saves you from constantly having to start the unit whenever you have to start the generator to power something around the house. There’s also an efficient fuel gauge that helps monitor the level of fuel that’s present in the tank so that you don’t have to guess when to refill the Yamaha EF12000DE. Then there are other features which make the Yamaha EF12000DE a great option for a portable, heavy-duty generator such as, transistor-controlled ignition, all-terrain heavy-duty wheels, and a solid build to keep it safe from the elements.

Subaru RGV12100

Features:

• 12000 Watts / Running Watts: 9500
• Copper windings for exceptional durability
• Full tubular wrap frames for added protection
• Professional-grade control panel features Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacles, twist-lock, circuit breaker protection and gauges for tracking
• 12-volt DC battery charging capabilities
• Built-in hour meter for tracking of run time to determine scheduled maintenance
• The large, steel fuel tank provides long running times While the gauge allows easy monitoring and the strainer keeps the fuel clean
• A low-tone muffler with spark arrestor ensures quiet operation
• Automatic idler control on most models lowers the engine speed when power isn’t required
• Heavy-duty industrial air cleaner
• Low-emission engine meets Tier 3 compliance standards
• The capacitor system prevents power drops and surges
• Low-oil shutdown feature automatically shuts off the generator to protect the engine.

Overview

The Subaru RGV12100 is another sturdy home generator that comes to mind mainly for its power and portability. The Subaru RGV12100 features a robust tubular steel frame for added protection during transporting. The Subaru RGV12100 is also equipped with other important features that make it a smart investment for homeowners who are looking for a reliable heavy-duty generator.

Fuel Efficient and Quiet Operation

The manufacturers of the Subaru RGV12100 have included many nifty features in this latest design, making it one of the most environmentally friendly and easy to use portable, heavy-duty generators available in the market today. The Subaru RGV12100 features an industrial-grade air cleaner element that has been designed for heavy loads, and can be cleaned and reused to save you money. The

The low-oil shutdown feature automatically shuts off the generator to protect the engine, and the 12000 Watts heavy-duty generator has a surprisingly low-emission engine that meets Tier 3 compliance standards. The Subaru RGV12100 also features a low-tone muffler along with a sturdy spark arrestor that helps keep the noise down. Generally, the more power a gas-operated generator creates the greater the noise it produces. That’s not the case with the Subaru RGV12100. With a dBA rating of 77 at 22 feet, the Subaru RGV12100 it is just slightly louder than the normal noise rate produced by two people having a conversation.

Intuitive Control Panel

The Subaru RGV12100 features an intuitive control panel that makes keeping track of the amount of fuel in the tank and the energy output of the generator. This makes life easier for the homeowner since you don’t have to guess the amount of fuel that’s left in the Subaru RGV12100. This portable, heavy-duty generator also features a 120V 20A duplex, a 120V 30A twist-lock, a 120/240V 30A twist-lock and a 120/240V 50A twist-lock.

Westinghouse WH7500E

Features:

• 420cc OHV Engine with Cast Iron Sleeve
• 7,500 running watts and 9,000 starting watts
• Up to 11 Hours of run-time at 25% Load
• Pulse-Flo muffler reduced noise output to 68 and 72 dB
• Convenient One-Touch Electric Start System
• Features a proprietary VR System  – Voltage Regulated Power
• Hour Meter: Displays how many hours the generator has been running
• Wheel kit and handle kit, oil, funnel, and tool kit

Overview

The Westinghouse WH7500E portable, heavy-duty generator is considered to be one of the most efficient portable generators for homeowners. So, there’s no surprise that it’s the highest rated portable, heavy-duty generator. The Westinghouse WH7500E features a powerful 420cc 4-stroke OHV engine, with a fuel intake of 6.6 gallons that can easily keep it going the whole day. The estimated run-time for the Westinghouse WH7500E is around 12 hours on a 50% load, but we feel that the manufacturer has been modest with this estimate since the running watts of the Westinghouse WH7500E is considerably high.

Manual Transfer Switch

The Westinghouse WH7500E features a manual transfer switch that offers the user an easy way to power the generator. If you don’t want to do things the hard way once the power goes out in your home then you can just use the start switch to turn on the Westinghouse WH7500E without a hassle. The back-up cord given in the Westinghouse WH7500E is there to start the engine of the generator if anything goes wrong. You will notice there are a few yellow markings on the generator, which will remind you what you should be paying attention to before you decide to switch the Westinghouse WH7500E on. Apart from that, they are bright so you will be able to easily see them in the dark and even in harsh conditions.

Lots of Power Outlets

One of the things considered by homeowners when purchasing a generator is the amount of power outlets on the unit. In that case, the Westinghouse WH7500E certainly does not disappoint. In fact, the Westinghouse WH7500E features plenty of power outlets for ease of use. When you’re doing general work outside, you’ll want to use what is on the Westinghouse WH7500E generator, which are up to four 5-20R 120V household power outlets and one L14-30R 120/240V twist lock power outlet.

Ending Note

One of the main reasons why homeowners ought to consider purchasing a portable, heavy-duty generator is because they are portable. Portable generators are also ideal for home use since they are easy to use and are low on maintenance. During winter months when unexpected power outages becomes a nuisance, having a portable, heavy-duty generator in your home will keep the heating working and provide access to much needed warm water to keep yourself from the cold.