Jeremy, Julian, and Logan were very professional, on time, courteous, informative and work areas were all cleaned up. We will definitely hire them again. They installed a whole house generator.
Thanks again guys!
What Size Generator Do I Need for My Milwaukee-Area Home?
The right generator size for your Milwaukee-area home depends on whether you want to power just the essentials or your entire house, typically ranging from 5kW to 8kW for basic needs and 17kW to 20kW for whole-home coverage. As a second-generation master electrician serving Southeast Wisconsin, Ideal Electric helps homeowners choose the ideal generator to stay safe and powered through everything from summer storms to harsh winter outages.
What Size Generator Runs a House in Southeast Wisconsin?
For homes in Milwaukee County and surrounding Southeast Wisconsin cities, the ideal generator size depends on your needs:
- Essentials only (sump pump, fridge, lights): 10–12kW
- Essentials + central AC: 14–18kW
- Whole-home coverage (no compromises): 20–24kW+
Pro Tip: Older homes may need a load calculation due to outdated wiring.
Key Factors Affecting Generator Size in Milwaukee, WI
Local Wisconsin Weather Risks
- Lake-effect storms: Prioritize sump pumps and HVAC.
- Winter freezes: Frozen pipes demand reliable backup.
Milwaukee Home Size & Age
- 1,500–2,500 sq. ft.: 14–18kW
- 3,000+ sq. ft.: 22–30kW
Fuel Type for Milwaukee Generators
- Standby generators (natural gas/propane): Installed by our licensed team for automatic backup.
- Portable units: Only for temporary use (under 7kW).
Southeast Wisconsin Generator Size Chart
Ideal Electric’s experienced electricians and generator installers have over 30 years of experience with electrical systems powering Milwaukee homes. Our home generator sizing chart is tailored to the Milwaukee homes we have serviced throughout our time in the community.
What size standby generator do I need?
- Option 1: 7–11kW
- Best for: Powering essentials like a sump pump, refrigerator, and a few lights/outlets
- Common in: Homes along the Menomonee River
- Option 2: 12–18kW
- Best for: Essentials plus central air conditioning and additional circuits
- Common in: Suburban homes throughout Milwaukee County
- Option 3: 20–24kW
- Best for: Whole-home backup power, including all appliances and HVAC
- Common in: Larger homes, like Wauwatosa colonials
- Option 4: 25kW+
- Best for: Estates, homes with multiple HVAC units, or high energy demands
- Common in: Large residences along Lake Drive
Factors Causing Power Outages in Milwaukee, WI
When the power goes out, you are often left with one unanswered question for minutes, hours and even days. “Why?” As Milwaukee’s trusted generator installers with 30+ years of experience, Ideal Electric has seen and understands the impact of power outages in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee’s power grid has been generally reliable but rising outages in a densely populated city make today the right time to invest in a generator to keep your family safe when problems arise.
1. Severe Weather (Most Frequent Cause)
- Summer storms: High winds (50+ mph) and lightning knock down power lines
- Winter ice storms: Accumulation weighs on lines
- Lake-effect snow: Heavy snowfall strains infrastructure
2. Aging Infrastructure
In areas of Milwaukee like Downtown and some of the older suburbs, the outdated power systems may fail from overdue maintenance. Things like 60+ year old transformers fail and circuits are overloaded during peak energy consumption.
3. Human Interference
In a densely populated city like Milwaukee, human error and accidents can disrupt your power without warning. A car crashing into a power line, unexpected grid maintenance or equipment failures could leave your home in the dark, often at the worst possible time.
Will your family be left without heat during a winter storm? Could a prolonged outage spoil hundreds of dollars in groceries or disable medical equipment? For Milwaukee homeowners, a properly sized standby generator isn’t just convenient, it’s critical for maintaining safety and comfort when the grid fails.
Raise The Value of Your Milwaukee Home with a Generator
If the time comes and you are ready to sell your home, it is becoming increasingly important to buyers to have a home with a generator. A whole-home standby generator offers Milwaukee residents and prospective buyers relief.
Others may see a generator as a financial play, rather than a way to protect their family in times of need. Many insurance providers offer discounts and incentivise adding or having a functioning standby home generator, as it reduces the risks of outages causing frozen pipes or basement flooding.
Why Trust Ideal Electric for Your Generator?
- Master electrician-led team: Serving Milwaukee for 30+ years.
- 24/7 emergency service: Power outages won’t wait. Neither do we.
- BBB-certified: Your peace of mind is guaranteed.
- Experienced installers: 100+ successful home generator installs.
Need a Generator Installed Near Milwaukee?
As Southeast Wisconsin’s trusted electricians, Ideal Electric handles:
- Generac generator sales and installations
- Code-compliant sizing for local homes
- Emergency repairs after storms
Contact Ideal Electric for a same-day estimate in Milwaukee!
Don't just take our word for it!
Jeremy and Julian are great. Happy to have a Generac generator! Thanks so much fellas!
DanMarko
I've had two great experiences with Jeremy and Ideal Electric, the most recent was installing a whole house generator. Not only was Jeremy able to do the job substantially cheaper than some of the bigger names, but he did an excellent job, and I can tell that he really cares about the quality of his work and taking care of his customers. I would 100% trust him for all my future electrical needs - I have total confidence that he'll do the job well, and at a fair price.
Ray Kramer
Ideal Electric installed a Generac home generator. The installation was completed in one day with minimal interruption. We were pleased with Jeremy and his crew.
Steve Miscikowski
Jeremy and Julian did an amazing job installing some light fixtures and getting my generator up and running at a reasonable price. Jeremy is very communicative, dependable and always answered my phone calls, which is a rare thing to see nowadays. Would highly recommend Ideal Electric.
Ravi N V
Ideal Electric has been fantastic to work with. Home electrical projects and also repaired our home generator. Very responsive, easy to schedule, very professional and thorough. Highly Recommend!