How Much Gas Does A Generator Use

They say owning a generator is expensive. Aside from buying the unit at a high price, the cost doesn't stop there. You will have to pay for installation and maintenance. The gasoline generator engine consumes a lot of gas to produce power. If you want to do the calculation on how much you are going to spend before getting a generator, you should consider how much gas does a generator use. 

Fuel Sources To Run Generators

Fuel is an important component of making a generator work. Without it, the generator won't be able to function. To determine how much gas does a generator use would depend on your generator unit.

• 5000-watt Standard Generator - Portable generator would usually consume .75 gallons of gas per hour or 18 gallons of gas to run the entire day. Gas price differs from time to time, but as an estimate, it can cost you more or less $50 per day for the gas alone.
  
  
• Inverter Generators - Inverter generator consumes lesser gasoline compared to standard generator making it more efficient. It comes with a smaller gas tank, a battery, alternator, and inverter. Inverter generator uses only about 1 to 2 gallons of gas and can last up to a maximum of 10 hours.

• Diesel Gas Generator - This type is even more efficient compared to gasoline. Aside from being efficient, it's also safer as it has lower flammability compare to other fuel. For a 20-kilowatt diesel generator, you will use about 1.6 gallons of diesel per hour running at a full load.
  
  
• Propane Generator - Propane is considered as a cleaner-burning and the quick-burning fuel. As it burns faster, it consumes a lot of propane gas to produce power, making it even more expensive compared to a standard generator. A 20-kilowatt generator would burn approximately 3.45 gallons per hour. A portable generator that will run for 24 hours can consume roughly 83 gallons of propane gas.
  
  
• Natural Gas Generator - This is the most environment-friendly generator type as it lessens carbon emissions. Instead of running on fossil fuels, it works with the use of natural gas to produce power. Pipes of a natural gas generator are situated underground, making it an effective and stable power source compared to other generators. That is why it is commonly used in hospitals where losing electricity is critical.

The estimated cost of natural gas is $3.25 per thousand cubic feet. A 7-kilowatt generator will consume approximately 118 cubic feet per hour. Therefore, the cost to operate the generator is only $0.82. With this, the expected cost to operate the generator throughout the weekly 10-minute "exercise period" can cost approximately $4 to $5 per month. When there's power outage, the generator will use almost $20 to $40 per day, depending on the total energy load.

Conclusion

Gas cost is just one of the many expenses that come in getting a generator. For more accurate information on how much gas does a generator use, refer to the generator's information manual.