How Many Watts Do I Need to Run My Whole House?

Let’s face it, wattage usage varies from house to house. Some homes may have many major appliances while others might have several small appliances. And as you’d expect, the former will need more watts. So, what influences the watts needed to run a whole house? Let’s find out.

How Many Watts Does an Average American Home Use?

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average American home uses 10,791 kilowatt hours (kWh), which is an average of about 899kWh per month. The wattage requirement, however, varies depending on the appliances used, frequency of use, and the location of the user.

Homes with a solar system have lower wattage requirements than those that solely rely on the grid. The average usage varies between hours. For example, it is higher in the morning since most people use the shower, coffee makers, washing machines, and dishwashing machines, among other appliances.

As the day progresses, the wattage requirement reduces as there are fewer people in the house. By noon or thereabout, your air conditioner will kick in to keep your house cool. As your family arrives home from work and school, the wattage requirement increases. 

In fact, peak wattage usage falls under these hours. By the end of the day, you’ll have used over 1,000W. 

Factors Influencing How Many Watts You Need To Run Your House

Several factors affect how many watts you can use in a day. Not all days will be the same. You might use 1,200W on Friday and 500W on Sunday. It all depends on the following factors:

• The Size of Your Home

In general, larger homes tend to use more electricity since there are more appliances and rooms to power. For example, a single-family house will consume more electricity compared to a condo. With a single-family house, you have to power your AC, water pump, lighting system, and large to small appliances. 

Furthermore, it has many rooms that need lighting and conditioning. Not to mention auxiliary dwellings.

A condo on the other hand can have fewer rooms and appliances. And depending on the management of the property, you might share some of the electricity bills. 

• The Type and Number of Appliances

The more the appliances, the higher the wattage requirement. That said, the type of appliances affects energy usage. For example, having many small appliances (laptops, TVs, toasters) will not equate to a higher electricity bill. But installing several larger appliances (AC, washing machines, freezers) can increase your bill significantly.

• Where You Live

Another factor affecting how many watts you need to run a house is your geographical location. If you live in a warm climate, you’ll require more energy for air conditioning. The same case applies to people living in a cold climate. Both will use more electricity than someone living in a moderate climate.

The state you live in also influences how much wattage you can use. Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maine have the highest electricity bills. It is logical for most residents to use less watts than those living in Utah, Washington, and Nebraska, where electricity prices are relatively low.

• The Size of Your Household

As you’d expect, the more people living in a household, the higher the consumption of electricity. More people will take hot showers, keep bulbs on, and charge their devices. Likewise, large appliances like washing machines and dishwashers will be used regularly.

• The Age of Your House

Older homes were rarely built with eco-friendliness in mind. As such, most installed appliances tend to use more energy resulting in higher wattage requirements. Modern houses on the other hand are more energy efficient. They have better insulation and Energy Star-rated appliances.

How Many Watts Do Household Appliances Use?

In general, cooling and heating systems tend to use more energy in your home. As you’d guess, smaller appliances like TVs, laptops, and juicers use less electricity. 

How To Reduce Electricity Usage in Your Home

There are several ways you can reduce your electricity usage. Let’s look at each.

• Use Energy-Efficient Appliances 

If you want to reduce energy consumption significantly, consider investing in energy-efficient appliances. These are Energy Star-rated refrigerators, bulbs, and more. Not only do they reduce your daily energy consumption but also reduce your carbon footprint. Most notable brands have some of the best energy-efficient appliances. Consider buying from them.

• Use Natural Light

Let’s face it, you don’t need to use bulbs during the day. This significantly increases your energy consumption, and often it goes to waste. Utilize natural light by opening blinds and curtains during the day. Consider installing large glass doors that can complement your windows. This way, you’ll not only create an appealing ambiance, but also reduce your electricity bills.

• Insulate Your Home

If you want to use less of your heating and cooling systems, consider insulating your home properly. Insulating your floors, walls, and attic helps prevent heat loss during cold weather and heat gain during warm weather. As such, it reduces your dependence on your AC, further reducing your electricity bills.

• Unplug Appliance When Not in Use

Another overlooked method to reduce energy consumption is to turn off appliances when you are not using them. Contrary to popular belief, appliances continue to draw power when they are in standby mode. To avoid wasting energy, consider unplugging electronics, chargers, and other similar devices. 

• Install A Solar System

You can also reduce your electricity consumption by installing a robust solar system. The best part is that the Federal and state governments offer much-needed assistance to install them. 

For example, the federal solar tax credit covers 30% of the cost of a solar system. And states such as Florida, California, and Illinois offer incentives, bringing the cost of installation down.

Installing a solar system allows you to use solar energy during the day, mitigating your reliance on the grid. And should you have solar batteries, you can use the excess energy at night. Thanks to technological advancement, there’re batteries that can enable you to power all your appliances. 

For example, you can buy the BLUETTI EP500Pro Solar Power Station which has a whopping 5,120Wh capacity and a 3000W pure sine wave inverter. With this model, rest assured all your home devices will run with ease. Furthermore, it allows you to use different appliances simultaneously. 

But that’s not all, this model can run for up to 10 years since it is equipped with LiFePO4 batteries. The best part is that it is compatible with your existing electrical system. It means you don’t have to install additional equipment. With the EP500Pro, you will reduce your electricity bills significantly.

Alternatively, you can install the BLUETTI EP800+B500 Home Battery Backup, which automatically qualifies you for the 30% federal tax credit. Like the EP500Pro, it can integrate with existing solar systems. The model has a capacity between 9900Wh and 19800Wh depending on the number of expandable batteries. 

With a 7600W pure sine wave inverter, you can plug in just about any electrical device. And since it has an IP65 rating, you can install it indoors or outdoors. And regardless of how much power is drawn from it, it remains quiet. The LiFeP04 battery will service you for over 10 years. 

How To Determine Your Wattage Requirements For A Solar System

If you want to know how many watts to run a house, you can calculate the total wattage requirements of all your appliances. Check and list the starting and running wattage of the appliances. Major appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers have starting and running wattage requirements.

If the power requirements are in amps or volts, you’ll need to convert them into watts. To do this, use the Volts (V)x Amps (A) = Watts (W) equation. 

Now, add up the running watts of the appliances you are using. This should be less than the running wattage of the generator. For example, the BLUETTI AC300 + 2*B300 | Home Battery Backup can run large appliances as it has a running wattage of 3,000W. If the total is higher than that of the generator, consider buying a larger unit.

Next, identify the appliance with the highest starting wattage. Add that rating to the total running wattage. The final figure will be the starting wattage needed from your generator. The AC300 is capable of running major devices since it has a 6,000W starting wattage rating. 

Final Thoughts

So, how many watts to run a house? Well, it depends on your energy consumption habits, type of appliances, and geographical area. You can however reduce your wattage requirements by installing energy-efficient appliances and using a solar system. And installing a solar system is a sure way to reduce your energy bills.