What Types of Gas Does a Generator Use? How Much Gas Will Your Generator Use?

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Emergencies and natural disasters can happen anytime, regardless of the season. A generator is crucial to protect yourself from an unexpected power outage. But you’ll need to pay close attention to the fuel that drives your generator to keep your house up and running.

In this post, we will discuss the various generator types on the market, their power, and how much fuel you need to use.

What types of gas does a generator use?

The majority of generators use one of these four fuels, except the inverter generator, which generates AC electricity using an engine and an alternator:

Propane: One of the most flexible fuels, propane is perfect for all sorts of homes and is especially useful for generators installed in remote locations where it may be challenging to access alternative fuel sources.

Diesel: Diesel generators have environmental disadvantages, but their slow fuel burn makes them cost-effective. Diesel fuel has more emissions than other fuel types, which could make it difficult to meet EPA standards.

Natural gas: Although slightly more environmentally benign than diesel, natural gas-powered generators are still not green. Anyone with natural gas pipes in their home will greatly benefit from natural gas generators; otherwise, it would be impossible to store reserves on-site. The start times of generators are also delayed by natural gas, which might result in temporary interruptions in operations.

Gasoline: Many homes prefer gas generators because they are frequently less expensive than other models. However, gasoline isn’t always easy to get in an emergency, and gasoline-powered generators must be refueled frequently.

You might also think about bi- or tri-fuel generators using gasoline or liquid propane (or natural gas for a tri-fuel).

How much does it cost to run a generator?

The next step in determining how much gas your generator will require is checking how each type of generator burns fuel at a different pace.

The approximate cost of fueling a generator, broken down by several fuel types, is as follows:

Gasoline generator

An hourly fuel burn for a 5-kilowatt gas generator is around 0.75 gallons.
Gasoline currently costs $2.60 per gallon on average in Connecticut.
A gasoline generator will cost about $46.80 to run for 24 hours.

Diesel generator

An 8-kilowatt generator consumes around 0.5 gallons of fuel per hour.
In Connecticut, the current average price for diesel is $4.34 per gallon.
A diesel generator will cost about $52.08 to run for 24 hours.

Propane generator

An hourly fuel burn for a 6-kilowatt generator is equivalent to 1.42 gallons.
In Connecticut, the current average propane price is $3.38 a gallon.
A propane generator will cost around $115.19 to run for 24 hours.

Natural gas generator

Current natural gas costs on average $20.40 per thousand cubic feet in Connecticut.
A 7-kilowatt generator burns approximately 118 cubic feet of fuel every hour.
A natural gas generator will cost about $58.75 to run for 24 hours.

Conclusion

If you want a slow-burning fuel that has a lot of power, diesel is the best option.

However, if you have hookups close to your house, natural gas can also be ideal.

As an alternative, propane has a large fuel tank for continuous power and isn’t consumed as quickly. Because of this, you might want to consider getting a propane generator.

Understanding gas consumption is crucial when choosing a generator. Explore our guide to the best portable generators to find the most efficient and suitable options for your needs.

FAQs

1. A generator uses how much gas an hour?

The fuel type and load have a big impact on how much gas your generator uses each hour. Your generator will inevitably run out of gas if you try to run several appliances at once.

As previously indicated, if you’re operating survival gear, a typical five-kilowatt generator can use 0.75 gallons of gas every hour.

A larger appliance, such as a 30-kilowatt model, can use up to three gallons of gas per hour when fully loaded.

2. Which Type of Fuel Is Best?

If you want a slow-burning fuel that has a lot of power, diesel is the best option.

However, if you have hookups close to your house, natural gas can also be a viable option.

As an alternative, propane has a large fuel tank for continuous power and isn’t spent as quickly. Because of this, you might want to think about getting a propane generator.