Standby vs. Portable Generators: How to Choose for an Eastern Ontario Winter

Power failures are a fact of winter in Eastern Ontario. When the lights go out, priorities are simple: keep the heat on, keep water moving (sump or well), keep food cold, and keep phones and internet alive. There are two practical ways to cover those bases at home: a permanently installed standby generator or a portable unit tied into your panel with a proper transfer switch. Both work, but they suit different budgets, outage patterns, and tolerance for hassle.

How They Work

Standby: Fixed outside on a pad, piped to natural gas or propane. An automatic transfer switch senses an outage and starts the unit within seconds. No cords, no manual start.

Portable: Roll-out unit you start manually (pull-start or electric). Runs on gasoline or dual-fuel gasoline/propane. Safest setup uses a manual transfer switch or panel interlock installed by a licensed electrician.

What They Power

Standby: Often the whole home or a priority circuit list — furnace/boiler, sump or well pump, fridge, key outlets, internet.

Portable: Essentials only — furnace/boiler blower, fridge/freezer, sump/well pump, a few lights, router.

Pros and Cons

Standby pros: Automatic, reliable in bad weather, no refuelling runs, quieter, safer. Weekly self-tests keep them ready. Good for frequent or long outages, finished basements, wells, medical devices, or work-from-home. Standby cons: Higher upfront cost. Professional installation and permits required. Needs clearances from openings and snow drifts. Plan for annual maintenance and fuel supply.

Portable pros: Much lower cost, flexible, and you can store it the rest of the year or use it for other things. Portable cons: You must be home to set it up, refuel it, and manage cords. Never run it indoors or in a garage — carbon monoxide risk. Store fresh fuel with stabilizer.

Sizing for Eastern Ontario Winters

If you heat with gas, propane, or oil, powering the furnace/boiler blower is the priority. Electric baseboards or heat pumps draw much more; size up accordingly. Keep sump and well pumps covered to prevent flooding. On propane, use a large enough tank for cold-weather vaporization and keep it topped up; natural gas is continuous.

Simple formula: Size (kW) ≈ [(sum of running watts × 1.25) + largest motor surge] ÷ 1,000. For most homes that points to a 3–7 kW portable for essentials or a 10–22 kW standby for automatic near-whole-home coverage. A licensed electrician can confirm the numbers and help get you set up so you have peace of mind before the snow starts flying.