Do You Need a Generator for Winter in Northern Indiana?

When winter storms roll through Lagrange County, power outages aren’t rare—especially out in the country. A portable generator keeps freezers, heaters, and barn equipment running even when the grid is down. The question is: how big of a generator do you really need?

Start with what must stay running

Before you look at generator sizes, make a quick list of what absolutely has to stay on during an outage. For most homes and small farms in Northern Indiana, that list includes:

• Freezers and refrigerators.
• Furnace blower or space heat source.
• Well pump or sump pump.
• Basic lighting in key areas.

Running watts vs starting watts

Many appliances pull more power when they start than when they are running. That’s why a generator that looks big enough on paper can still trip if everything kicks on at once. We help customers look at both running watts and startup watts so they don’t end up undersized.

What most Northern Indiana families choose

Around Topeka, Shipshewana, and Lagrange, a lot of homes are comfortable with a generator in the 5,000–7,500 watt range. Farms with multiple freezers, fans, or heated waterers often land in the 7,500–10,000 watt range so they have margin.