How We Research
Every guide on StalwartStore starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our portable generator guides, that means what you need to power, your fuel and how to run it safely.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with what you need to power
A fridge and a few lights need far fewer watts than a furnace blower, a sump pump and a window AC together. An RV or a campsite adds its own limits.
We check the running and starting watts the maker lists, the fuel type, the outlets and the runtime. When your needs limit the choice, we say how to add up your watts first.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at running and starting watts, dual fuel or tri-fuel support, inverter or open-frame design, the noise level the maker lists, the outlets (including 30 amp RV outlets), tank size and runtime.
Westinghouse, WEN, DuroMax and Champion describe their generators in their own words, so we name the brand for every claim. We also note the warranty terms the maker lists.
3. We check carbon monoxide safety and recalls
Every gas generator makes carbon monoxide, a gas you can't see or smell. We look for a CO shutoff in the maker's specs, and we check the CPSC recall list before we write about a model.
A CO shutoff is a safety feature, not a reason to run a generator indoors. Every generator we cover belongs outdoors, far from doors, windows and vents.
4. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using a generator. We look for patterns, like hard starts, fuel trouble after storage, loud engines, low-oil shutoffs or outlets that don't match a plug.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
5. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A generator that's great for a campsite may score lower in a guide written for home backup.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
6. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Westinghouse, WEN, DuroMax and Champion each sell several generators with similar names and wattages, so we check each model name and code, and we only link new units.
When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have run every generator we cover.
Never run a portable generator in a garage, basement, crawl space or any enclosed space, even with a door open. Keep it outdoors and away from doors, windows and vents, and use working carbon monoxide alarms inside your home.
Hooking a generator to a home's wiring takes a licensed electrician and a proper transfer switch. We don't give wiring instructions, and we make no promise about powering your home.
When a maker makes a claim, we label it as the maker's claim.