What will a 10,000-watt generator run?
A 10,000 W generator runs a fridge, sump pump, well pump, furnace fan and more at once. See the wattage chart, worked examples and the central AC limit.
Hub
Outdoor power equipment
Browse guides by topic and find the next step for your project.
This hub is for the machines in the shed and the garage: mowers, pressure washers, generators, chainsaws, blowers and trimmers. It helps you pick the right size, the right part or setting, and what to check when one won't start or won't work right.
Most outdoor power questions come down to a match. The deck has to fit the lawn. The nozzle has to fit the surface. The generator has to cover the watts a tool needs to start, not just to run. So the guides are grouped by machine, then by job.
How to pick a guide:
- Sizing a machine? Start with what size mower for 2 acres or what a 10,000-watt generator will run.
- Setting up a mower? See mulching blades with side discharge, then the blade guides.
- Cleaning or clearing? Learn how to change a Sun Joe nozzle, or compare flat vs round blower nozzles.
- Cutting high limbs? Read about hydraulic limb saws and who needs one.
Each cluster below starts with one main guide, then the smaller fixes. The calculators do the math for generators and nozzles.
Safety basics for this job
- Run a generator outside only. The CPSC says never run one in a home, garage, shed or crawlspace, even with the door open. Keep it at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and put CO alarms in the home.
- Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. This is called backfeeding, and the CPSC warns it can kill utility workers. Use a transfer switch put in by a licensed electrician.
- Mow up and down slopes on a riding mower, not across. That's the CPSC rule. If you can't back up a slope, don't mow it with a rider.
- Gear up for a chainsaw. OSHA lists protection for your head, eyes, face, ears, hands, feet and legs. Chaps cover your legs.
Start here
What size mower for 2 acres?
For 2 acres, get a riding mower or zero-turn with a 42 to 54 inch deck. See the deck width chart, estimated mowing times and when to go wider or narrower.
Can you use mulching blades with side discharge?
Mulching blades will side-discharge, just less well than high-lift blades. See when it works, when to close the chute, and which blade to pick instead.
How to remove the nozzle from a Sun Joe pressure washer
Pull back the brass collar, and the tip pops out. Here is how to change a Sun Joe nozzle safely, free a stuck one, and pick the right tip for the job.
Leaf blower flat vs round nozzle: which one should you use?
A flat nozzle blows faster air for wet, stuck leaves. A round nozzle moves more air for loose, dry leaves. See the numbers and when to swap nozzles.
Topics in this hub
Mower won't start
The causes in the order to check them: fuel, spark, air, blade brake. Gas and battery mowers.
Mower blades
Standard, mulching, high-lift and gator blades, which way a blade goes on, and how to sharpen one.
Mower sizing
Deck width by lawn size, push vs riding vs zero-turn, and gas vs electric.
Mower care
Oil type and amount, spring start-up, winter storage and the fuel that keeps small engines happy.
Pressure washers
Nozzle colors, PSI for each job, and fixes for no pressure, surging or a washer that won't start.
Generators
Running vs starting watts, what a generator will run, plug types, fuel use and safe setup.
Chainsaws
Pitch, gauge and drive links, bar oil, sharpening, and why a chain comes off or cuts crooked.
Blowers & trimmers
CFM vs MPH, nozzle shapes, trimmer line sizes, and line that won't feed.
Seasonal checklist
What to check on each machine in spring, summer, fall and winter, plus tool recalls.
Tools for this hub
- Generator wattage calculator
- Pressure washer nozzle selector
- Mower size calculator (lawn size → deck width and type)
- Pressure washer nozzle chart (printable PDF)
Materials
All outdoor power equipment guides
Leaf blower flat vs round nozzle: which one should you use?
A flat nozzle blows faster air for wet, stuck leaves. A round nozzle moves more air for loose, dry leaves. See the numbers and when to swap nozzles.
How to make a leaf blower more powerful (and what's a myth)
Most weak blowers have lost power, not lacked it. Clear the intake, swap the filter, mix fresh fuel and clean the spark screen. Skip the engine mods.
How much does a chainsaw weigh? Spec weights for 15 saws
Most chainsaws weigh 6 to 14 lb as listed, and 2 to 7 lb more with bar, chain, fuel or battery. Spec weights for 15 STIHL, Husqvarna, ECHO and EGO saws.
Can you use mulching blades with side discharge?
Mulching blades will side-discharge, just less well than high-lift blades. See when it works, when to close the chute, and which blade to pick instead.
Can you use 2-stroke oil as chainsaw bar oil? What to use instead
2-stroke oil is made to mix with gas and burn, not to cling to a chain. What STIHL, Husqvarna and Echo say to use as bar oil, plus Ryobi and EGO tips.
What size mower for 2 acres?
For 2 acres, get a riding mower or zero-turn with a 42 to 54 inch deck. See the deck width chart, estimated mowing times and when to go wider or narrower.
What will a 10,000-watt generator run?
A 10,000 W generator runs a fridge, sump pump, well pump, furnace fan and more at once. See the wattage chart, worked examples and the central AC limit.
Rear discharge mower: pros, cons and how it compares to side discharge
A rear discharge mower drops clippings behind the deck, not out the side. See where it beats side discharge, where it falls short, and the safety rules.
Hydraulic limb saws: what they are, who needs one, build vs buy
A hydraulic limb saw is a pole chainsaw or pruner run by oil from a tractor or bucket truck. See the types, the flow and pressure specs, and build vs buy.
How to remove the nozzle from a Sun Joe pressure washer
Pull back the brass collar, and the tip pops out. Here is how to change a Sun Joe nozzle safely, free a stuck one, and pick the right tip for the job.
How to install DeWalt trimmer line (QuickLoad head, step by step)
Pull the battery, cut 0.080-in line, thread it through the eyelets and twist the cap. How to restring a DeWalt QuickLoad head, from DeWalt's own manual.
How often should a generator be serviced? Schedules by type
Check the oil before each use, change it after break-in, then every 100 hours or yearly. Real Honda, Champion and Generac schedules, portable and standby.
Can you use a chainsaw in the rain?
STIHL and Husqvarna say to put off chainsaw work in heavy rain, and battery saws shouldn't get rained on. When light rain is OK, and how to cut safely.