Restaurants depend on several systems working at once. A properly sized restaurant commercial generator may help support equipment such as:
- Walk-in coolers and freezers: Refrigerated inventory is often one of the largest outage-related risks for restaurants. Meat, seafood, dairy, produce, prepared foods and frozen items can become costly losses if temperatures rise for too long.
- POS and payment systems: Sales can stop quickly when order stations, card readers, receipt printers and internet-connected systems go down.
- Cooking and prep equipment: Depending on your setup, backup power may support key cooking, holding, prep or ventilation equipment needed to continue limited operations or recover faster.
- Lighting and essential controls: Backup power can help staff move through the building, monitor equipment and manage next steps during an outage.
The Real Cost of a Restaurant Power Outage
Backup power for restaurants is as much a financial decision as an operational one. A restaurant owner has to think beyond the generator price. The real calculation includes food spoilage, staff time, lost revenue and emergency service calls.
A walk-in cooler full of inventory can represent thousands of dollars in product. Add several hours of missed service and payroll for staff who cannot work normally, and the outage becomes more than a temporary disruption.
Diesel vs. Natural Gas for Restaurant Generators
Restaurants commonly compare diesel and natural gas generator options. Each fuel type has advantages, and the right fit depends on your building, utility access, local requirements and power needs.
Diesel generators are often used for commercial and industrial backup applications because they can deliver high power output and do not depend on an active natural gas line. For restaurants, that can be helpful when walk-in coolers, freezers, POS systems, ventilation, and select cooking or holding equipment need dependable support during an outage. Diesel does require on-site fuel storage and proper fuel management, which can affect placement and planning in a kitchen or food-service environment.
Natural gas generators can be practical for restaurants with an available gas connection. They may reduce the need for on-site diesel fuel storage, but they still depend on the utility connection and local code requirements.
Safety is essential with every fuel type. Natural gas generators still need to follow EPA requirements, and California applications may also need to account for CARB regulations.
How to Size a Generator for a Restaurant
Before buying an industrial generator for restaurant use, bring in a qualified electrician. They can review your panel, transfer switch needs, 3-phase requirements and the equipment you want to support during an outage.
From there, Woodstock Power Company can help you compare available used generators from different brands and determine which options may fit your restaurant’s load, fuel preference, space and timeline. Woodstock Power Company buys and sells used generators from 35kW to 2500kW, with diesel and natural gas options available.
Why Work With Woodstock Power Company?
Woodstock Power Company is a Philadelphia-based company specializing in used commercial and industrial generators for businesses across North America. Available generators are tested and in working order, and equipment can often ship quickly because there is no new-generator manufacturing lead time.
The team can also assist with power planning, delivery, installation support and turnkey project connections through nationwide relationships. Learn more about buying used generators, or review the basics of generator maintenance.
Protect Your Restaurant Before the Next Outage
Woodstock Power Company helps restaurants, bars and food-service businesses find backup power solutions that fit real operating needs. Call us at 610-658-3242 or contact us online to discuss available used generator options. You can also connect with Woodstock Power Company on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.