Generators?

Steve my own preference from a noise issue is to look at Honda but they are a bit more money. Down side is the fuel tank size on most of them. To get to a 6 hr run you will need at least a 4gal tank if use is 80%. The more power that is drawn, the harder the motor works and more fuel is consumed.

My friend who lost his house to the flood had a Champion 3500 W he bought to run outside sump pumps. Both where 1/2 horse motors and the pumps where running constantly. He was getting 10 hrs of run on 4 gals. The use was about 1000w that is light, but might give you a bit of an idea.

One thing to look at also if you buy something other than the Honda is to look getting something with a Briggs engine. They have noise dampering kit for most of the motors.

i was told that the national parks & maybe some state parks have a max. 29 decibals sound rating. most handy generators comply with this, i doubt some industrials do.
walmart has a line of about 3 handy 4-stroke generators that should be checked out. they have a list on the box of a bunch of equipment and appliances and there watt ratings to help choose the right generator for the equipment you want to run at one time. my father in law bought  a 1200 watt 2-stroke at the parts store for 99.00 and it even runs at 29 decibals. you can carry it with one hand,  put it in the side box of the small motor home & use it just in case.

Remember that a lot of cheaper generators are intended to run lights and power tools at construction sites or an air conditioner or other appliance , not anything with electronics.   Even to run a furnace with some of the cheaper ones can blow out the electronics.
Best to pay a little more and get one with inverter technology if you ever plan to run anything electronic with it.
I had a cheaper construction type one that in spite of tuning and retuning varried the voltage from 115 all the way to 150.   OK for lights or power tools, but NDG for serious emergencies.