How to Pick the Right Whole Home Generator
Having a generator that works properly for your home is essential. Severe weather conditions or power outages can be scary to families, leaving them without power for hours or even days at a time. To ensure you never have to worry about going without power for long periods of time, you need to think about buying a whole house generator.
You might be wondering how to find the right generator for your home. Finding the right generator for your home can be complicated. This article will help you explore all of the factors to consider when choosing what type of generator to purchase.
How to Pick the Right Whole Home Generator
Having a generator that works properly for your home is essential. Severe weather conditions or power outages can be scary to families, leaving them without power for hours or even days at a time. To ensure you never have to worry about going without power for long periods of time, you need to think about buying a whole house generator.
You might be wondering how to find the right generator for your home. Finding the right generator for your home can be complicated. This article will help you explore all of the factors to consider when choosing what type of generator to purchase.
What are the Benefits of a Standby Generator?
If you are deciding which type of generator to install in your home, here are some benefits of a standby generator to help you come up with a decision
Standby Generators Automatically Detect When There is a Blackout
Standby generators are automatic. That means if there is severe weather and you lose power or just a power outage in general, a standby generator will detect once the blackout happens and turn on automatically. This alleviates some stress as you won't have to panic when the power goes out as all of your appliances and electronics and lights will turn back on automatically with a standby generator.
These Generators Never Need to be Refueled
Standby generators are actually installed through your home's existing fuel line. This means it will take from that fuel line to turn on and generate power. This means you will never need to go outside in severe weather to refuel your generator.
Standby Generators Create Enough Energy for your Entire Home
These generators are large enough to where you can power anything with electricity to your entire home. This means all of the lights in your home, appliances, and electronics will be able to have power during a power outage.
Standby Generators Minimize Other Potential Damages in your Home
As a standby generator automatically detects a blackout and turns on, this means you will not have to worry about the appliances in your house turning off. For example, it will automatically power your fridge to keep your food fresh and prevent flooding in your basement by running your sump pump.
Standby Generators Helps Homeowners Remain Calm
A power outage can be scary, especially if it’s caused by severe weather. Standby generators help ease homeowners’ minds by ensuring their homes will be protected during a blackout. Standby generators will turn on automatically and continue to give your home electricity and run necessary appliances.
What Are The Cons of Portable Generators?
If you are deciding between a whole house generator or a portable generator is best for your home, here are some cons of a portable generator to help you reach a decision:
Portable Generators have Limited Use
Portable generators have a much more limited use than whole house generators. They have lower wattage, so they would not be able to power your entire house. This means during a blackout you would have to pick and choose appliances and electronics to keep on.
They are Noisy and Produce Exhaust
Portable generators cannot be inside your home, you must keep them outside at all times. This is because they produce carbon monoxide which could cause carbon monoxide poising. Even though they produce fumes, they will also have to be only an extension cord lengths away from your home, so you still might have to smell these exhaust fumes. Additionally, portable generators tend to be noisy, and as they are near your home could sound even louder.
Portable Generators are Manual Start
Unlike whole house generators that start automatically, you have to manually start a portable generator. They are not connected to anything in your house and will not automatically turn on in backout. They also only have tanks that hold on average 7 gallons of fuel. So you will have to refuel your portable generator quite often.
What Size Generator Do I Need?
If you are thinking about purchasing a generator to power your entire home you may be asking yourself “What size generator for the whole house”. There are a few things you should consider what size generator is needed to power the entire house. First, you should make a list of how many electronics and appliances you will have hooked up to this generator. This can give you an idea of how much power and wattage you will need.
You should also consider how big your home is. This means you should look at how many square feet are in your home and how many bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces you want to have with power.
If determining what size generator you need to power your home seems stressful, consider using a home generator sizing calculator to help determine what size you need. A generator size calculator is a convenient and easy way for homeowners to figure out how big of a generator they need.
How Much Space Do You Need for a Standby Generator?
Although all standby generators are different, you might be asking yourself the question “ How much space do I need”? And “ Where to place a standby generator”? Below is on average how much space you need for a standby generator outside your home:
- About 1.5 feet away from the side of your house
- About 5 feet away from all doors, windows, and fresh air intakes
- About 3 feet in front of the generator for any maintenance or servicing it may need
Which Generator Brand is Right for You?
Whole Home Generator Supply & Demand
It should be noted that for all generators, despite the model or brand, there is a nationwide shortage of materials used to manufacture generators, Severe weather and the covid pandemic have caused supply chain issues this past year in the generator manufacturing market. Companies are struggling to produce as many generators as are demanded. Additionally, installation waitlists are also through the roof as many homeowners are looking for standby generators for their homes.
How a Whole Home Generator Saves You Money
You might be wondering “ How a whole home generator can save you money”?
Although it may be more money upfront to install a standby generator in your home, it actually ends up saving you more money in the future. When there are severe weather conditions that cause blackouts, many things can happen in your home such as appliances tripping and becoming permanently damaged, sump pumps turning off and flooding your basement, and pipes freezing. Standby generators ensure you will never have to encounter these problems in your home dig a power outage. Standby generators automatically turn on and save your home from these potential damages. It would be more costly to replace and repair frozen pipes, broken appliances, and sump pumps every time the power goes out than it would be to purchase a standby generator once.
When you purchase a standby generator, you will have to pay for the generator itself and for it to be installed but that is it. Maybe it will need to be maintained here and there but small repairs wouldn’t be that costly. Although you may pay more money upfront to get a standby generator, in the end, you are saving the cost of replacing all of the appliances and electronics in your house as well.
Decide Which Whole Home Generator is Right for You & Hire the Experts at A&J Generator!
No matter what kind of generator you are looking to install, the experts at A&J will help you determine which generator is best for your home. Contact A&J if you are interested in purchasing and installing a standby generator for your home.
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