Many things can affect power in your home. While many people simply rely on the power company to remedy the problem in a timely manner, there are others that prefer to take it into their own hands. Sometimes, the power company can get the power back on quickly but what happens if they can’t? You can bypass this possibility by having a standby generator for your home just in case anything like this occurs.

Pains of Not Having a Working Generator

You never know when the power will go out and without a standby generator, you will open yourself up to many different pains that can only get worse with time. Without a generator, you will have no power in your home, you will lose air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter, and you may even lose all of your food in the refrigerator and freezer if the power is off long enough. It will be difficult to walk around your home at night because you will not have any lights that you can turn on. You can use a flashlight or candles if you have them but even that can be a pain. One thing that loss of power effects is the water in your home. Many people do not consider this but without power, your water pump cannot work. This results in an inability to flush toilets in the home, inability to use a shower or bath, and inability to even wash your hands or dishes in the sink. All of these pains result in more stress. The longer power is off, the worse these things become and the more stressed you are as a result.

Benefits of Having a Working Automatic Generator

When you do have an automatic standby generator, you have something that can help you avoid all of these pains. It serves as automatic emergency power should you ever need it. By providing emergency power, it gives many other benefits to the users such as lights to use within the home when needed, use of the air conditioner or heater so you can be comfortable, preservation of your food within the home, and even continuous use of the water in your home. You will not have to wait to use the water until the main power source comes back on which means you can freely use the restroom or take a shower as needed. Essentially, you can go about your day as if nothing has happened even if your main power source is not functioning correctly. This brings you more peace of mind and less stress overall. 

Features of a Working Generator

Having a working generator is beneficial as long as you get one that is reliable. Before you purchase the first one you find, you need to make sure it has some key features. You do not want to waste money on a system that in inefficient for your home.

Size and Placement

The first thing you want to consider is the size of the system. You want to make sure that it is big enough to power your home should you need it. Additionally, you need to consider the space you need for the generator and make sure you have the space for it in your home. The best way to do this is to have a technician come out to and conduct the measurements for you.

Power Source

A backup generator needs to be powered by something and there are several different fuel types available. These are some of the most common ones as well as what you can expect while using them:

• Gasoline – Gas is an in-expensive fuel option that is easy to obtain. It is also highly flammable and can only be stored for a year before going bad so it is not always the best option. 
• Diesel – Diesel is very common because it is highly efficient, just as easy to acquire as gas, and can be stored for 1.5 to 2 years. It is slightly more expensive, however.
• Natural Gas – With natural gas, you have to have a gas hookup at your home. However, this also eliminates the need for storing fuel because you will have it as long as it is hooked up.
• Propane – Propane is a popular option because it can be stored indefinitely. Generators that use this fuel as a source burn through more fuel, though so it is not ideal for a big system.

Maintenance

In order to continue working properly, generators need to have maintenance on them periodically. This is an additional responsibility and cost you will need to plan for. When searching for the right generator, you need to take note of the maintenance schedule so you can understand what is expected of you as the homeowner.

Brands of Generators

When you are shopping for a working generator for your home, you will find that there are many different brands of generators available in the marketplace. While the basic idea is the same for all generators, there are benefits of choosing specific brands. Some will offer warranties, others will offer rebates. You will want to research these brands prior to buying to make sure you get a quality generator. A good way to research them is by looking at reviews online for the different brands. 

For More Information on Generators of All Shapes and Sizes, Call NSHEC Today!

Contact North Shore Home Energy Today!

Check Out Our Current Specials!

Read The Great Things That Your Neighbors Are Saying About NSHEC.

By nshec