Should Every Homeowner Have a Generator?

Date: November 4th, 2022

Do you have a large home?

If you own a large home, you are more likely to experience burst water pipes during winter storm-related power outages. When the house starts cooling down, the water in the pipes starts to freeze and expand. This causes pipes to rupture, leading to damage worth thousands of dollars. However, it is possible to keep a small home using gas heaters – although not recommended for safety reasons. This prevents exterior pipes from bursting. For a large home, you have to install a backup generator to prevent burst pipes and maintain heat.

What type of appliances are you running at home?

Do you have someone in your home who sleeps with a CPAP machine? Do you have a hot water tube that could freeze if deprived of power? What about old people who use a stair lift? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need a steady stream of power. Don’t wait for an emergency to install a backup generator and protect yourself against unexpected power outages. The best bet is always to stay prepared.

Portable Vs. Standby Generator

If you’ve already made the decision that you need a backup generator, the next step is to decide if you need a standby or portable generator. Below are some guidelines you can use to choose between a portable and a standby generator.

Portable generators

Portable generators are a good choice if you’re looking for limited power in an occasional power outage. However, for portable generators, what you save money on, you lose in convenience since most of them are operated by hand. Portable generators also cannot run your whole home. But if you are just concerned about the food in your freezer going bad or keeping your cell phone charged during a storm, then a portable generator is a better option for you.

Pros

• Ensures essentials are powered in an outage, i.e., refrigerators and air conditioners.
• Does not take permanent space in your yard.
• Requires little maintenance.

Cons

• You must be home to get the power started because they must be turned on manually.
• It cannot power an entire home.
• Not safe for indoor use.
• Requires fuel to be stored separately.

Standby Generators

Standby residential generators have a greater upfront cost, but they can be used safely and reliably in any weather. They can also power all your household appliances. They can last for 15 years and switch themselves on automatically when the power goes off. A Kohler home standby generator is a worthwhile investment if you live in a storm-prone area.

Pros

• Switches on automatically in case of a power outage
• Can power the entire home
• Can increase the home resale value

Cons

• High installation cost
• Regular maintenance
• Takes up a lot of space outdoors and cannot be moved once installed

Why Do You Need a Backup Generator?

Keep Your Home Comfortable

Although you can go without power for a few minutes, a longer power outage can make your home uncomfortable. No one wants to stay in the dark without heat or air conditioning. A backup generator will keep your home happy and comfortable.

Keep Important Appliances Running

A backup generator will ensure the necessary appliances in your home are running. This includes the refrigerator, overhead lights, and even medical equipment. If you have a family member who is dependent on a medical device such as a rechargeable power chair, heart monitor, or oxygen tank, planning is crucial. In such cases, you will need a standby generator.

You Work From Home

If you work from home or run a home business, a power outage could mean a total work shutdown – unless you have a generator. With the growing need for remote working, millions of Americans work from home. Thus, if you’re among them, it is essential to have a portable diesel generator to ensure the Wi-Fi, PC, and printers are running even during a power outage.

You Use Well Water

Most municipal water systems are pressurized; thus, water will come out of the faucet whether or not there’s a power outage. But not so for rural dwellers who depend on electric pumps to pump water out of their wells into their homes. But when you have a portable generator, you can plug the good pump into it and keep the water flowing in a power outage.

Do you now see why you should have a backup generator in your home? Apart from all the mentioned benefits, a backup generator comes with great peace of mind. You will not have to worry about your food going bad, your water pipes bursting or living in an uncomfortable home. Are you looking to install a residential backup generator in your home? Talk to us today and get our specialized experts to advise. We have been providing power solutions since 1955. Power Systems West is an authorized Kohler distributor, so you will be in safe hands.

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