It can seem like there’s nothing more frustrating than your power going out during a nasty thunderstorm. Unfortunately, sometimes the utility company may take a day or more to fix the issue, which can create chaos in your home. From food in the refrigerator and freezer going bad to dealing with uncomfortable temperature extremes inside your home, a power outage is an unfortunate situation to be in. Getting a backup generator can help, though.
How Can a Backup Generator Help?
The beauty of a backup generator is that it can provide your home with necessary electricity when the area’s power grid is down. This will allow you to continue running your necessary appliances, like refrigerator and HVAC system. A backup generator can go a long way in protecting the integrity of your groceries and keeping your family comfortable when the power goes out.
How Do Backup Generators Work?
It’s important to first make the distinction that a whole-home generator is much different than a portable generator. When we refer to a backup generator, we’re referring to a whole-home generator. This is a larger generator that becomes a permanent fixture outside of your home. It’s wired to provide direct power to your home’s electrical panel so you can continue to power all your electrical circuits solely on the generator’s power.
Whole-home generators can be powered by different fuel sources, so you can pick whatever is most convenient for you. Some models can even allow you to switch between different types of fuel. In general, a generator is designed to run on gasoline, diesel, natural gas, or propane. If you decide to go with a model that uses natural gas, it will simply be piped into the generator without the need for any storage. However, if you choose one of the other fuel types for your generator, you’ll need to have a fuel storage tank at your home.
Whole-home generators can come in either automatic or manual options. Automatic is the preferred standard for today’s households so you don’t physically have to be home to turn the generator on if the power goes out. When the power does go out at your home, your generator will immediately kick on and start burning fuel through the combustion process to create electricity for your home.
What Size Unit Do You Need?
All whole-home generators are going to be given a specific kilowatt rating, which is the amount of energy that they can produce for your home. It’s important to choose a generator that will be able to power all your electrical demands. One of the best ways to get a good idea of what size of generator you’re going to need is to start by looking at all your electrical appliances.
On each appliance, there’s going to be a label where the manufacturer puts all the data for that specific unit. You’ll want to use the information on this label to determine each appliance’s starting kilowatt needs. Unfortunately, most appliances don’t list this information in the form of kilowatts. Rather, you first want to locate the unit’s starting amperage and multiply it by its voltage to get the total starting wattage of the appliance. Next, you want to divide the total starting wattage by 1,000 to get the total starting kilowattage.
You’ll want to determine the total starting kilowattage for each appliance in your home and total them up. Since it’s recommended to get a generator with an output that is around 20 to 25% higher than what your peak starting load will be, it’s important to take that total starting kilowattage and multiply it by 1.2 or 1.25. This will give you a good idea of the appropriate size of whole-home generator to meet your home’s demands. As with sizing any sort of generator, it’s always a good idea to consult a licensed electrician to get a more precise measurement.
The Various Benefits of Getting a Whole-Home Generator
By far, one of the most significant benefits of a whole-home generator is that it will restore functional electricity to your home within a few seconds. There is no need to manually start the generator, which is great news for times when the power goes out while you’re away from home.
A backup generator will help to protect the integrity of the food in your refrigerator and freezer so you don’t have to waste money replacing it when your home loses power. Furthermore, your security system and lights will also remain functional, making it easier to stay safe and secure in your home. A backup generator is also a beneficial way to enhance your property’s value and lower your homeowner’s insurance rate.
If you rely on a well to supply your home with water, your well pump needs electricity to operate. A whole-home generator can give you peace of mind that you’ll still have fresh water for drinking and bathing in the event that your power goes out. Additionally, if you rely on a sump pump to remove excess water from your basement, a generator will ensure it keeps running even when a nasty storm knocks the power out.
While not every household will need to invest in a standby generator, there are some homes that must. If you rely on an electrically powered medical device, then a generator is a must to ensure it stays working when your electricity goes out. Furthermore, if you run your business from home, a whole-home generator can be a must to keep things up and running around-the-clock.
Will It Be Noisy?
Whole-home generators, also known as standby generators, are going to produce some noise while they run. Most people are familiar with portable generators, which are very noisy to run. However, when you opt to get the whole-home models, they tend to run at a much quieter level. It’s still recommended to have the unit positioned outside your home to help minimize its noise while relaxing indoors. Additionally, your unit should be around 50 feet away from your home to prevent any harmful exhaust fumes from penetrating your home.
Does It Need Maintenance?
All whole-home generators will need to undergo professional maintenance service to stay in tip-top condition. Most generator manufacturers recommend servicing the unit every 12 to 24 months or after 200 hours of use. It’s important to note that many manufacturers require this service to be done by a licensed electrician to keep the warranty active on your unit. Regular maintenance service will include things like testing electrical connections, changing filters, replacing spark plugs, and so much more.
Expert Generator Service
Childers Air Plumbing & Electric offers expert generator service for residents throughout the entire Beckley, WV community. Our professionals will be more than happy to assist you with all your air conditioning, heating, electrical, and plumbing needs. Call us today to schedule your next service consultation with one of our licensed electricians.
