Be Safe at Home With a Standby Generator
If you’ve ever been without electrical power for more than an hour or two, you know what an inconvenience it can be. If a power outage lasts for days or weeks, it turns from an inconvenience to a major aggravation with serious implications.
Life without electricity is no picnic. Not only are you without heating or air conditioning–usually in the most extreme weather conditions–you’re also without refrigerated or frozen food, refrigerated medications and entertainment from sources like TV, DVD, radio and more. People who require electricity to power medical equipment or the computer they use for their home business can find their health or their income seriously impacted.
Most people only think about losing power when there’s some kind of serious weather event. The truth is, your power could be interrupted for any number of reasons. A simple traffic accident could knock out power to your neighborhood. The utility company’s equipment could malfunction at any time. The government could implement rolling blackouts or utility companies may not be able to meet the ever increasing demand across the country. And in today’s world, the threat of terrorism is real and shouldn’t be dismissed as unlikely. The truth is, you’re more likely to be without power for an extended period of time today than at any other time in recent history.
A lot of homeowners have begun to prepare for such an eventuality. They’ve started buying portable generators to keep on hand in case of an emergency. Sales of portable generators always rise after a disaster of some kind, but more and more people are buying those generators in advance of a major event. That’s a step in the right direction. A typical gasoline-powered portable generator can at least keep your TV on, your refrigerator running and a few lights lit. Depending on its size, it may also provide power for a window air conditioner or perhaps a few electric heaters. While it still leaves you without a lot of the luxuries you’re used to, it goes a long way toward keeping you safe, comfortable and even sane!
Unfortunately, like anything that’s described as “portable” these generators have their limitations. To begin with, the wattage output of the generator is often directly proportionate to its size. In other words, if you want to be able to supply power to a lot of stuff, you’re going to need a bigger space to store your generator and a stronger back to move it around. Another consideration is the gasoline (or diesel or propane) required to run the generator. You’ll need to keep some on hand, and you’ll need to be able to replenish your supply as your generator uses it up. Most gasoline-powered portable generators will go through a gallon or two of gas every hour or so. When you need to fill it up you’ll have to go outside, shut off the generator and refill the tank. That doesn’t sound too bad unless you’re doing it in the middle of a storm at 2 in the morning.
Of course you’ll need to perform regular maintenance on the generator, and it can sometimes be hard to find a safe, secure location to run the generator when it’s needed. If you place it too close to your house you’ll not only have to deal with the noise from the generator, but you’ll need to be careful to avoid having dangerous carbon monoxide (from the generator’s exhaust) seep into your home. You do want to keep the generator out of the elements and depending on where you live and the nature of the emergency, you might want to secure the unit from desperate larcenists who may be wishing they had one just like yours.
If you’re inclined to purchase a generator, but are wary of the hassles associated with a portable unit, what you need is a permanent stationary generator. A Residential Generator Set is mounted in place and tied into your home’s electrical wiring and gas supply. It can run off different types of fuel (sometimes more than one) and it’s designed to come on automatically as soon as it detects a power outage. The result is a system that provides virtually uninterrupted power whenever it’s needed. There’s no need to turn it on or fill it with gas. The best part is, you can power your entire house with one of these generators so you won’t have to choose between watching a movie and cooking dinner. If you get the right size equipment, you may never even know your generator is working.
Residential Generator Sets are found in many critical care facilities and other commercial buildings where electricity is vital. The thought of putting one in a home at one time may have seemed excessive, but it makes perfect sense to anyone who wants to be prepared. Today these generators are safer, more affordable, and more reliable than ever. You shouldn’t try to install a stationary generator like this by yourself unless you’re, at the minimum, a licensed electrician. Our company can ensure your system is installed properly and that it meets all local building codes. Call us today for a free cost estimate.
