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With severe storms on the rise, a home generator is becoming a popular purchase for many homeowners. To meet the increasing demand for backup equipment, manufacturers have increased their residential distributor network throughout the country, and local electrical contractors find themselves installing standby generators in homes. Since 2012, residential generator sales have been on the rise and represent a major part of expected growth in the generator market - over 6% annually through 2019. While some homeowners will aid sales by purchasing portable generators, the trend is toward adding whole house models. Why You Need a Home Generator Whether from a storm or a simple disruption to the power grid, you know how frustrating it can be for any amount of time without electricity. Sometimes the power returns quickly, which results in a minor inconvenience; but the power can be out for hours, or, in the case of a major storm, for days. As the hours and days tick by, it becomes more disruptive to your life: - The food in your refrigerator is on a time clock before it spoils. If the doors are kept shut, the refrigerator will stay cold for about 4 hours; the freezer will hold for 24-48 hours depending on how full it is.
- Depending on the time of year, your home can quickly become too hot or too cold as your HVAC is out. This becomes more worrisome when there are young babies or elderly people living in the home.
- Your computer, TV, and Internet router are out of commission, and even things you put on a charger, such as your cell phone or tablet are on borrowed time as they lose their charge. If your basement is subject to flooding, your sump pump won't work.
- No microwave or stove, which is why it's important to have plenty of non-perishable food on hand and a non-electric can opener.
- A lack of creature comforts such as hot showers, fans, lights, nursery sound machines, and alarm clocks, can make the whole family cranky.
Why Select a Whole House Generator The best way to prepare yourself for major power outages is with a backup generator connected to your home power supply that can spring into action the moment you flip a transfer switch. While these whole house models are considerably more expensive than portable generators, the systems offer two major advantages: - Because they are permanently connected to a power source, they won't run out of fuel before your power returns.
- They can provide enough power to return your home to near normal functioning.
In selecting a generator, you should buy one based on your needs. If you just want to restore basic functionality to power appliances such as your refrigerator and microwave, as well as lights and electronics, you can get by with a smaller unit than if you want to power your whole house. In any case, you'd select a generator based on your location, the square footage in your house, and what your power needs and expectations are. Your Electrician Can Help You Select Your Generator Since buying a generator is a new experience for most homeowners, you should work with your electrical contractor or electrician to choose the proper size of generator, the right automatic transfer switch, and the most reliable brand. Electricians can also install and maintain your home generator to ensure it is ready to go at a moment's notice, whether you need it frequently or whether you go two years without using it.
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Electrician, Electrical Repair, residential electrician, commercial electrician, industrial electrician, lighting, electrical systems,
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