Should You buy a Backup Generator?

There are few things as irritating, in our modern world, as a power outage. If the power is out for a few hours, your entertainment options are limited and you might have to pull out a few board games to keep your kids from going insane. If your power outage lasts for a long time, your irritation will quickly become a real problem. You have to worry about how to cook food without your electric oven and microwave. You might be eating cold chicken from a can while hundreds of dollars of food spoils in your refrigerator and freezer. A power outage in the winter could spell disaster. Even though your furnace might run on natural gas, the blower motor requires electricity to circulate the air through your home. When the power goes out in the summer you will be sweating out the heat because your air conditioner won’t be running.

Is a backup generator right for you?

You are going to need to ask yourself a few questions. Does the power go out in your area often? When the power does go out, does it take a long time for your utility company to fix the problem? Do you have money in your budget for a generator? If your answers are yes, a generator will be a great answer to your energy problems.

Types of Generators

There are two good types of generator s on the market that can help you during a power outage. There are pros and cons to both so you will need to identify your specific needs and decide which one is best for your family.

• Portable Generator Pros: It is portable. You can take it with you when you go camping. There are models with wheel that make moving them around a breeze. Portable generators have a low cost; you can get one for $500 to $1,500. If you do not like a pull start motors, you can get on with a switch. If you only want to run a few things when the power is out, this is great option.
• Portable Generator Cons: You will need to have gasoline on hand. Without gas, your generator will not work. You will need to keep the gas filled, so you might spend a bit of time babysitting your power source. Portable generators are a combustion engine and they produce carbon monoxide. For that reason, you can NEVER run your generator in your home; it always needs to be outside at least ten feet away. Make certain you have plenty of 14 gauge extension cords. Your will only be able to run a few things with your generator, like your refrigerator and microwave. You will not be able to power you whole home.
• Standby Generator Pros: You can get one that can run everything in your home. You might not even be aware that the power is out. Standby generators are much quieter than portable ones. Standby generators automatically turn on when they detect a power outage. They run on natural gas or propane and do not produce carbon monoxide. You never have to worry about running extension cords.
• Standby Generator Cons: The cost for a standby generator is high, $5,000 to $15,000. You will need to have it professionally installed. If your family enjoys camping get used to roughing it, because your standby generator can’t come with you. If your house doesn’t have natural gas or propane, you will need to have a tank installed.

Team Electric Plumbing & Air

Once you have decided on a generator that is right for you and your family, Team Electric Plumbing & Air can help you get it installed. Our technicians are knowledgeable and want to help you with all of your electrical needs. Give us a call today.