When Mother Nature strikes, are you ready? Most homeowners would answer “no”. Because in the midst of storms, when homes lose power, homeowners are at the mercy of the utility companies to restore it for them to resume their everyday lives. In some cases, the lights may come back on immediately, in other cases it may take hours. And, in rare (but happening more frequently) cases, it could take days or weeks for power to be fully restored.
So, if this worst-case scenario happens, homeowners need to be ready to take matters into their own hands by having backup generators.
Size matters
Generators come in all sizes and shapes. But they’re all designed to produce electricity to help power your home. Some may generate enough energy to power appliances, while others may have enough capacity to power entire homes. When deciding which generator to choose, you’ll want to first consider what you will absolutely need to keep on, if the power should go out for an extended period of time. Do you have medications that must remain refrigerated? Pets that have specific needs? Family members that require medical devices to stay powered? These are all questions to reflect on to determine the right size generator for your needs.
It’s typically advised to buy the smallest generator for your needs so that you are not spending excess money on fuel. Most generators run on either liquid gasoline, natural gas, or propane. Depending on which type of fuel your generator takes will determine the fuel costs to keep your generator powered.
Good to Know
Generators should only be used in emergency situations, not as your home’s primary source of electricty.
Safety first
As a safety note, it is highly recommended to only purchase generators with an automatic carbon monoxide shut off feature. In this way, you can rest assured that running your generator will not put your family at risk.
Before you purchase a backup generator, it’s important to do your research and fully understand the pros and cons of each model and how to use the generator properly. Keep in mind that generators should only be used in emergency situations and for short periods of time, not as your home’s primary source of electricity. You’ll also want to avoid, when possible, using more than one generator in a small space and generators should be kept outdoors, to reduce the risk of fire.