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What to Consider in Buying A Residential Generator

If you want to secure your home from an unexpected power outage, it is best for you to have your very own residential generator. A residential generator supply electricity to important electric appliances and devices like your heater, air-conditioner, lights, computer and refrigerator, during a blackout. This is because it uses mechanical energy to convert into electrical energy.

In choosing a residential generator, you can either go for a portable or a stationary (stand by) generator, depending on what suits your needs. There are different types of fuel that can be used, and includes natural gas, diesel, gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The cheapest models are portable generators that run on gasoline. Despite its tempting cost, it only has a short running time, and you would need to refill the gas tank over and over again. It is also not reliable as a power backup for a long-term power outage since gas pumps may not work during blackouts.

If you want continuous supply of power, buy a standby generator. This type of generator is attached to an external fuel source, and because of this, it produces nonstop supply of power. You can still use your portable generator and hook it up to an external source if you want to lengthen its running time.

Moreover, portable generators come with a lot of disadvantages. It has to be transported from the storage, connected to the loads, filled with fuel or hooked to a fuel line, and manually operated for it to function. A permanent/standby residential generator, on the other hand, can function with just a push of a button, or even without any manual operation at all, if it has an automatic transfer switch. This is because it is connected to house wiring and fuel source. The typical transfer time of an automatic system is about 10-30 seconds. A standby generator also supplies higher levels of power compared to portables. Although a standby generator might not come cheap, it will be worth every cent in protecting your home from a long-term power outage, as it can supply electricity to the whole house.

In buying a residential generator, make sure that you not only consider price and wattage. Consider safety, fuel availability, convenience of use, and the duration of time you might need emergency power. Also identify whether you want the whole house to be powered or just select mission-critical circuits. If you have the financial resources, buy a generator that can supply electricity to the whole house. If not, get one that supplies just selected circuits.

Just bear in mind that having a residential generator might bring about accidents and health hazards. It can cause fires, electrocution, and a high emission of the poisonous gas, carbon monoxide.

As a whole, you should buy a residential generator according to your needs. Ask yourself f you want to use it short term/long term or if you want to power the whole house/select circuits. And don't forget to calculate the total wattage requirements of all devices you need to power at the same time, so that you can buy a generator that provides you the right amount of power.

Keep in mind that there is more to buying a residential generator than its price tag. Your home's safety from a power outage depends on a residential generator, so consider it as a very important and wise investment.

By: Ann Triune

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