Why a Residential Generator is Essential for Power Outages: A Complete Guide 

 

Storms that cause mass power outages remind us of the importance of a generator. Residential generators can maintain power for essentials like refrigerators, medical devices, and communication devices. A reliable generator installation ensures you stay connected and safe. Residential generators can be invaluable.

 

 

 

Residential Generators for Remote Work and Home Offices

 

For households conducting school or work remotely, generators can ensure power for:

 

• computers
• routers
• phone chargers
• other related equipment

 

Charging cell phones and other communication devices can be crucial for safety and connection with others.

Depending on your generator’s size, it may power heating and air systems, which can be essential during heat waves and winter storms. Power outages can disrupt daily lives and essential activities. A residential generator can ensure uninterrupted power for your most critical electric devices.

 

 

The Benefits of Having a Generator at Home

 

A Residential Generator can:

 

• Provide peace of mind
• Save money from losses like spoiled food
• Prevent lost time for remote school or work
• Provide electricity for life-or-health-sustaining equipment and communication devices

 

Generators can benefit any home in any area. Storms are unpredictable. Hurricane Helene and Asheville, North Carolina, are prime examples. This mountain town suffered severe destruction and devastation from a hurricane that typically would not create such destruction so far inland.

 

 

 

Types of Generators for Residential Use

 

What else do you need to know about a residential generator? Most residential generators are considered portable generators. They are smaller, sometimes have wheels, require manual operation during an outage, and typically cost considerably less than a standby generator, which is a larger, permanent installation.

 

 

Choosing the Right Generator Size

 

The size and capacity of a generator affect how much it can power. Consider your home’s usage and your family’s needs when selecting a generator:

 

• 3000-5000 watts can power small appliances, phone charges, computers, small appliances like 1200-watt microwaves, sump pumps, water heaters, electric fireplaces, space heaters, and small central heating and air units that are around 3000 watts. This size is suitable for short-term basic needs as it can only handle a few smaller devices simultaneously.

 

• 6000-8000 watts can power large appliances, lights, fans, televisions, and small to medium central heating and air systems. This size is ideal for most small to mid-sized homes and allows more devices to operate simultaneously.

 

• 9000-11,000 watts may be needed for larger homes or homes with many family members requiring simultaneous power. This size is typically able to simultaneously run larger appliances, such as dryers, ovens, or larger HVAC systems.

 

• 12,000-22,000 watts is considered a whole-home generator. These generators are typically permanently installed and turn on automatically during a power outage. These generators do not have the same guidelines or setup as the standby residential generators.

 

 

Fueling Your Generator

 

Portable generators typically are fueled by gasoline. Because roadways can be obstructed or gas stations closed during storms, keeping some filled gas cans readily available to supply your generator during outages is essential.

 

 

 

What You Need to Install a Standby Residential Generator

 

In addition to purchasing a residential generator, you need to consider a generator transfer switch installation. A transfer switch connects a generator to a home’s electrical system. Transfer switches provide safety and convenience.

 

When your power goes out, restoring it can be as simple as flipping a switch (your transfer switch). The average homeowner is not equipped to operate a generator without first having a generator transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. Operating a generator, particularly one over 5000 watts, is also unsafe without a transfer switch.

 

 

 

 

Hiring a Professional to Install Your Generator

 

Always hire a licensed electrician to install a residential generator transfer switch. Handymen and contractors who do not have an electrical license or do not work directly under a licensed electrician cannot legally install or repair high-voltage electricity in others’ homes.

 

An attempt to save money in this aspect may lead to fire, a system that operates incorrectly, or higher costs if the electrical work is performed unsafely or incorrectly. Always trust licensed professionals for high-voltage electricity to ensure the safe and efficient operation of your residential generator.

 

 

 

Previous Post Blog Home Next Post