A standby generator is the perfect solution for homes in remote areas or those areas that have extreme weather conditions. It is normally used for emergency power, to back up your main circuits in your home or when power from your electric company is interrupted.
They are designed mainly for emergency and backup power since running it full time is not economical. The standby generators will come in many sizes and choices in fuels.
Your local electric company may be able to help you with suggestions for each choice. Using a reliable standby generator will be key in protecting your family and assets in a power failure.
Why Would You Have A Need For Standby Generators?
During an emergency situation and power is a must, having a standby generator will give you a peace of mind. Thinking of all the ways you need and use power in an emergency will help you in sizing the right generator for your needs. One thing to consider are which appliances are vital in an outage.
The size and the needs for each appliance or device will come into play when sizing a generator for your home use. Another consideration is the type of fuel to use. It is recommended that you get a generator that uses a type of fuel that is readily available in your area.
What Types Of Standby Generators Are Available?
Standby generators come in many different sizes and types. In large commercial buildings, you may find a natural gas standby generator for businesses like casinos and hospitals. These are perfect examples of an important need for an uninterrupted power source.
For residential needs, these large units for commercial needs would obviously be an overkill. Getting the right size for your home may require some calculations for each needed appliance, the size or the power that it uses each hour it is on, and which type of fuel would make the most sense for you to use.
What Features Should You Look For?
When looking into features, it is good to remember that 1 BTU equals about 0.3 watts of electricity. BTU stands for British Thermal Units, a measurement for heat, you may find this measure labeled on your air-conditioning unit or your heating system.
So, some simple math will tell you that 15,000 BTUs equal about 4,500 watts or 4.5 kW of electricity. A calculation can be done to find the number of kWh by multiplying the 4.5 kW by the hours used.
Another feature which is commonly found on most standby generators, is a sensor that switches automatically in the event of an outage.
Where Can You Find The Right One For Your Needs?
Some of the bigger manufacturers of standby generators for residential use are Gen-Tech, Briggs & Stratton and Honeywell to name a few. A search online will bring up many different generators and with just as many choices for fuel options. Most models will use one type of fuel or a combination of solar, gasoline, propane, diesel or natural gas.
According to some experts in the field, diesel will provide the most attainable and economical alternative. If help is needed in these decisions, your local electric company may be able to offer suggestions.
It is also very important to have a qualified technician to install the unit. Serious consequences can occur if not properly installed, especially if your unit is big enough to back feed onto the public electrical grid.
Can It Really Benefit You?
This is a question that only you can answer. You may want to ask yourself some questions regarding the needs for use. Will you use the standby generator for a main source of power, and if so how will the generator hold up under continued use, and how much will you spend on fuel. A standby generator is built for exactly what its name reflects, standby.
Typically, a standby is just used for emergencies and can run efficiently between a few days to several weeks, but may not be able to perform well as a constant source of power.
Sometimes, the peace of mind that brings protection and security for you and your family is priceless. If a standby generator will offer this to you, it may be worth considering.
