Written on: September 7, 2020
Power outages caused by severe weather are becoming more common these days, and their consequences are greater than ever – especially with everyone home for school and work the way they are right now.
The best way to avoid the problems of a power outage is to install a whole house generator – a permanent addition to your home that powers up automatically the moment it detects a cutoff of power from the grid. Powered by propane, a backup generator can not only keep the lights on – it can keep your sump pump working, your security systems online, and life-saving medical equipment functioning.
But how do you choose a backup generator? Here are three considerations that will factor into your buying decision.
Factor 1: Capacity – The capacity of generator you need depends primarily on the size of your home and what equipment you want to power during an outage.
Generators come in a wide range of capacities. A small, easy-to-place 8 kilowatt (kW) unit, for example, can operate power essentials such as lights, refrigerator, TV, and other small appliances. A large 25 kW commercial-grade generator, on the other hand, can easily run a home HVAC system in addition to those items.
A good place to start in determining the capacity of generator you need is to break your usage down into two categories: Essentials (lights, refrigerator, sump pump, furnace fan, security system, TV/computers, and microwave), and high-wattage items, such as your A/C or heat pump, clothes dryer, water heater, and oven or stove. Once you make that determination, you can decide what you’re willing to spend to protect those functions during an outage.
Factor 2: Size/placement – Whole house generators can be as large or even slightly larger than the outdoor unit of your central A/C, depending on the power output – so you’ll room outside your home. Whole house generators also need to be near electricity, and they must be placed to comply with flood, noise and electrical codes – big reasons why a whole house generator must be installed by a professional.
Factor 3: Cost – Stand-by propane generators range in price between $3,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the size and capacity of the unit. The greater the capacity, the higher the price.
Thinking about investing in a whole house propane generator? We can help. Contact Ace-Robbins today to get a FREE, no obligation estimate on a propane generator for your Wyoming County, PA home.
