Tips On Choosing A Standby Generator
Each and every day, you and your Miami family depend on having the power you need to run the lights, heating and cooling system, appliances, and household electronics of all types. It only makes sense to think about home generators as a backup power source to see you through emergencies and power grid blackouts.
Before jumping right in to make a decision about which home generator you want, it’s good to figure out a few things first. Our Miami electricians at Benchmark Electric want to help you with what could be a very important decision if an emergency situation should arise. Here are a few tips from our Miami electricians on choosing a home standby generator.
What Appliances In Your Home Can You Absolutely Not Live Without?
There are certain things you may not be able to live without that can affect which home generators you need to choose from. Many people with elderly or very young household members will need to consider the emergency systems they need no matter what. For instance, ask yourself if you and your family can live without the following...
- Vehicle Charging Stations
- Heating and Cooling Systems
- Lighting
- Hot Water Heaters
- Home Hospital or Medical Equipment
- Water Well Pumps
- Etc.
What Additional Appliances Would You Want To Power With A Home Generator?
Of the various appliances in your house, which ones do you want to power in addition to the ones you can’t live without? This will make a difference in what size home generators you should be looking for. Think about:
- Refrigerators & Freezers
- Stoves and Ovens
- Security Alarm Systems
- Televisions and Electronics
- Computers
- Etc.
Do You Want Your New Generator To Switch On Automatically?
Automatic generators will switch on automatically when you need them. In general with today’s modern units, you’ll never even know there was a switch-over because it happens too fast. If you want your generator to work automatically, you’ll need to choose one that has the capability to be either fitted with an automatic switch or one that has one built-in.
How Long Of A Period Will You Want Your Standby Generator To Run?
There’s no telling how long a power grid blackout will last. Did you know home standby generators can run for as long as you need them to? The whole-house generators we install can be tied to the utility company’s gas lines so that you never have to worry about them running out of fuel. We can also connect them to your propane tank if you have one.
In Light Of All Your Answers, Would A Portable Generator Be Too Small?
Portable generators can’t produce as much power for our home as the larger units can, and they’re very noisy. A larger and much quieter home generator can be installed into your home’s electrical system by a Miami electrician.
They can also connect your generator to a propane tank to give you weeks of power if you ever needed it, or an endless supply of generator fuel by tying it into the utility company’s gas lines.
Now that you’ve figured out what all you want to power, you can either choose a portable or ask an electrician to help you find a larger home generator which can meet your needs during an outage.