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If you live in an area where inclement weather is a way of life, an emergency generator can be a necessity. A good generator can keep your power on and your home comfortable even during an extended outage, provided that you prepare properly. When considering which generator is best for your home, keep the following tips in mind. Determining your Power Needs The first step in deciding what you need in an emergency generator is to determine how much energy you will be using during an outage. Decide what essential appliances you want to keep running and then check the user manual or other documentation to determine the total wattage. Be sure to check not only running watts needed but also surge watts. Not all appliances require higher surge wattage, but some do. Take a tally of the total wattage you will need for all appliances and keep that number in mind while shopping. A good guideline is to seek out a generator that can provide double the number of running watts you need. This will allow you to run the unit at its ideal capacity and save fuel. Consider your Home Power Issues Before you purchase an emergency generator, you will need to do a thorough survey of your own home to determine what issues you might encounter with your existing electrical setup. Older homes may not be compatible with all generators due to the configuration of the wiring. In addition, an examination of your home electrical setup will also help you to decide if you should purchase a transfer switch in addition to the generator. Transfer switches usually cost between $300 and $500 and are most commonly used with smaller generators. They can be configured so the generator needs to be switched on manually or so it automatically comes on if the main power to your home fails. Standby or Portable? One major decision you will need to make is whether you want a standby or a portable generator. Standby generators are larger units that don’t get moved and provide more power. Portable units can be moved as needed and require less fuel, but also generate lower wattage. If you have a large home or a lot of appliances that need power, a standby generator is probably your best choice. If you only require a little bit of power or want to use your generator for other purposes when there is not an emergency, a portable generator will suffice. Regardless of your decision, remember to keep the wattage in mind, since there is a large range of power options for both generator varieties. Fuel Options All generators require fuel, although what exactly they need varies from model to model. Smaller generators typically run by an inverter engine, which is quieter and uses unleaded gas or a gas/oil mix. Larger standby generators often use propane instead. Propane fuel is more expensive, but it can also last longer than regular gas and is more readily available in major emergencies. If you expect to run your emergency generator at least once every six months, an inverter engine should work fine. If you intend to use it more rarely than that, you may want to look into propane-powered options which will give you a more effective fuel supply over a longer period of time. If you keep the above guidelines in mind, you should have an easier time in choosing an emergency generator for your home. Remember to also budget for a fuel supply and accessories such as a transfer switch if necessary. Be sure to also test your generator at least once before you need it to make sure that it will fully fit your needs. If you are looking for the best emergency generator to use for your home, visit our website at Small Power Generators.
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