Power outages can result in a lot of convenience for both households and businesses especially when they occur unexpectedly. Try to imagine how it feels when there is a blackout when you are doing some important work in the office? Or when there is a power outage after you turn on the shower? The feeling is devastating, to say the least. Besides, prolonged power outages can result in huge losses for both households and businesses.
Most of the important appliances at home run on electricity. Power blackout can render a house or an office inhabitable, especially when the air-conditioning systems stop working. Prolonged power blackout can cause food spoilage in the freezers and refrigerators. It can also cause water pipes to freeze and burst. These damages can cost the homeowner and arm and a leg. Fortunately, you can avoid these damages by having a backup plan in the form of a backup generator. A backup generator can save you the headaches of prolonged power outages for your home or business.
Types of Generators
Generators come in different types and sizes to meet the varied power needs. Residential generators can be classified into portable and standby generators. If you are considering powering a few appliances in the house, then a cheap portable generator can be a good choice. But if you are considering having a generator that can produce more power, then you will need to go for the permanent standby generator.
Portable Generators
Portable generators are small, and they also produce less power. They are cheap, with most of them ranging from a few hundred dollars to a thousand dollars. These generators run on gasoline and they can only power a few appliances in the house. This generator cannot power electrical appliances requiring a huge amount of power such as the AC.
Standby generators
Standby generators can solve almost all your household needs for power. They are fixed permanently on a concrete floor outside the building. They can be the right choice for businesses and households with bigger power needs. If you install a standby generator in your home, it can add more value in case you think of selling your house in future. However, they are more expensive than portable generators and they will need a professional to install.
Determining the right size of your generator
When choosing a standby generator, it is important to match the size of your generator with your power needs. An undersized generator cannot provide sufficient power. It can also strain the generator, thus reducing its lifespan.
To determine the amount of power you need, you will need to add up the electricity needs of each appliance in your home or office. Electrical power is measured in watts and every appliance has a label showing the amount of power required to power it. An expert from generators Bloomfield mi suggests that a 5,000-6,000 watts generator can be sufficient to power a midsized unit. When determining the amount of power that you need, it is recommended that you purchase a backup generator with a power out of an extra 15-20 percent.