Having power in your home is an essential part of everyday life. The luxury of having constant power goes unnoticed until it suddenly stops and goes out for a while. With power loss in Florida being common and hurricane season just around the corner, being prepared for power outages with a home backup generator will prevent any inconvenience or discomfort.
In this guide, we will delve into five crucial aspects that you need to consider before buying a backup generator for your home. From power capacity to fuel type, we cover everything to ensure you make an informed decision that meets your needs.
- Power Requirements
The first step in determining the best generator for home backup power is figuring out your power needs. Start by walking around your home and taking inventory of all the essential appliances and systems you want to power during an outage, such as your refrigerator(s), heating and cooling systems, lights, and medical equipment. To find the wattage on your appliance or system, look for name plates or stickers that have wattage information, or look up the wattage online with the model name/number. Then add up their wattage requirements to estimate the total power capacity your generator should have to power all of them adequately.
- Fuel Type
Standby generators are typically powered by natural gas, propane, or diesel. The fuel choice you should go with will primarily depend on your specific location. Factors to consider are availability of the fuel type, cost, and convenience. Consider which fuel source is most available in your area and figure out its long-term availability and affordability. You can also check with local suppliers to see if they deliver during storms and outages.
- Budget
If you have a budget when purchasing a standby generator, you should not only consider the initial purchase price but also installation costs, fuel prices, and ongoing maintenance expenses. There are many generators on the market, and while it may be tempting to go with a lower-cost generator, you should prioritize quality and reliability to ensure this investment provides reliable power when you need it the most.
- Location
Another key factor to consider before investing in a backup home generator is location. Location refers to where you are going to install your generator. Take note of areas around your home that you would like your generator to be installed to determine what size would be best. Depending on your home and property, you may be limited to generators of a certain size. Additionally, it is important to consider how close the generator will be to occupants and others so you may want to factor in noise level and opt for a quieter generator.
- Brand Reputation & Support
Backup generators are a long term investment and going with a reputable brand that is known for reliability will be worthwhile. Regular maintenance is also essential to ensure your standby generator can provide reliable performance during emergencies. This means that selecting a brand with good customer support is important so you can receive maintenance and repairs as needed with ease.
There is a lot to consider when investing in your backup home generator, but working with a company to guide you through the process and help you with your decision can make things a lot easier. With GenerX Generators, we are happy to help you make that decision, just click here to contact us.
Get peace of mind knowing that your home is ready to go in any situation with GenerX Generators. As a Premier Generac Dealer, we sell, install, service, and maintain Generac generators, one of the most well-established and trusted brands on the market.
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