Introduction
Natural occurrences like floods, hurricanes, storms, tornadoes, and many others can lead to power outages for hours, days, or weeks. Several homeowners have resolved for the small portable generators.
However, these types of generators cannot offer backup power for longer hours. You have to check it and add fuel to keep it running regularly.
It would be ideal to have a generator so that you won't have to worry about anything. There will be a constant supply of power to all the parts and appliances in your home.
By this, I mean the air conditioners, refrigerators, and other appliances can operate as normal. Plus, you won't have to pay regular visits to the generator.
Now, this is where the whole house generator comes in. Today many homeowners have done a huge shift to this type of generator. It offers next-level convenience.
Unlike the small portable generators, this generator is permanently installed in your home. This article, it's all about this generator.
You will find all the information you need about this generator. Let’s find out more!
What is a whole house generator?
It's a type of generator that permanently connects to your home's electrical wiring. It automatically detects a power outage and automatically turns on.
Therefore your home will always have a constant supply of electricity. When power comes back on, it also automatically turns off.
Automation will save you a lot. You won't have to make trips to the generator. Another great thing about this generator is that it is quite powerful. It will provide electricity to all parts of your home.
Two Best Whole House Generators
In Amazon, it's among the whole house generators with great ratings. It is a dual fuel generator with running watts of 9500. When you use gasoline, it can offer peak wattages of 12,500.
The power is slightly lower when you use gasoline. If the tank is full, you can benefit from it for up to 12 hours.
The great thing is that the Westinghouse – Wgen9500DF comes with a remote. You can comfortably power it on from your favorite couch.
It is another reliable whole house generator. You can use either propane or gasoline, and they produce 4500 watts and 5500 watts, respectively.
The generator can offer power to your refrigerator, air conditioner, and basic lights. Click on the above link for a detailed review of DuroMax Generators.
Whole house generator benefits
A backup generator is a great addition to your home. It means you won't have to go without electricity because of the power outages. With it, you will still be able to use appliances like the microwave, lights, and other electronics.
A whole house generator is quite powerful and can offer power to the major appliance in your home like the water heater, freezer, and many more. In this section, we are going to look at the benefits of the generator.
- Ultimate Convenience
During a power outage, you will get the total home function from the generator. Each time power goes out, you can relax and let the generator do its thing.
It automatically switches on, and when the power comes back, it turns off. In case of a power outage, the generator will be up and running in a few seconds.
Plus, you will have access to all your home appliances. It can efficiently power all of them.
- Efficiency
With this generator, you will get all the power that you need. It will also offer power for as long as you want it.
You cannot find such efficiency from the portable generators. The portable generators can only offer a certain amount of power.
This means that you will have to regulate the number of devices when using it. But the standby generator will ensure everything is running smoothly.
Plus, you do not have to refuel it. When you are out on vacation, it will ensure your alarms system and the sump pump are properly working.
- Saves You Money
I know you are wondering how it can help you save money. The purchase and installation of this generator are indeed quite costly.
However, it's a good investment that will surely help you save some dollars down the line. After installing this generator, you won't have to worry about pipe replacements and appliances repairs.
The generator will ensure your home pipes do not freeze if an outage happens during the winter season. Plus, it can keep your freezer running; this means there are no spoiled foods.
- Safety and Security
During power outages, your security lights, the alarm system will still work as normal. Therefore you won't have to worry about burglars.
Again during blackouts moving around in your home can be tricky. You will not be able to see, and therefore it's possible to trip and fall over something.
In the process, you might hurt yourself. With the generator, this entire problem is solved. You will be able to move from one room to another comfortably.
Another great thing is that using the whole house generator is safer in terms of health. It does not produce a lot of fumes like portable generators.
Therefore there will be no carbon monoxide build-up in your home. Overall it's better for the environment and your health.
The Cost of a Whole House Generator
The generator is quite expensive. However, today many families accept the cost because of its many great benefits.
Having this generator offers you comfort and safety. More so if you are in areas that have frequent power outages.
However, there is no specific cost for these generators. Different manufactures and eCommerce platforms offer different price estimates.
The average cost of the standby generators for medium homes is somewhere around $12,250 - $27,150. However, this is the upfront payment. The repair and maintenance costs are $165- $ 485 yearly.
The Installation Cost
This is another cost that you have to consider when it comes to standby generators. The installation cost does vary according to various factors.
The factors include the hourly electrician rates, the make, and the size of the whole house generator.
However, you should note that the average cost of installation is usually about 75% of the original cost of the generator.
A quick example is if the cost of the generator is $10,000, the installation cost will be roughly $7,500. And really that sounds expensive to an average citizen.
Therefore the total amount will be $17,500. Other things can also increase the price, like if upgrades are done to your home electrical system.
Always go for professionals for the installation. This will reduce the risks of things like fires. The installation has to be done professionally because it involves connecting to the existing wires.
Factors to Consider Before Installing the Whole House Generator
In case you are considering buying and installing a standby generator, there are important factors that you need to consider.
You will know more about the installation, plus choose the right whole house generator for your home.
- The Fuel
Without fuel, then the generator will not be of any use. You should always have enough fuel reserve. It's because in the event of any natural disaster, finding fuel can be quite tricky.
The most commonly used fuels in generators are natural gas, diesel, gasoline, and LP gas. The most popular fuel in portable generators is gasoline.
However, gasoline is not a great option because it is so volatile. Therefore storing it can be tricky. Here are the best fuel options for your standby generator.
- Natural gas: It tops the rating for the best fuel for the standby generator.
Firstly, natural disasters do not affect their availability. Natural gas also burns cleanly and is good for your health and the environment.
- Diesel: It is worth considering if you cannot access natural gas. This fuel does have some great qualities, and this is why many love it.
It's a better option than gasoline since it's not highly volatile. Plus, it does offer great energy and will make the generator so efficient.
However, diesel is widely used in large institutions like hospitals, schools, and many more. It's not common in homes, but you can still use it.
- Propane (LP Gas): With propane, you will be able to access a large amount of supply. The capacity of propane storage tanks is between 100 to 1000 gallons.
The gas is also easy and very safe to store. It comes third in the rating because it does not have the great qualities diesel has.
Capacity
It's a very important factor to consider. The ratings of the generators do depend on the number of watts they offer.
Kilowatt (kW) represents 1000 watts. So if you get a generator with a rating of 10 kW, it means it can give 10,000 watts of power.
If you have many devices in your home that need intensive power, you should purchase a high-rating generator. If it's a small home, go for those with just average ratings for such homes.
Conclusion
The whole house generator is best for unexpected and prolonged power outages. It will offer a constant power supply to your entire home. If you live in an area that this is a regular occurrence then the whole house generator is the best choice for you.
After installing this standby generator, you won't have any worries about ever losing power. Meaning all your appliances will function as normal.
Other than these, the generator also adds some value to your home. I hope the information in this article has been useful. Thanks for sticking with us.
