A Complete Guide to Whole-house Generators
Power outages happen. They disrupt your daily life and force you to do things the old-fashioned way. If a severe enough power outage was to occur and last for a prolonged period, it could affect your family in a very negative way. There are many myths floating around about whole-house generators, and knowing the facts is important before deciding to install one.
Increased Demand for Consistent Power
Generators are a great, safe, and sensible solution for backup power. They’re a fairly recent addition to homes and have become popular due to increased natural disasters. Today’s homes have an increasing number of electronic devices, which means they need constant power.
Preventing Water Damage in Your Basement
Another benefit of installing an emergency power source is that you don’t have to worry about your sump pump backing up and causing damage in your basement if the power goes out for an extended period. When there isn’t any electricity, water can accumulate because it won’t drain properly without help from a pump. This can cause damage to all of the items stored in your basement and promote mold growth if left untreated for too long.
It Keeps Food from Spoiling
If there is ever a massive power outage in your area, an alternate power supply means you’ll be able to stay comfortably at home until the electricity is restored. One of the most common reasons for purchasing this equipment is to protect your food. If there’s a power outage and you run out of ice, it’s too late to buy more. But if you already have a generator, the food in your freezer and refrigerator stays cold until the power comes back. In addition to preserving the food, you can continue to use the stove when you have a generator.
You Can Charge All of Your Devices
In addition to keeping lights on and refrigerators running, a whole-house generator allows you to keep all your devices charged and ready for use at any time. Continuous access to electricity is incredibly beneficial when it comes to convenience and functionality in daily life.
Generators Can Be a Lifesaver
Medical conditions can make power outages particularly challenging. Whether you’re dealing with a chronic health condition or recently suffered an injury or illness, a generator can make all the difference in maintaining your normal routine.
A generator will ensure that power outages never compromise your health if you have medical equipment that relies on electricity. Even if you have a backup battery system for your devices, having a generator will give you peace of mind knowing that if the battery runs out, your backup system won’t be compromised.
Maintains Desired Temperatures
A generator can help warm your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. It can power electric heating systems and air conditioners so your family will not suffer any discomfort during extended power outages caused by severe weather events like hurricanes, heavy snowstorms, and ice storms.
Standby Generators
The most common type of whole-house generator is the standby generator. These generators are installed in the home and are connected directly to the home’s electrical panel. When there is a power outage, these generators automatically start up and supply power to your home. The main advantage of this type of generator is that it can be installed by a professional electrician from Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning and connected directly to your home’s electrical system. This means that no additional wiring or other setup is required for installation and operation.
A portable generator is also known as an inverter generator. These generators are typically smaller than standby generators, making them easier to move around and store in an emergency. They can be used outside or inside a building and utilize gasoline, diesel fuel, or propane gas. The advantage of portable units over standby generators is that they do not require any permanent installation or modification to your home’s electrical system. You can simply connect the portable unit directly to an outlet in your home through a 30-foot extension cord to power lights, appliances, and other non-essential items during an outage.
Types of Transfer Switches
One type of system has an automatic transfer switch installed in the home’s main electrical panel, which automatically switches the power to the generator when it senses a power outage. This system is most commonly used in newer homes where the electrical panels are located outside or in a separate room from the main living space.
Another type has a manual transfer switch that you must use to physically connect your home’s main breaker box to the generator, usually through a switch at the top of your breaker box, each time there is an outage. This system is most commonly used in older homes where the main electrical panel is inside your home.
Fuel Options
Natural gas is one of the most popular fuels for whole-house generators. It is safe, reliable, and easy to use. Natural gas has become a popular choice for homeowners because it is often less expensive than other options. It also burns cleanly, producing fewer emissions than other fuels such as propane or diesel.
Propane is another popular fuel option due to its high energy density and clean burning properties. You can use propane in portable generators as well as in stationary units. Propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing, which means there are no concerns about running out of supply during an emergency.
Diesel is made from crude oil and requires a refinery to make it into fuel, which creates an environmental impact. But diesel doesn’t have many of the problems associated with gasoline. It is less volatile than gasoline, so it doesn’t explode. It is also less flammable than gasoline, so it doesn’t catch fire easily, and it contains less carbon monoxide than gasoline.
Biodiesel and renewable diesel are the most common types of alternative fuels for whole-house generators. You can use them to power a generator just like regular diesel, but they are derived from renewable sources. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils or animal fats, while renewable diesel is made from recycled cooking oil or animal fat. Both fuels are odorless, colorless, and biodegradable, making them a good option for emergency generators in residential neighborhoods.
Biodiesel is considered one of the best alternatives because it has a higher energy density than regular diesel fuel. This means you can store it more efficiently. It also burns cleaner than traditional diesel fuel and produces fewer emissions during combustion. The downside to biodiesel is that it’s more expensive than regular diesel and cannot be stored for long periods of time without becoming unstable.
A whole-house generator can be as easy to use as your everyday appliance, supplying you with an additional level of security in the event of a power outage. It can provide power protection for life-sustaining machines and keep your important devices working. If keeping yourself and your loved ones comfortable and safe is important to you, let Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning install a generator so you can enjoy new-found peace of mind. In addition to generator services, our team offers heating, cooling, duct cleaning, and indoor air quality services. We also work on water heaters.
Contact Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning today to set up an appointment