It may still only be autumn, but winter is not around the corner and you don’t want to miss out when the weather turns badly. If you are in an area that suffers from adverse weather and regularly suffers from blackouts and blackouts, a generator in standby mode is always a good thing. With so many different types of generators, how do you know which one is best for you? Don’t worry, we will be happy to help you!
Portable Vs Standby Generators
A portable generator does what it says on the tin. You can move this generator anywhere and plug it into anything and it will still work. Portable generators are fantastic if you live in an area where there is little chance of being hit by adverse weather, but it is not safe. They’re relatively inexpensive when compared to standby systems, but you can make up for this by the fact that in the event of a power failure, you’d have to manually turn them on in order to get the power to work in your home.
Standby generators are amazing when you don’t have to think about the power to turn back on in an emergency. This is the best choice if you live in a place where you are sure that you will have a long power outage at some point in winter. Standby generators should be professionally installed to ensure that they are safe and operational, and turn on when they sense the power failure. More details can be found at bestgenerator.org
How much electricity do you need?
This may seem like an arbitrary question, but the results really do affect what type of generator you buy. Some people suggest that you buy the smallest generator for your needs as this will lower your overall fuel costs, but while you want to make sure that you don’t spend too much, you also want to make sure that you can go on with your life. A good metric for sizing is what your basic elements in your home need to have electricity. First, your fridge-freezer, stove if it’s electric, TV, heater, hot water, etc. If you live alone you don’t need the same generator as a family.
A large portable generator delivers approximately 7500 watts. This is enough to keep your fridge / freezer, lights, security system, heater and a laptop running. This size is great for a smaller house with a few people and won’t break the bank.
A small standby generator produces around 20,000 watts. This is enough electricity to power everything in a small house as long as there is enough fuel. It should be noted that the larger the generator, the more fuel you need to keep it going. This can be problematic, especially if you live in an area where you may have difficulty getting it, if you are snowed in, the amount of energy it takes to keep the most important items going and how easy it will be will get enough fuel to keep your generator running.
So which one do you choose?
Both portable and standby generators have their advantages, and both serve a purpose. When it comes to choosing one or the other, it really depends on personal preferences and circumstances. First, if you are on a small budget, portable devices are much cheaper than the standby alternatives, and you can buy a good-sized portable generator on a budget.
If you have a large house and need to keep your large family warm and entertained during a power outage, the standby generator may be the one for you. This is also a great option if you need to be working away and making sure the power comes on without you being there. If you don’t have particularly good access to fuel, especially in bad weather, a smaller generator that doesn’t burn as much is a far better and more reliable option. You don’t just want to start the generator to see that it uses so much fuel that it won’t last more than two hours before it needs more.
Final thoughts
There is a generator for every house, need and situation, but when it comes to choosing one, it is the choice of an exceptional person. You need to think about how often you might need to use it, how big your house is, what items you can do without, and how easily you can access a source of fuel, especially in bad weather. As long as you consider these points first, you will have no problem with the generator you have chosen and you will not experience any nasty surprises if the power fails.