No matter which first-world country you live in, you must have faced a blackout several times in your life. In some places, it is so much frequent that you might have gone mad for this.
Most of the cause of electrical power outage is natural calamities like storms. The electrical pillars might get damaged, or the wires can get cut. But this is not the only reason. Sometimes too much population could put pressure on the electrical power grid.
There might be so many reasons for the electrical power outage, but if you want to get rid of this situation, you might need a standby generator for your home.
In this article, I will tell which would be the best standby generator for the home and why should you buy it in the first place. So, let’s begin.
What is a Standby Generator?
A standby generator is mainly a backup electrical system that operates automatically. It turns on automatically within seconds if it senses any power loss in the line. After turning it on, it provides a continuous power supply to the circuits.
When the power supply comes back from the provider, your generator will automatically turn off. It runs on diesel, natural gas or liquid propane gas. Standby Generators are not cheap to get. So, there are so many things to discuss before buying a standby generator.
A Discussion to Ensure the Need
Why would you probably need a standby generator in your house? Is it really worth it? Let’s talk about it first. If you are from an area where electrical power outage happens frequently, then you should get one for yourself in the first place.
There are some other reasons for that. If you need an uninterrupted electric power supply, then a standby generator might be a good idea. For example, your AC, internet connection, and other electronic devices. We need them uninterruptedly.
Not only that, some electronic devices can get heavily damaged if a blackout happens very frequently. That is why you should get a backup power supply unit for your home. If these things meet your need, then don’t hesitate to buy a standby generator for your home.
Best Standby Generators for the Home
There are different-sized generators available in the market. But which one is ideal for your home? Well, it depends on the loads you are going to put on it. Sizes of generators are measured in kW (kilowatts).
You need to find out what electric devices you are using in your house so that you can find out the best standby generator in your home. Most of us think that bigger house needs bigger-sized generators.
But this is not a fact because a small house can put a heavy load on the standby generator by putting an enormous load on it. So, let’s figure out what things you can run in your house with which generator. But remember that the more size of a generator can handle more load.
Sizes of standby generators can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but we are giving an estimation of how much power they might need. Here are some best generators of 2020 which can be used in any type of household.
7kw
Two lighting circuits (estimated wattage- 200W), Refrigerator (estimated wattage-1200W), Sump pump (estimated wattage- 1000W), well pump (estimated wattage- 1000W), Furnace fan (estimated wattage- 500W), Garage door opener (estimated wattage- 875W), Microwave oven (estimated wattage- 1000W), Radio (estimated wattage- 50W)
17kw
It can easily run the things mentioned above. But there are some more loads that it can handle. Like Electric ovens (estimated wattage- 2000W), television (estimated wattage- 300W), Laptops (estimated wattage- 45W), Desktop computers (estimated wattage- 200W), 4-ton central AC (estimated wattage- 8500W)
48kw
This is a massive-sized generator and can handle almost all household components easily. All of the components mentioned above can be easily handled by this generator. Also, you can use a coffeemaker, washing machine, ps4 etc. in your house.
Proper Use of a Standby Generator for the Home
A standby generator can save you time on your electrical need, but you should learn how to use it properly. Basically, a standby generator is placed outside of your house; maybe in the backyard. Only skilled and professional electricians should do the installation process.
Also, make sure you choose the right-sized generator for your home. Otherwise, you might get low or unstable voltage conditions. This is quite dangerous and can harm your electrical devices. So, make sure you are choosing the right one.
Risk Factors
· Fuel: A standby generator runs on fuels that are flammable. So, keep these fuels in a safe place. Don’t store the fuel for a long time. Make sure it doesn’t reach children’s hands.
· Bad Combustion: Bad combustion can create carbon monoxide (CO) which harms the environment. If you are facing such an issue immediately call the maintenance service.
· Fire: A standby generator can catch fire for many reasons if you don’t take proper care of it. So, keep a fire extinguisher at your home always.
Proper Maintenance
· Check the filters and coolant regularly.
· Only use the fuels suggested by the manufacturer.
· Run the generator once a week and check if it is working properly.
· Create a log for maintenance and take it regularly.
· Only hire a licensed electrician for installation and maintenance.
· Don’t store fuels for more than 12 months.
If you take proper maintenance of electrical devices, it last longer. It is also true for a standby generator. The need for a generator is huge, no matter if it is summer or winter.
Conclusion
Standby generators can be a real help not only for your home but also for small businesses. Most power outage happens during the summer, and we know how much we suffer during this period. Generators mainly help us to get rid of this situation. But without proper maintenance, it could become a very bad investment. So, my suggestion will be to make sure you choose the right-sized standby generator for your home and take all necessary steps to keep it alive.
