You can never tell how long power outages will last – potentially for days or even weeks in some cases, which is why whole house generator systems are more of a necessity than a frivolity for many households. After all, power supply disruptions can shut down your HVAC unit, allowing the cold to slowly creep into your home in winter and heat to build up inside in summer.
If you’re considering installing a generator, here’s an overview of the different types of generators and their pros and cons.
- Portable Generators – If you want a generator you can use for emergencies as well as outdoor excursions, a portable generator would be a great choice.
- Pros: They’re cheaper than other types of generators and, as the name suggests, portable. They can power essential appliances like water pumps, a heater and a five- to eight-kilowatt refrigerator unit.
- Cons: A portable generator’s tank can hold about three to six gallons of gasoline, but if it’s running low on gas, you’ll have to turn the generator off before refilling it. As such, it’s not ideal for long power outages. If the power outage were to last more than two days, for instance, you’d need to refill the generator tank at least five times. An average-sized portable generator will use roughly 34 gallons of gasoline in 2 days.
- Standby Generators – If, however, you need a generator that can provide a lot more power and doesn’t need manual operation, standby generators are a good choice.
- Pros: You won’t have to manually turn on or shut down standby generators – they turn on automatically in the event of a power outage and shut down once electricity is restored. And, since they’re located outside and soundproofed, you don’t have to worry about any noise coming from your generator.
- Cons: They’re more expensive and bulkier than portable generators. And, since they’re wired directly into your home’s system, you’ll need to hire a generator contractor to have them installed.
- Dual-Fuel Generators – Some homeowners might be concerned about the pollutants generators produce. In this case, dual-fuel generators are a good choice.
- Pros: Dual-fuel generators can use either gasoline or propane, which is a cleaner-burning fuel than gasoline.
- Cons: Dual-fuel generators’ mechanical parts are a lot more complicated, which can make repairs and troubleshooting a lot harder.
Look for Generators From Trusted Brands
Speaking of pros and cons, here’s a buying tip: generators from national brands tend to offer more features than similar models from lesser-known brands. That’s because large and trusted brands have access to cutting-edge research and development, allowing them to introduce advanced features to the market earlier and at a lower price point.
Jeff Woods Construction offers premium emergency power systems from leading brands such as Generac® and KOHLER® as well as generator installation services. To get a free in-home consultation, call us at (931) 787-9107, or fill out our form here. We serve homeowners in Kingston, TN, as well as the surrounding communities.
