Houston Chronicle Sunday

Be the first owner, and make every inch of the house your own.

- By Jared Porche GENERATOR INDUSTRIES This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Associatio­n. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting profession­alism and public awareness of the remodeling profe

In times like these, one of the reasons homeowners decide to purchase standby generators is for peace of mind.

For those who work from home or run a business out of their home, investing in a standby generator will safeguard your income and your business from costly power outages.

The typical American household loses power once or twice a year for an average of about three hours, according to the U.S. Energy Informatio­n Administra­tion. But some power outages, such as those caused by extreme weather, can last for days or even weeks.

With the inconsiste­ncies in weather, more homeowners are choosing a worry-free solution to home power outages. A standby whole-house generator can restore power quickly and seamlessly to your entire home.

We rely on power in so many ways throughout the day. As soon as a power outage occurs, a standby backup generator automatica­lly turns on and keeps your home’s systems operating. You’ll very quickly miss your air conditioni­ng along with many appliances, TVs, lighting, computers, cell phone chargers, security systems and more. At one time or another, nearly everyone has had to get out the flashlight­s and pack up coolers with food to prevent spoilage. With a backup generator, those hassles are gone forever.

If you or someone you love is planning to stay in their home as they age, consider the importance of standby power as you plan your remodeling projects.

Power can be critical for those with special medical needs requiring devices such as medical CPAP machines, oxygen machines and even feeding machines. Those at risk of harm often consider purchasing a generator to power this critical equipment.

Another reason that homeowners decide to install a backup generator is to protect their family’s comfort. No one we’ve ever met likes to be without power. That’s pretty universal.

The peace of mind a generator provides has been described as “indescriba­ble.” Unlike some home improvemen­t projects, a backup generator increased the resale value of a home.

Standby generators permanentl­y attach to a home — similar to the placement of an outside central air conditioni­ng unit. The generator runs on propane or natural gas and turns on automatica­lly when power is lost. Whether you are at home or away, your property will be protected from an outage.

Some standby generators can be operated remotely from a smartphone, allowing you to view real-time power status, manage your entire system and receive instant generator updates. A licensed electricia­n and plumber will be required for the installati­on. Local regulation­s can impact the placement and availabili­ty of service on the property. Sizing a generator correctly is extremely important. Since we never know when an outage may occur, we need to allow for any automatic loads such as a central

A/C unit or large appliances like a dryer.

A proper load analysis would determine the safest, most appropriat­e size.

If you or someone you love is planning to stay in their home as they age, consider the importance of standby power as you plan your remodeling projects. Power can be critical for those with special medical needs…

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States