ADDING A HOME BACKUP GENERATOR
Sooner or later, the power goes out. And that’s when the frustration sets in, as food begins to spoil, indoor temps drop, and the internet is long gone.
But you can keep the power flowing – at least on a limited basis – by getting a backup generator, either a portable unit or a standby whole-house generator. And while the weather is typically mild in Southern California, there are many reasons a home can lose juice.
With a backup generator, you can typically go one of two routes: Choose a portable unit that runs on gasoline, propane, or lithium-ion batteries, or select a standby generator commonly powered by natural gas.
“Portable units usually run between 10 and 14 kW and are very limited on what they can power – maybe the refrigerator, some lights, and a few plug-in devices, but not your AC system and all of your lights,” says Tom Wysocki, president of Pennsville, New Jersey-headquartered Wysocki Electric Inc.
Standby generators, by contrast, commonly work with a transfer switch that monitors the current coming in from the grid to your home. When the current is dead, it automatically wakes up the generator and powers your entire house. The convenience of a natural gas-powered standby unit is that it will feed into your existing natural gas line and not require you to manually refuel the generator.
“Standby systems are designed to be totally automated, perfect for elderly residents, second homes, or people who travel and want to ensure their family and home is always secure with power,” Joe Grushkin, director of sales for Palm Beach County, Florida-based Energized Electric, explains.
If you opt for a portable generator, you can eliminate the need for running extension cords into your home if you hire an electrician to install a manual transfer switch. This connects to a selection of circuits in your home, allowing you to manually start the generator and transfer the generator’s power to your home’s circuits.
When shopping for a generator, look closely at the features included, length of the warranty, service, and maintenance required, and what happens if a warranty claim needs to be made. Costs will vary, so striking a balance between budget and needs is, as always, an important consideration.