Why do you need standby generators in your family home?
Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash
Power outages can happen at any time, while most happen when a heavy storm comes in, you can also be left without power for a variety of other reasons. It could be that there was a technical failure of the grid or other external factors that have led to you being without power. Some power outages can be rectified quickly, whereas others can take up to days or weeks to be sorted, how would you cope if there were to happen to you and your family? Here we give you the answers of why you need standby generators.
Keeping your family warm
When you’re in the depths of winter, one of the last things you need is a power cut. Not only does it cause stress, it can also make the house very cold, especially if you have a power cut that is set to last a long time. A good-sized back-up generator can keep your house running as it would normally, you just need to make sure that you can fill it with fuel. This way, you can keep your family warm and safe.
Cooking food
A lot of us have moved away from gas hobs and we are now left fully dependant on electricity to able to cook. When a power cut hits, you want to make sure that you are able to cook food and with a standby generator, you can do just that. You can choose an array of sizes that meet your needs. Whether you need one that will just power a few important appliances, such as lights, heating, and your hob or you want a full house system that will keep your house running as nothing has happened.
Keeping your phone charged
Some storms can cause lasting damage, once the initial hit is over, there may be floods or other disruptive disasters that happen. Some storms can also take longer to clear than initially anticipated. If this is the case, you want to make sure that you can always charge your phone. That way if the situation deteriorates or someone in your family becomes unwell or gets hurt, you always able to call for help. You don’t need a full house system to be able to do this, you can always rely on a smaller generator that you can pull out of your garage in a time of emergency. Whichever way you chose to have a generator, it is certainly worth having one you can access.
Food
There is only so long that food can last in your refrigerator without power and after a certain point, a lot of the food that you have will be spoiled and ruined. If you are caught power outage that lasts longer than a day, you want to make sure that you can keep running to your fridge freezer. If the power outage has occurred due to a storm, you will need to keep this running as it may not be safe for you to go out. It is also very possible that in the face of a bad storm, food stocks will run low in supermarkets as people buy up items that will sustain them throughout. If you are concerned that you will lose power whilst you are out of the house at work, you can look for products that have an automatic control transfer switch. These units are often a lot bigger and have to be installed by a professional, but they will give you absolute peace of mind when you are at work. Some of the larger generators can run for up to 48 hours without needing to be refilled, so if you live in an isolated or rural area, you can have a bigger system built into your home as a failsafe and be safe in the knowledge that you have a while before you have to go and get any fuel.
Why a standby over a portable generator?
If you live in an area where the weather can be unstable, especially over winter, you want to make sure you have all bases covered prior to winter. A standby generator will need to be regularly serviced and checked prior to winter, but once this happens, it is pretty much always ready to go. Standby generators give you a lot more power than portable ones, as portable ones are lightweight and only meant for a few items. This is in direct contrast to a standby generator. These are designed to run at least 50% of your home, such as heating and cooking facilities, but you can get ones that are big enough to run 100% of your home. Standby generators are ready at the drop of hat and chances are you might not even notice it has kicked in until you hear it. This is another reason why standby generators are so good, you don’t have to go outside to get the portable generator out and make sure that it works and then plug everything in. Instead, when the standby generator sees that the power has gone out, it instantly starts and gets power to where you need it most.
Final thoughts
If you live in an area with harsh winters or you have suffered a power outage before that lasted longer than you realized, a standby generator could be an excellent choice for you. They are different from portable generators as they are wired into your home and will kick in as soon as they sense that your power is out. Having a good-sized standby generator means you can run your house almost exactly how you would if you had power. This means that you will still be able to cook and keep the house warm, which will keep the family safe. If you work away from home or have a long commute, there is no need to panic if it looks as though a storm is coming in, a standby generator will click over instantly, making sure you and your family are safe and warm and you don’t have to rush home to get the portable generator working.