When a disruption occurs to utility power, the immediate result is a power outage. The food in your fridge may begin to spoil, No A/C, and your family will have no access to electricity. Fortunately, you can avoid this problem with a standby generator.
As you may or may not know, standby generators are one of the country’s most popular sources of backup power. These systems can help keep security systems, air conditioners, and refrigerators running like normal during a sudden power failure.
Now, you might be wondering, what is a standby generator, and how is it different from a portable generator. Believe it or not, many elements set these two systems apart.
If you’re considering installing a standby generator for your home, it’s important to thoroughly understand how these systems work, their sizing requirements, installation needs, and more. Let’s go over everything you need to know about standby generators.
What Is a Standby Generator?
One of the best things about standby generators is that they work when you need them to, turning on automatically and generating power at the first sign of a power outage. When the generator detects an outage, the automatic transfer switch will connect your home to the generator and disconnect it from the utility power supply.
Unlike standby generators, portable generators do not turn on automatically. You’ll need to switch the portable system on manually. It’s also worth mentioning that portable generators can typically only power a limited number of appliances and devices inside a building. On the other hand, standby generators can sometimes power a whole house, depending on their size.
Now that you know how these systems work, let’s dive into everything you need to know about standby generators. We’ll start our discussion with fuel types.
Fuel Types
Typically, standby generators run on natural gas or liquid propane. Since there are various fuel types to choose from, it’s important to recognize that each option has its pros and cons. For example, propane is known for being an environmentally-friendly choice, while natural gas generators can sometimes have lower upfront costs.
If you’re unsure which type of generator is right for you, you’ll want to consider your budget and the fuel availability where you live.
Sizing Requirements
It’s incredibly important to know what a standby generator is before deciding on an installation. However, it’s also crucial to understand that backup generators come in many sizes. The larger your home, the bigger the generator you will likely need.
Since we’re going over everything you need to know about standby generators, it’s important to mention how you can find the right size generator for your needs. First and foremost, you’ll want to walk through your home and make a list of all the appliances and systems you want to power.
Generators are available in air-cooled and liquid cooled models. Most residential homes can use air-cooled models, however some may require larger liquid-cooled models. Some
homeowners might decide that they only need to power a few appliances during a power outage, while others would prefer to restore electricity to the entire house. It’s important that you know your specific requirements.
Next, you’ll need to determine each appliance’s starting wattage and running wattage. These calculations can be difficult, so don’t hesitate to ask a professional generator installer for assistance.
Installation Needs
If you want to install a whole-house generator in New Orleans, you might think you can simply run to a local home improvement store and install the system yourself. However, you certainly shouldn’t attempt to perform a DIY generator installation.
Generator installations should always be handled by a professional. The job can be dangerous for someone with little-to-no knowledge about standby generators. For example, the generator must be properly installed on a concrete pad. All installations must be up to local building codes. Additionally, a trained and experienced technician will need to connect the generator to your home’s electrical panel. There are many steps in the process that need to be followed carefully and thoughtfully.
Tackle Power Outages With a Generator Installation!
There you have it; we’ve discussed just about everything you need to know about standby generators and how they’re installed. As you can see, keeping your home powered during a power outage doesn’t have to be a hassle when you have a standby generator at the ready. These robust and dependable systems will ensure your family feels safe and secure even during the worst storms.
Now that you know what a standby generator is, you might be eager to get started with an installation. Fortunately, this is where Keefe’s comes in! We’re proud to offer a wide variety of services for homeowners in New Orleans, LA, and the surrounding areas.
You can count on us to provide you with a top-quality generator installation in New Orleans. Contact us to find out how you can benefit from a whole-home generator today!
