When the power goes out, it can have a significant impact on your daily life, disrupting work and school, causing food to spoil, and keeping you in the dark. And when someone you love depends on a medical device, a power outage is more than an inconvenience.
That’s where a whole home generator can make a huge difference and offer peace of mind in a stressful situation. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of having a whole house generator and how it can help you weather any storm.
What is a Whole Home Generator?
A whole home generator is a device that provides backup power to an entire residence in the event of a power outage. These generators are typically powered by natural gas or propane and can be connected directly to the electrical panel in your home with a transfer switch.
Also known as standby generators, they are designed to kick on within seconds of an outage and provide enough power to keep your home running smoothly until the main power supply is restored.
How Does a Whole Home Generator Work?
When the power goes out a whole home generator’s transfer switch detects the outage and immediately activates – within seconds! Once the generator is activated, it uses natural gas or propane to generate electricity, sending it to your home’s electrical system through a pre-wired connection.
The unit sits outside just like a central air conditioner unit. Because it uses natural gas or propane you don’t have to worry about getting fuel – the gas line is directly connected to the generator. Many systems come with a remote monitoring system that you can access while away from home.
What is a transfer switch?
As one of the most important parts of the standby generator system, the transfer switch allows the generator power to interface simply with your home. Connected to your electrical panel, transfer switches provide all important electricity to your vital home systems until your power company can resurrect normal operations in your area.
With a transfer switch, there is no need to run multiple extension cords back and forth between appliances and the generator. Transfer switches must be installed by an electrician and are the safest way to operate any generator. They are required when connecting home generators to your electrical panel.
Types of Home Generators
There are two main types of home generators – home or standby and portable. Standby generators are permanently installed, while portable generators are moved around when needed. Standby generators provide more reliable power than portable models and are typically connected to an automated transfer switch to detect a power outage and automatically turn on.
Unlike a portable generator, a correctly sized standby generator can power an entire house during a blackout. A portable generator is typically smaller and designed to power only a few mission-critical circuits like lighting, heating, refrigerators, or medical equipment.
These generators need to be manually operated and fueled. Whole house generators have only a single main switch that powers the home’s existing main electric panel without regular monitoring.
Powerful Protection: 10 Benefits of Installing a Whole Home Generator
There are many benefits to a whole home generator system but here are our top 10 reasons we think they are an important investment for your home.
1. Uninterrupted Power Supply During Outages
Whole home generators offer uninterrupted power supply because they come on automatically, as soon as a power outage is detected. This means you won’t experience any disruption in power or comfort and enjoy the same lifestyle as if there was no outage at all.
They also work when you are not at home, keeping your security systems running, heat on, and your food cold.
2. Keep Your Loved Ones Safe
When the lights go out it could be a matter of life and death. A whole home generator can power essential systems like medical equipment, heat, lights, and home alarm systems to ensure that you and your family can stay safe and have vital systems during a power outage.
Once the power is restored, the generator automatically turns off and goes back to standby mode, ready for the next time it’s needed.
3. Stay Comfortable In Your Home
No matter the weather outside, a whole home generator will keep the air conditioning or heating running during a power outage, so you and your family can remain comfortable inside.
If you work from home, you don’t have to worry about extended Wi-Fi downtime while you wait for the power to come back on so you can continue on with life as normal.
4. Keep Your Home’s Essentials Up & Running
House generators provide electrical power to your home, and this includes powering up essential appliances like your refrigerator, oven, and microwave. This ensures that food won’t spoil and you can still eat a hot meal and have a family movie night when the power goes out.
Additionally, generators provide power to your lights so you don’t have to worry about stumbling around in the dark during an outage.
5. No More Manual Operation or Refueling
Home generators make it easy to be prepared in an emergency since they turn on automatically in the event of a power outage and don’t require manual operation or refueling. This is especially helpful for those living in areas where harsh weather conditions are common.
With a home generator, there’s no need to worry about being exposed to the elements during a storm or other natural disaster.
6. Prevent Costly Damages From Power Surges
Power surges can cause costly damage to your home appliances and electronics. When the power goes out and then suddenly comes back on it can cause a sudden increase in electrical current.
House generators act as a buffer between the source of electricity entering the home and your valuable electronics, helping to divert any spikes of electricity away from vulnerable equipment.
7. Avoid Frozen Pipes & Water Damage
Frozen pipes are a common hazard during winter power outages, as they can quickly burst and cause costly damage to your home. Without electric power to run the heating system, temperatures in the home can drop significantly, causing any exposed and unprotected pipes to freeze.
Frozen pipes can lead to burst pipes which will result in flooding or water damage, creating opportunities for mold growth.
8. Reduce Reliance on Electricity From The Grid
As more devices pull power from the electric grid it becomes harder for power companies to provide enough energy. Most homeowners in the U.S. will experience a power failure. And depending on where you live frequent power outages could be a common occurrence.
Knowing that you have stable, reliable power is important to both your family life and any work-from-home tasks you need to accomplish.
9. Maintain Your Indoor Air Quality
Summer power outages are more and more common with all the additional strain on the grid. This combined with wildfires and higher temperatures means brownouts could be something you and your family will need to prepare for.
A backup generator can keep improving your air quality by maintaining power to air purifiers and dehumidifiers when they’re needed most. This can be especially critical for those who suffer from asthma and other sensitivities to air quality degradation.
10. Increase The Value of Your Home
Installing a home generator can be a significant investment, but it can pay off in increased resale value when it comes time to sell your house. A quality standby home generator will add value to your property and make it more attractive to potential buyers who may be looking for reliable backup power options.
How Much Do Home Generators Cost?
The cost of a generator depends on several factors, including size, type, installation costs, and fuel. The average cost of entry-level models is around $20,000 for larger home systems. It’s best to make an appointment with a Jacobs consultant who specializes in home generator installations to determine the best system for your needs and budget.
Additional Reading: The Cost of Installing a Whole Home Generator: Is It Worth It?
Are Home Generators Worth It?
Ultimately, investing in a house generator is an excellent way to keep your family safe and comfortable during power outages. Not only will it provide peace of mind that everyone in your home is secure, but it can also add value to your property.
Additionally, a whole home generator can help make sure that power-dependent medical equipment like oxygen tanks and respirators are operational during outages.
If you’re considering investing in a home generator for your family, take the time to research all of the options available. And consult with a Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning expert who specializes in home generator installations.
Whole Home Generator Installation Services in Portland
It is never a good day when your electricity goes out. The best time to get a generator is before you need it. With a whole home generator system your home and family will be comfortable throughout any power emergency.
Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning can install a home generator that fits your home and lifestyle so your life doesn’t stop when the power goes out.
No matter what you need, we’re always just a phone call away.
