For a few months after we purchased a home, we were really frustrated with our monthly power bill. We couldn't believe how much it was costing, but we knew that it couldn't be right. We started evaluating various ways to save money, and it occurred to us that doing something about our energy use needed to be a top priority. We focused on keeping the lights off during the day and eliminating phantom power use, and it helped us to reduce our spending. Now I can honestly say that our home is energy efficient, and it makes me so happy. Check out this blog for more information.
If you live in an area of the country prone to bad weather, you may be considering a way to provide power to your home if the public utilities go down. A residential standby generator installation is a good option, and if set up correctly, it will start automatically when the power in the area goes out, keeping your home safe and warm.
Choosing A Generator For Your Home
When considering a residential standby generator installation for your home, you need to consider the size of the house and the amount of electricity you need from the generator. An emergency generator will not run everything you might typically use. However, it should be large enough to power the refrigerator, chest or standup freezer, your heating system, and enough lights to provide security.
There are large generators available, but they use more fuel and can be expensive to operate for long periods. If you have natural gas in your area or can install a large propane tank on the property, fuel may not be a big deal. If you use diesel or gas to power the generator, fuel shortages can become an issue. Using a smaller generator or limiting the electricity you consume during the outage may be essential.
Generator Installation
When you are ready to purchase a standby generator, you may need to prepare the area where the unit will sit before the installer can put it in place. A residential standby generator installation often requires a concrete pad for the generator to sit on, and if you are installing fuel storage, you will need a place for the tank that meets the local building code.
Hiring a contractor to prep the area, install the generator, and wire the system to ensure it functions correctly when the power goes out is often the best option. A company specializing in these standby generators will typically have all the tradespeople necessary to do the entire job, and often they can do it faster than if you use separate contractors and generator installers.
Generator Maintenance
After your contractor completes the residential standby generator installation, you need to consider the maintenance of the generator. Most new generators are very autonomous, but you still need to check the oil, maintain the belts, and keep the grass cut around the generator.
Most generator installers offer maintenance for the units they install, so talk with your contractor or installer to determine how often the system needs checking and what they charge for the service. Most standby generators will start and run for a few minutes a month on their own, but you need to check to ensure it does because if the generator does not, you may need to have it serviced.
Share24 February 2023
