What is a backup generator, why do I need one, and what else should I consider?
Backup generators provide electricity to your home whenever the main power grid is down. Extreme weather, high winds, and equipment failures are among the most common causes of a power failure, and that is when you and your family will appreciate having a whole home emergency backup generator installed.
Here are a few reasons to have backup power for your family:
To continuously power medical equipment like breathing machines such as respirators, ventilators, and CPAP machines. Oxygen, suction, or home dialysis equipment. Also, recharge batteries for power wheelchairs, scooters, or other battery-powered accessories.
Keep your basement and crawlspace dry by allowing the sump pump to continue running.
Prevent frozen and burst water pipes by allowing the use of heaters and well pumps.
Maintain safety by keeping security systems and video surveillance cameras online, as crime rates are known to increase during extended blackout periods.
Prevent food spoilage by powering the refrigerator and freezer. Simply allowing the fridge to run for 15 minutes every hour will keep fresh food cold enough to prevent spoilage.
Allow charging for your electric car. If you depend on an electric car for transportation, you will be able to ensure that you will be able to go to the store, make an emergency trip, or get to work.
Now that we know what generators do, which type do you choose? Portable generators offer flexibility, and stand-by generators provide ease of use. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each, whether you are looking at a Generac or a Briggs & Stratton brand.
Portable generators are widely popular as they can power some of your home’s essential appliances and are easily moved around, used for camping, fishing, and off-site work when they are not aren’t needed at home. They are very affordable but also labor intensive. They must be manually connected and started every time while closely monitored during use. They will have to be connected at least ten feet away from the home and refueled with gasoline or diesel fuel frequently as the fuel tanks generally only hold 2-6 gallons.
A permanently installed whole home generator is recommended over a portable unit as they are more reliable, safer to operate, and lasts much longer. Powered by natural gas or propane, these generators can run for days or weeks without being refilled since they run on bulk fuels already delivered to most homes. They are designed to start automatically once the power goes out, run quieter, and can be designed to allow your entire home to function as if there were no power outage.
It doesn’t take long for a power outage to start taking a toll on your home and family. Protect them both with a generator from Jennings Heating, Cooling, and Electric. As Akron and one of the nation’s top dealers of permanently installed Briggs & Stratton whole-house generators, we have them in stock and in your configuration now!
Our whole-house generator installation services in Akron & the Northeast Ohio area can help to ensure that you’ll never be left in the dark. When an outage occurs, your backup generator will start right up and instantly restore power to your home. That means no spoiled food, no burst pipes, no lack of heating or cooling, and no flooding due to an unpowered sump pump. Just give us a call if your generator needs service, repair, or maintenance, as we service all major brands, including Brigs & Stratton, Champion, Generac, Kohler, and more.
