Power outages never come with a warning, especially when they happen suddenly, in the middle of the night. But Philadelphia is no stranger to storms and bad weather conditions.
That’s why it’s crucial to have a backup generator for your home. But it can be difficult choosing the right one. That’s why we’re here to help!
Here are a few options to take into consideration:
Portable Generators
Portable generators are great if you don’t want to install a permanent one. They come in various sizes, each size being used for different purposes.
Small Portable Generators: These generators are ideal for short power outages and will last a few hours. On average, they provide less than 3,000 watts of power. Small portable generators are great for appliances that don’t use a lot of power, i.e. the microwave, toaster, light bulbs etc.
Medium Portable Generators: These generators have a bigger fuel tank than the smaller ones. However, they provide the same 3,000-6,000 watts of power on average. You’ll only be able to use a couple of appliances but the advantage is that a medium portable generator will last a couple of hours longer.
Large Portable Generators: These generators have the ability to power a few rooms at the same time. Instead of using an extension cord like the two types above, you can turn on a large generator through a transfer switch. On average, these generators provide anywhere from 6,000–9,000 watts of power.
Extra Large Portable Generators: This is the largest generator available when it comes to portable generators. On average, these generators provide about 10,000 watts of power. This type of generator usually has an electric start button or a manual transfer switch.
Invertor Generators
Invertor generators are great for powering devices that are most likely to be affected by random power outages. These include cellphones and computers.
Standby or Whole-House Generators
Portable generators are built to last a couple of hours at most. However, standby or whole-house generators are built to last days or weeks.
These types of generators are:
Permanent: They do not move unlike portable generators, which must be carried around from place to place. Standby and whole-house generators only to be installed one time by a specialist. You can power these generators via natural gas, propane, dual fuel, or diesel.
Output: Standby generators can usually provide up to 150 KW of clean power to handle all of your appliances, including sensitive electronics.
Automatic: These types of generators automatically turn on when they detect a power outage, unlike portable generators which require someone to manually turn on a switch.
Choosing the Right Generator
When choosing a generator for your home, don’t go with just about any company. You need a generator that is not only synonymous with superior quality but should have a warranty.
Generac is known for providing homeowners with everything they need when it comes to exceptional generators. With a hands-free automatic start-up, operation, and shutdown we make retaining electricity so simple that you don’t even have to be home for the system to work.
Furthermore, our models work at a low-speed so you can go on with your day without worrying about noise. If you’re in need of a good generator, get in touch with us today and let us take care of everything!
