When considering generators for home use there are a few things that you need to remember. Most importantly do not make a quick purchase just because your power is out. You need to take the time and do your research. Don’t buy an under-sized that will not power your home. Take into consideration a standby unit versus a portable unit. Don’t buy a cheap unit that will require lots of maintenance, be really noisy and not be reliable when you need it the most.
Don’t wait until you need it.
When considering a generator for home use the smartest thing you can do is buy one before you are in the middle of a power outage and just buy whatever you can find. Doing the proper research and preparation will not only save you money but assure that you get a model that will power everything you need it to.
Standby generators versus portable generators.
Consider the pros and cons to each of these options. A portable generator is portable as the name tells us. Usually they are smaller in size then the standby generator which is normally permanently mounted outside your home. The standby generator can be automatically wired to take over in the event of a power failure. The portable models usually are not hooked up in this fashion. Portable generators are much cheaper then a standby model.
Be sure to properly size your generator.
You need to figure out how much load you will be putting on your generator and buy a unit that is capable of handling that load. You can calculate the load yourself if you are comfortable doing so or you can contact an electrician to assist you in sizing a generator for your home.
Don’t skimp on quality.
Make sure that you don’t buy the cheapest generator you can find. It is best that you get a model that is recommended by a professional and has good consumer reviews. No one wants to be in the middle of a power outage and have a generator that is not working. Spend the money up front so that you have the piece of mind an reliability that you deserve.