Generally, the more it costs, the more power it can supply, so only pay for what you need. Prices start from $2,000, but most cost around $3,000 - $5,000, depending on the brand. Expensive - Whole house generators come at a cost. What are the cons of a whole house generator?ġ. Adds value to your home - It may be expensive, but a home generator will add value to your home once it’s installed. Your security systems will keep running if there’s a power outage while you’re on vacation as well.Ĥ. Your food will stay chilled and your lights will be on when you return. It works when you’re not at home - You can go to work knowing everything will be taken care of at home. It will also switch itself off once power returns and go back into standby mode, ready for the next outage.ģ. Convenient to use - Whole house generators will automatically step in, supplying electricity in milliseconds when necessary, so you will barely notice the transference. Plus, these run 24/7, 7 days a week, so you can rest assured you’re always covered. This can be especially crucial if you lose power during a storm - a generator can keep your sump pumps working, helping prevent your basement from flooding.Ģ. It provides peace of mind knowing that even if the power goes out, you can continue as you were. Reliable - A whole house generator offers a reliable and constant (if you're hooked up to a gas line) supply of electricity should your area be prone to power outages. Home or standby generators are the more reliable option in terms of supplying electricity to your whole home and these are what we will focus on.ġ. However, unlike gas-powered generators, battery backups will only last as long as there's a charge in the battery itself, and can't be replenished until the power comes back on, or if they're connected to solar panels. These require fuel to run, much like whole house generators and should only ever be used outside because generators produce the poison gas carbon monoxide.īattery backups are also gaining popularity these can be small devices that can power just a few appliances, or a large power bank that can supply energy to your whole home. Bear in mind, these don’t offer as much convenience because you have to manually hook them up when you need them, and they’re known to be noisy too. These don’t supply as much power, but some can still be connected to your home’s circuit breaker from outside as an alternative solution. And browse our generator ratings, which include portable and inverter models in addition to home standby generators.Portable generators exist which are smaller, cheaper and, as the name suggests, portable compared to larger and permanently installed home generators. Start with our generator buying guide to zero in on the style that’s right for you. Our tests find crucial differences among models, even within a single brand. "But because of the costs, including installation, it’s also important to get a model that delivers steady, reliable power." "A home standby generator is the single best tool available to use as a source of backup power," says Misha Kollontai, CR’s test engineer who oversees generator testing. You have your choice of fuel-propane, which is less risky to store than the gasoline required for portable generators, or natural gas, which provides an unlimited supply of power. Because they’re professionally installed-outdoors, with the exhaust properly diverted away from your home-they don’t present the same potential safety issues posed by portable generators. They run a self-diagnosis and let you know when maintenance is needed. Among the benefits of home standby generators: They start automatically, so there’s no futzing in the dark with flashlights to get things going.
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