If you watch the news these days, it is hard not to worry about the possibility of impending disaster. Images abound of towns blown away by tornadoes, countries washed away by tsunamis and hurricanes leaving entire states without power for days. Buying an electric generator is one way to prepare your home for the possibility of disaster. There are, however a few things your should consider before you make the purchase. Small things such as properly gauging your power usage and buying a power transfer switch will ensure that your new generator will actually help you in an emergency.
The first thing you should understand before heading to the store is that all generators are not created equal. Many are intended only for short-term use and can power only a few appliances at a time. If you lose power for days, you may need access to electricity throughout your whole house. You will need to keep your refrigerator running, your lights on and it may be imperative that your heaters stay working as well. The type of generator you need will depend on the size of your house, the number of appliances you have and the number of days you are without power. By doing as many calculations as you can in advance, you will make sure that you buy a generator powerful enough to run your whole home.
A power transfer switch is an essential component of a back-up power system. This switch is designed to sense the loss of regular power and change the whole system over to the back-up generator. This can be a particularly useful tool if the structural integrity of your home has been compromised by the disaster. Most people store their generators in the basement, which is not always the safest place during an emergency. With the help of a transfer switch, you do not have to risk your life to turn on the back-up power source.
The quality of your generator may also be very important during an emergency. Unless you are particularly prone to power outage, the power source may sit for years without being used. At most, it should only be used a few times per year. Because it is rarely used, you may not notice if something is wrong with it until it is too late. It is usually worthwhile to spend the extra money on a high-quality generator. Even then, you should test it at least twice per year to make sure that it is still in working order.
It is always important to remember why you are buying a generator in the first place. By preparing for unexpected power loss, you are protecting yourself and your family from impending disaster. Making the extra effort to ensure that you buy the right generator and power transfer switch is the responsible thing to do.
Sunday 9 August 2015
Making The Most Of Your Back-up Generator
Making The Most Of Your Back-up Generator
