A whole home generator (also called a standby generator) is a great way to keep your home powered during an outage. But what exactly is a whole home generator, and how does it work? Here are some things you need to know about home generators.
How does a standby generator work?
Standby generators are connected to your home’s electrical system. When the power goes out, the generator will automatically turn on and start supplying power to your home. When the power comes back on, the home generator senses this and automatically powers off.
What you need to know about home generators
Here are the facts you need to know about home generators for proper expectations and proper care of your standby home generator unit:
- Installation can take several days. Because standby or home generators are typically connected to natural gas lines, it can take a few days to complete installation with the necessary permits and signoffs from your local municipality.
- Choose natural gas over propane, if you have a choice. Natural gas lines can run continuously without need to refill or replenish the fuel source. Propane has to be refilled or replenished and could be difficult to get in situations where power is lost to an area for several days.
- They need to be maintained. Just like your home HVAC system, your home generator needs regular service and maintenance to ensure it runs efficiently and is ready to cycle on when you need it most. You should have your generator serviced at least once per year, ideally before hurricane season begins.
- It will make noise. Generators make noise though home generators tend to make far less noise than portable ones.
- Get the right sized generator for your home and energy needs. The right size for you depends on the size of your home, household power use and which appliances need to be powered. Your generator specialist can help you calculate the right sized generator for your home.
Having a standby or home generator is a good idea in places with frequent tropical storms like the South Carolina coast. It will keep your home up and running in the event of a power outage due to storms or other circumstances. Understanding how they work and knowing the basics helps you care for and maintain your generator unit and ensures you get the right size system for your home. Carolina Cool is your local Generac authorized dealer. Our expert technicians can help you choose the right sized generator for your home and install it properly. That’s cool!
