Standby Generator Review

Downed trees, flash floods and old man winter can wreak havoc on the power grid. Are you prepared to go without electricity for an extended period? What about the food in your refrigerator or freezer? Your homeowner’s insurance may cover the loss, but what the immediate need of feeding yourself and your family in the event of an emergency? Installing a standby generator can give you the peace of mind you want and need.

Standby generators come in many sizes and can power only the items you select or your entire house. There are models that you manually start and those that automatically start upon the loss of your utility provided power. Some models are able to notify you when they start and if they fail to start.

One thing to consider about a standby generator include is the type of fuel you will need to power it. Standby generators are available that run on gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas and a few that use alternative fuels like wood and coal. Most people choose one of the liquid or vapor options. There are pros and cons to each type of fuel. Availability and storage are prime concerns. There really is no perfect fuel choice for powering your standby generator.

If you choose to power your standby generator with gasoline or diesel fuels you will need to keep a supply on hand in the event of an emergency. Over time these fuels will deteriorate and need to be replaced. And, of course, the storage of any flammable liquid is dangerous and care should be taken when doing so. You will also need to have a plan for obtaining additional fuel in the event of a protracted power outage.

Propane and natural gas are premium choices for powering your standby generator. Natural gas does not require storage, but there’s always the chance that in a major disaster both your natural gas and electric service could be interrupted. Propane tanks are easily obtained and the gas stores well. Replenishment is a consideration.

The size of your standby generator will determine how much fuel you will need to keep on hand to power your generator. The higher the kilowatt rating of your generator the more fuel it will consume.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 12th, 2009 at 6:10 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.