When an unexpected power outage occurs, you could be stuck in the dark for hours or even days before your electricity is restored. The good news? If you have a whole house generator, your home could have its power back within seconds.
Whole house generators, also known as standby generators, are designed to provide a back-up supply of electricity in the event of a power outage. Many whole house generators can provide enough electricity to run household appliances, sump pumps, heating and air conditioning, lights, and electronic devices until power is restored. With a whole house generator, you also don’t have to go through the trouble of connecting it or fueling it up when the power goes out. Since it’s wired into your electrical panel, a standby generator simply “kicks on” during a power outage.
Given the high cost of a whole house generator, compared to less-expensive portable generators, you might ask yourself if a whole house generator is worth it. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits a whole house standby generator can provide:
- Safety. Portable generators can present numerous safety risks such as carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution, and fire. Whole house generators, on the other hand, are significantly safer. They are professionally installed, sufficiently ventilated, don’t need extension cords, and don’t need to be manually refueled.
- Comfort and peace of mind. As mentioned before, a standby generator will automatically and seamlessly kick on during a power interruption so you can continue running your appliances, electronics, heat, home security, and other essential equipment. This can be especially important if someone in your home has a medical device that relies on electricity or if you have young children.
- Food safety and monetary savings. When you lose power for an extended period of time, it becomes likely that your refrigerated and frozen foods will spoil. Eating food that isn’t stored at correct temperatures could make you and your family very sick, which is why experts recommend throwing away anything that’s been in the fridge for more than 4 hours without power, or in the freezer for more than 1-2 days without power. With the average cost of a fridge full of food ranging anywhere from $250 to $500, losing everything in your fridge or freezer can be quite costly, especially if you live in an area prone to power outages.
- Power even when you’re not home. If your home loses power while you’re at work, or away on vacation or business, you’ll be out of luck if you only have a portable generator that needs to be manually started. With a whole house generator, on the other hand, you can rest assured that your generator will kick on and keep everything running while you’re away.
- Increased home value. A whole house generator can typically boost a home’s value by 3% to 5%. This can provide you with a nice return on your investment if you sell your home down the road and can be an attractive selling point for potential buyers. A whole house generator can also help to increase the amount of equity you have in your home. Having a greater amount of equity in your home increases your net worth and makes it easier for you to borrow against the value of your home when needed.
If you’re considering a standby generator, you should evaluate how much power your home needs to run its appliances and other essential equipment such as HVAC, sump pumps, and the like. This will help you determine the size and type of generator that would be best for your home. Once you have an idea of the generator you’re looking for, you should shop around for generator installation companies in your area and compare pricing. While a whole house generator can be costly, there are financing options available. If you’re a MA or RI homeowner interested in generator financing, don’t hesitate to contact BankFive today!