Ten years ago the thought of owning your own generator seemed unreal. Now, for many, having to live without electricity seems impossible. Many homeowners and business owners cannot afford to ride out power outages anymore.
As we continue to deal with devastating storms, investing in a generator might be a worthwhile investment for you and your family. Contact us today for an estimate on a generator for your home or business in the New Braunfels, San Marcos, TX and surrounding area.
Standby whole house generators offer a more permanent solution to enduring power outages. Unlike portable generators, they're installed permanently on a concrete pad in your yard and provide continuous electrical backup for days. They are connected directly to your home's electrical panel and they're powered by an external fuel supply.
There is a transfer switch that automatically disconnects you from your utility after it detects that there has been an interruption in the service. Once your home is safely off the grid the switch powers on the generator. Whole house standby generators run off of your existing natural gas or propane fuel supply so you never have to worry about filling up your gas cans in the middle of a storm.
When the power is turned back on, the switch automatically turns the generator off and reconnects your house to the grid. This operation makes the standby generator ideal for families with children or those who need the electrical power for medical equipment. Continuous, uninterrupted electrical power is also crucial for those running a home business.
Choosing a location for your generator can be fairly simple, but there are a few factors to consider. Most of the time you want to place your generator as close to the existing electrical service entrance as possible. However, some companies require you to place their equipment a certain number of feet away from another company's equipment. It is important to keep your generator away from windows, living areas and neighbors - they can be noisy. Avoid areas that have awnings or could potentially be covered by trees or shrubs.
If you are not ready for the commitment of a standby whole house generator another great alternative is a portable generator. Portable generators are very affordable and range in price depending on how many watts you prefer. Portable generators are also easy to operate in the event of an emergency. Unlike standby whole house generators (which are automatic), you will need to add fuel and start the engine to your portable generator. Once you have the engine running all you have to do is run extension cords to your electrical necessities.
Portable generators are great because when you are not using them for emergency purposes you can also use them for your DIY projects, outdoor parties and more!
If you are interested in learning more about how your home could benefit from a standby generator contact Hill Country Mechanical at (830) 221-7207.