A residential generator is a device that uses natural gas or propane to power appliances in your home during a blackout. They come in different sizes depending on your home’s energy needs.
Portable generators should be used only outdoors since they can emit carbon monoxide if located indoors. Also, it would be best if you used heavy-duty extension cords that are rated for exterior use. Click https://www.guysgenerators.com/ to learn more.
Winter weather can put a lot of stress on your home and its plumbing, especially when it comes to heavy snowfalls that can weigh down power lines or knock over trees. The combination of cold temperatures and harsh conditions puts a big strain on your heating system as well. A residential generator can help keep your home warm if the power goes out during the winter, making it easy to stay comfortable. At the same time, you wait for the utility company to restore power.
A residential generator is a gas-powered engine that turns natural gas or liquid propane into electricity to feed appliances and systems in your house. The generator has outlets to plug in devices like electric space heaters. The generator will take over some of your circuitry via a transfer switch and subpanel when it senses the utility power has been cut. Depending on the size of your generator and how it is wired, you can power up all the major systems in your home, including lights, heating, cooling, and security.
If you don’t have a generator installed, you can still power up some appliances with extension cords. However, it is important to use heavy-duty cords rated for exterior use and have a thick enough wire gauge to support the current running through them. You also want to make sure that you are using the generator in a safe location and keeping it away from any open flames like fireplaces or wood stoves.
While it may seem obvious, you should never run a generator indoors or in enclosed spaces like sheds. It produces exhaust and noise that can be harmful to your health, and it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in an improperly ventilated area. Keep a generator outside, and ensure it is placed at least 20 feet from your house.
With winter approaching, now is the perfect time to have a residential generator installation done in your home. Schedule your maintenance visit for the fall so that you can be ready to use it when the temperatures start to drop.
In the summer, when temperatures soar, air conditioning is a necessity. Unfortunately, the same types of summer storms that cause power outages can also cut off your AC’s ability to operate. If you live in an area prone to frequent storms, it is a good idea to consider investing in a residential generator, so your family can stay cool even when the power goes out.
Many think opening their windows during a power outage will allow cool air to enter their homes. In reality, this will only make the house hotter. It is a good idea to use fans and to keep the thermostat set at a reasonable temperature, such as 78 degrees. Tightly sealed doors and windows will also help to prevent cooled air from escaping. Spring and early summer are the ideal times to perform routine home maintenance, such as weather stripping and caulking around your windows and doors.
During the summer, most residential generators require more regular maintenance than in other seasons. For example, it is important to keep the radiator properly lubricated to avoid overheating. Most generators will have a dipstick or other access point for the lubricant; it is important to change the lube when recommended by your manufacturer.
Another important task is to make sure that the battery in your generator is charged. A fully charged battery will usually last for about 24 hours. It is also a good idea to have a backup battery if the main one fails. Finally, it is a good idea to store your generator in a well-ventilated area. Many accidents involving portable generators have occurred due to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen when the generator is stored inside or too close to a home.
In addition to keeping your family cool during the summer, a residential generator can also provide power for essential items such as refrigerators and freezers, keeping food safe for up to 72 hours. This is particularly important for households with young children or elderly family members who may suffer from heat-related illnesses if the food in their fridge and freezer spoils.
A generator can keep your home lit during the night during a power outage. It can also help you to maintain a safe temperature in your home during the winter. This will save you money on heating and cooling expenses and prevent frozen pipes that can lead to expensive repairs.
Whole-house generators can be powered by natural gas or liquid propane, depending on your local availability and your home’s current fuel source. The generators are located outdoors, and they’re wired into your home to provide electricity during power outages. They are usually fueled from an outside propane tank, but some can run off your home’s natural gas line.
You can use a residential generator to run the lights in your house, as well as essential appliances and electronics like TVs and computers. To do this, you’ll need to hire an electrician to add a subpanel to your electrical system and install a special inlet that can connect to your generator. The electrician will also determine what size generator you’ll need to power your house. This will depend on what you want to keep running during an outage, so choose carefully.
Portable generators are a convenient way to get power during a blackout, but they can be dangerous if used incorrectly. For example, you should never plug your generator directly into a wall outlet. Doing so could cause the electricity to backfeed through the circuit breaker panel and to utility lines, killing service workers working on repairs.
You should also avoid placing a portable generator inside your home or in an enclosed space like a garage. Generators produce a lot of exhaust and noise, and they can be harmful to your family’s health if not used correctly. It’s best to place them in an open, outdoor area just a short distance from your home. This will protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen if you locate the generator too close to your home and leave it running. It’s also important to drain the gasoline from your generator between uses and to store it in a dry, cool location.
People who live in areas prone to power outages often buy generators to keep their fridges and freezers cold, HVAC systems working, and other appliances operating. Without these essentials, the food can rot, and the home loses its temperature, leading to expensive repair bills.
The most basic way to get backup power is to use a portable generator in your yard and run extension cords into your house. This is a good solution for small appliances, but it could be better for larger items like air conditioners and electric ranges. Plus, you have to start and maintain the generator, and you can only run things that are plugged in when it’s running.
A residential generator can be powered by natural gas, liquid propane, or gasoline, and experts recommend using natural gas when possible because it’s less polluting, cheaper, and doesn’t grow stale as quickly as gasoline. It’s also important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure that you have a properly installed ground-outlet transfer switch to protect your circuits from back-feeding (which can kill service workers who are out restoring power).
When you install a generator, it’s important to choose one big enough to meet the needs of your household. To do this, you need to know the wattages of each appliance you want to run during an outage and factor in start-up wattage. Most appliances require twice as much wattage to start than they do when they’re running, so you’ll need to add those two numbers together to find the minimum size generator you need.
If you have a large generator, it’s possible to connect it to a subpanel and power multiple circuits simultaneously. However, it’s important to use the correct gauge of wire for each circuit and avoid overloading the generator. Otherwise, you could risk starting a fire or damaging the generator or the circuits you’re hooking up to.
A professional electrician can help you decide how to set up a generator and how to wire it into your house. You’ll need to have a transfer switch installed so you can manage the load of each circuit, and an electrician can even hook up an Amplify power management system to your generator so that you can control it remotely from your smartphone with a mobile app (and prevent it from turning on while you’re away). You can learn more about these advanced features by visiting our blog post, “Why You Need a Home Generator.” This information can save you money and stress during a power outage.