No one wants to be caught in the dark when the lights go out because the electricity has been cut off, especially during a winter storm. To ensure that you and your family are protected from an unexpected power outage, hire a qualified electrician near Annapolis to have a standby home generator installed. If you live in an area that rarely experiences power outages, consider purchasing a portable backup generator for your home.
The Right Generator for You
So, which home generator is right for you? The decision boils down to a couple of key factors: need and budget. Do you live in an area that consistently experiences interruptions in electricity service? If so, you should consider installing a standby home generator that is permanently fixed in place outside somewhere near your home. Do you rarely experience power outages, but when you do, they last for more than a couple of hours? Or are you on a budget? If so, a portable, temporary home generator is the way to go. Portable generators are great devices that can provide you backup power affordably. The differences in prices are significant: standby home generators range from $5,000 to about $10,000, whereas portable generators range from $500 to about $2,000.
Portable Home Generators
Portable generators are the most popular backup generator, and their engines are usually powered by gas. Your electrical appliances and devices can be directly plugged into it, or they can be plugged in via a subpanel. These types of generators are ideal if you’re on a budget, and if you don’t need to power too many devices at once. Unlike standby generators that are directly connected to your home’s electrical lines, and that have trip mechanisms that automatically kick on during a power outage, portable generators are mobile and rely on you being prepared respectively.
Standby Home Generators
Standby home generators can either be powered by natural gas or propane and are directly connected to the gas lines in homes. These types of generators are perfect for homes that have heavy electrical-load requirements, or that need continuous electricity supplies to power medical devices. They are particularly useful in areas that experience frequent power outages, heavy winter storms, or intense inclement weather.
