In some cases, a generator can even save money and prevent extensive damage to your home. If you live in an area that experiences frequent power outages, purchasing a generator for home use may be the right decision for you. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding between the two types of generators used for backup power at home: the standby or whole house generator and the portable generator.
A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home, and usually runs on propane or natural gas. When you lose power, the generator turns on automatically and within seconds begins supplying electricity to your home. The cost of a standby generator can be significant. But many homeowners, especially those living in hurricane or flood-prone areas, find that it is a worthwhile investment.
Portable generators are usually run on gasoline or diesel, though natural gas and propane models are also available. Because of its mobility and lower cost, a portable generator is a great option if you need only limited and occasional backup power.
Because installation involves permits, knowledge of building codes, and expert skill in electrical and plumbing work as well as gas line work, if your power source is natural gas , homeowners should have this work handled professionally. Besides keeping the lights on, one of the major reasons for having a standby generator is having the ability to power essential items such as your refrigerator, cooking appliances, furnace, medical devices, and necessary business equipment.
With this supply of emergency energy, you prevent having to throw out hundreds of dollars in spoiled food, while keeping your home warm and comfortable. A standby generator can help prevent major damage to your home. Below-freezing weather and prolonged loss of power can lead to frozen pipes. But others require a bit more information. Before you can make an informed decision, you need to know more about how generators work, their costs, the amount of space and maintenance they require, and the possible alternatives.
A generator works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. That means that when you move a wire through a magnetic field, it creates a current in that wire. A generator simply spins a magnet repeatedly around a wire, forcing electrons through the wire like a pump forcing water through a pipe.
To make the magnet turn, a home power generator contains a small engine, which can be powered by gasoline, liquid propane, or natural gas. The engine pushes a piston back and forth, causing the generator to turn and produce a steady electric current. These smaller generators are mounted on wheels. From there, you can flip the circuit breakers to route power to the devices you need, such as the fridge and lights.
Portable generators can typically provide enough backup power to keep a few critical systems running, such as your refrigerator and a few lights. Also known as a standby generator , a stationary generator sits in a permanent location outside your house. A stationary generator has an automatic transfer switch built in. Standby generators are bigger than portable ones and can produce enough wattage to run an entire house. However, these whole-house generators are a lot more expensive than portable generators, and you have to hire a professional to install one.
And if you choose a portable generator, you can take it with you to power a few essential gadgets on a camping trip or at a tailgate party. Owning a generator has its share of downsides, including cost, space, maintenance, noise, and safety considerations.
On top of that, you have to pay a professional installer to hook them up. It can be hard to find a place to use a portable generator. It has to be on level ground and at least 20 feet from your house — but close enough to connect to it with an extension cord.
You also have to protect it from the weather because it could electrocute you if it gets wet. And between uses, you have to find a place to store it to protect it from harsh weather and theft.
However, they take up a fair bit of space and can be unattractive. You also need to store fuel for your generator. That said, you must keep the fuel locked up to protect it from thieves and vandals, which means adding a shed or detached garage unless you already have one.
Like any appliance, a generator needs regular maintenance to keep it running well. You have to keep it fueled and check the oil, filters, and spark plugs regularly. You also need to start it monthly and run it for about 20 minutes to keep the battery charged and the fuel lines free of moisture.
You also have to maintain your fuel supplies. Gasoline can go bad over time, so you must add a fuel stabilizer and refill your cans every year or so.
Regular maintenance is necessary if you want to be able to count on your generator to work when an emergency strikes. Generators are loud. Some towns even have anti-noise ordinances that restrict how loud your generator can be or at what times you can use it. You have to be careful when using a portable generator. It must be properly ventilated to avoid causing a fire or producing deadly carbon monoxide.
HuffPost reports that during Hurricane Sandy, generators were responsible for at least nine deaths, mostly from carbon monoxide poisoning. Even a properly vented generator gives off some fumes. So ensure it is at least 20 feet from all doors and windows to avoid letting any harmful fumes into the house.
Burning gas or propane produces carbon dioxide, which is toxic to humans. That means the more you run your generator, the more you increase your carbon footprint. But power outages tied to extreme weather are making generators more essential by the day.
One estimate from Climate Central, a nonprofit news organization, found that across the U. People tend to buy generators around major storms.
Working by flashlight, in a rush to get the power up and running, they might skip over critical safety steps during setup. Dozens of people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning related to generators. Always use a generator outside, a minimum of 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust directed away from the house.
And make sure your house is outfitted with working carbon monoxide alarms outside bedrooms and on every level of your home before you fire up a generator. Performance To test generators for performance, our expert engineers load up each model with a variety of essentials you might want to power during an outage, like a space heater, refrigerator, or window air conditioner.
We make sure the generator can handle the load it promises and also determine what happens when a sudden spike in voltage hits, like what would happen if the compressor in your refrigerator kicked on when the generator was already close to capacity. The best models take that in stride, while others bog down or even stall. We also look at how easy it is to move and use a generator, as well as how efficiently it uses gasoline and how long it runs on a single tank.
Safety Consumer Reports runs each generator through a variety of scenarios designed to capture the ways in which a consumer might inadvertently misuse a generator. We conduct these tests in a custom-built vessel on the grounds of our Yonkers, N.
The vessel is wired with calibrated carbon monoxide sensors, and we record CO levels throughout the container when a generator is on, noting how quickly each generator turns off when the levels become potentially dangerous. Generators are sold by power output, as measured in watts. The amount of power they deliver determines how many electronics and appliances you can run at once; figure on about 5, watts for a typical home.
Here are some rough numbers for common essentials:. Refrigerator: watts Sump pump: to 1, watts Portable heater: 1, watts Window air conditioner: 1, watts Lights: 5 to 80 watts per bulb Computer: 60 to watts. For a more complete list, check out our report on how to pick the right size generator for your house. You can go one of four ways. Home standby generators are installed permanently, can run on natural gas or propane, and kick on automatically during an outage.
Portable and inverter generators can be moved around, and they come in different sizes. Some are better for transporting to a tailgate, while others are better kept on your property as a backup power source. And portable power stations are large batteries that store electricity for when you need it, the only option for someone who lives in an apartment, say, and has no way to safely run a generator outdoors.
An experienced electrician can help with town or municipal permits, noise restrictions, and proper location. Some even do this via email or text, to you or your dealer. Stabilizer must be added to your fuel for prolonged storage. These models can quickly produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide. The battery required for electric start, however, might not be included. They have more sophisticated exhaust systems, which also help tamp down noise.
To reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, many new generators feature a built-in sensor that triggers an automatic shutoff if CO builds up to dangerous levels in an enclosed space; some also have engines that emit less CO in the first place.
Recent test data from CR shows that this safety feature is likely to save lives. Consumer Reports recommends a portable generator only if it passes our newly expanded CO safety technology test.
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