What To Look For In A Home Power Generator

Posted in Home Improvement
by Ann Triune

When it comes to buying a home power generator, it isn’t always too easy. With the many home power generators available today that come in all shapes, sizes, models and prices coming from various retailers and manufacturers, it’s easier to get confused. As a result, one who is planning to buy a home power generator could end up going home with nothing in his hands but more confusion.

If you do not want that to happen to you, read on and discover some of the factors you will have to consider when choosing a home power generator.

What is the first thing that I should bear in mind?

Since you will want to buy a home power generator for the purpose of supplying you electricity for emergency home power backup, the first thing you should bear in mind is the amount of electricity you usually need at home. Average-sized homes sized 1000-3000 square feet would need a generator that can produce 3000-5000 watts.

But of course, no matter how big or small your home is, it depends on how many electrical devices you have at home. To get a more definite figure on your energy consumption, you can try adding the total number and type of electrical devices that will require electricity at the same time. Typically, watt ratings are printed on the device itself so you won’t have a hard time figuring it out. Afterwards, you can sum up the wattage requirements for these devices to get the overall wattage you’ll require from your generator.

Other than wattage capacity, there are other important features to consider when buying a home power generator. Below is a list of some of them:

Sound

In order for you to enjoy the comforts of your home without being disturbed by your generator, make sure you get one that produces minimal noise or no noise at all. Ask yourself how loud the unit is before getting one. As much as possible, you wouldn’t want it to be noisy and loud.

Fuel Supply

Determine what type of fuel your generator will be running on. Today, gas, diesel, propane and natural gas can be used as a fuel. Also, check out the size of the tank so you can assess the number of hours operating time a generator can give you.

Portability

You might want to rearrange the furniture in your house or do some serious renovation. For this reason, you can choose a home power generator that comes with wheels, or a transport trailer if in the first place, it isn’t light enough to carry by hand.

Weather Protection

Check the control panel of your generator and see whether it is properly protected from harsh elements such as rain, dust, and other debris. If you plan to put your generator near open windows or your home is prone to these elements, consider getting a generator with a protected control panel.

Outlets

As a safety precaution, make sure you have enough outlets available to handle everything you need. Also bear in mind that they must be protected by a circuit breaker in order to avoid accidents that may lead to a fire.

Overall, getting a home power generator is really not as hard, just as long as you know what to look for in one.

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