Should you invest in a Standby Power Generator?
Blackouts are nothing new, but if you've ever struggled through an extended power outage, you know the importance of emergency electrical power. Power outages happen for a host of reasons, but as major storms continue to increase in both frequency and intensity, ensuring that you’re connected is more important than ever.
A standby generator can power your home or business for days after a blackout, but they are a pretty significant investment in terms of cost. We put together five short answers to our most frequently heard questions that might help you weigh your decision.
What Are Standby Generators?
Standby power generators are a solution to powering your home during an extended outage. Standby generators are permanently installed on the exterior of a building much like a heat pump or central A/C unit. Apart from semi-regular “exercising”, standby generators remain dormant until they are automatically switched on in the event of an outage. They are connected directly to the electrical panel of your home or office, and are most commonly fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, or diesel fuel. Typically, a small air-cooled generator is enough to accommodate for the emergency needs of your home. However, larger liquid-cooled units can provide more power for whole home backups and commercial uses.
How Do Standby Generators Work?
The most salient feature of a standby power generator is the connection to an automatic transfer switch. Transfer switches are the median between your home’s electrical panel and the generator itself. In essence, they function to automatically take your electrical draw off of utility power during an extended outage. Once your home or office is safely removed from utility power, the transfer switch engages the standby generator before transferring its power to your home or building.
When municipal electrical supply returns, the transfer switch also handles the reverse transition. The switch shuts down the generator and safely returns power over to utilities. This prevents back-feeding electricity to the grid and saving you from a very significant electrical mishap.
The meat and potatoes of a standby generator is an internal combustion engine -- much like the one in your car. However, instead of gasoline, a generator is connected to either natural gas utilities, or an external liquid propane or diesel fuel tank.
Are Standby Generators Easy To Install?
Sure! If you’re a licensed professional with a comprehensive knowledge of local ordinances, industry codes, and manufacturer specifications, that is.
Cities and towns have noise ordinances, restrictions on fuel tank placements, and required compliance for electrical components like grounding wires. Additionally, municipally adopted building codes have requirements for the placement of generator units with regards to windows, doors, vents, exterior walls, and flammable materials.
After placement is determined, installation is a whole different beast. A professional should not only assess the load requirements of your generator, but the logistics of installation. For instance, even if your home has natural gas utilities, you might not have a high-pressure, high-volume line. Typically, generators require gas supplied between 5-7” of water-column pressure.
Installing a standby generator is not a DIY project unless you posses advanced electrical and plumbing skills. You’ll need permits to begin the process, and inspections when you’re finished. These complexities make hiring an experienced professional a must.
How Big Are Standby Generators And How Much Do They Cost?
The short answer is: it depends. The higher the rated capacity of a generator, the more load it can handle at once, and the larger the unit itself is. Generally, the size of your generator is determined by your needs in a temporary emergency situation.
A professional can accurately assess and calculate the load capacity your generator will need. Many homeowners will choose a generator based on what they can afford. However, for families with small children, vital medical equipment, or a home business, larger systems can be a worthy investment.
A quality essential-circuit system starts at around $3,000 before installation. The price of fuel and required additional utilities is also worth keeping in mind. It’s typical for a 7-kW standby generator to consume around 140 ft^3 of natural gas per hour. Expect at least double that with a 22-kW unit. However, it’s also worth noting that backup power systems can add significant value to a home in addition to the utility and luxury they provide.
Do Standby Generators Require A Lot of Maintenance?
Much like cars, standby generators are designed to operate frequently and for many hours at a time. As you can probably imagine, they need to be maintained properly in order to do so. As a general rule of thumb, larger units require a bit more care.
If your generator undergoes 24-48 hours of continuous use, it’s wise to get it serviced. After around 10 days of accumulated use, have a professional change the oil and filters.
Quality generator manufacturers like Cummins and Generac design their systems to fulfill a lifetime of outages. Proper maintenance ensures that remains the case. If properly sized and installed, your generator won’t run at more than ~75% of its rated capacity for extended periods of time, and won’t undergo starting/stopping under load. When this is the case, and regular scheduled maintenance is taken care of, your generator will last just about forever.
