Are you ready if you lose power in a big storm? Going without power can mean a house without heat, spoiled food, and no way to heat food or water. In certain situations this can be life threatening. Even if you have a generator, it may not run if it has been sitting since the last big storm. Below you will find proper installation and maintenance instructions as well as guidelines to help you choose a generator. To have a live expert walk you through this process, click here.
BUYING A GENERATOR
FUEL TYPE - Decide which type of fuel you will have on hand when you need it.
-Gasoline - Gas is easy to find if you can make it out of your driveway, but a generator can use between 8 and 22 gallons a day. Gas engines require a high level of maintenance. Gas has great power output and can easily provide plenty of power.
-Diesel - Diesel is more efficient than gas and engines require less maintainance than gas but still need regular maintenance.
-Propane - Huge amounts of LP can be stored in large tanks or 15lb cylinders, commonly used on gas grills, can be bought/filled at many stores. Propane runs cleaner, has a much longer shelf life than gas, and can run for days at a time without refueling if connected to a large tank. Propane is not as efficient as gas and can end up costing more depending on LP cost in your region.
-Natural Gas - Natural gas generators are connected to a cheap and virtually endless supply of fuel providing great convenience in standby operation. They must be permanently placed and would no good in the event of an earthquake of other disaster that disrupted natural gas lines.
PORTABLE OR STANDBY -
-Portable - A portable generator can be used on times other than a power outage to provide power at a campsite or other remote location. They are often small with wheels to move with easy. With a small amount of effort and skill they can be wired to run power directly into your home circuit breaker. Often portable generators are only powerful enough to power your crucial appliances, not your whole home.
-Standby - A standby generator will be fixed in one spot with a large or permanent fuel supply at the ready such as propane or natural gas. It will be permantly wired to power your whole home in the event of a power outage. A standby generator can be set up to bring up power automatically moments after a power disruption occurs.
POWER OUTPUT - The amount of power your generator put out will determine how much of your home it can power in the event of a need. To find out exactly how much power your home needs you would have to analyze your electric bill. Below are some general guidelines.
-5,000 watts - A generator of this should run the heat, some lights, and the refrigerator/freezer of a modest sized home.
-6,500 watts - A generator of this size should run most appliances, lights and heat in a small to most sized home.
-15,000 watts - A generator of this size should run a whole modest to mid sized home.
INSTALLATION
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE - A professional who specializes in Generators can get your standby or portable generator set up quickly and correctly. Many people find that they can set up a portable generator on their own. Just be sure you know how to get it set up before the bad weather hits when weather and demand may prevent a service professional from getting to your location right away. Click here to contact a service professional today.
TRANSFER SWITCH- A manual transfer switch is by far the best way to use a portable for emergency use. It allows the generator to connect directly to the home’s electrical system to power furnaces, refrigerators, pumps, and much more.
When engaged, the manual transfer switch isolates the generator power from the incoming utility lines. Important since you don’t want to endanger utility line workers or overload the generator. A dedicated cable connects the generator the transfer switch through an inlet box. This method protects the integrity of your home’s electrical wiring, safeguards the generator, and eliminates running multiple extension cords from the generator into the house.
GENERATOR MAINTAINENCE
Don’t wait until it is zero degrees and a power outage hits. Do your maintenance ahead of time. Your owner’s manual has the maintenance intervals. Count on changing the oil, air and oil filters, and the spark plug. Keep enough supplies on hand to keep your generator running through long outages.
FUEL STABILIZER -After using a gas generator is a good idea to add fuel stabilizer. Fuel degrades as it sits and can cause damage to your generator
AIR FILTER - Like any engine, your generator needs a clean air filter to allow maximum air intake. Keep extra air filters handy and check it regularly
FRESH FUEL - Because fuel degrades over time it is important to keep fresh fuel on hand in the event of an emergency. That gas can of lawn mower fuel from last summer may not be suitable for use when you need it.
REGUlAR STARTS - A generator that has sat since you last used it two years ago will not likely start up when you need it. Gas generators require either regular starts (once a month start it and let it run a few minute) or to be properly drained and stored.
GET HELP
Get help from a service professional. Contact Jomonty Small Engine with the form below or at 270-703-1909
The information on this page is for general instruction only and is not intended to replace the service or advice of a service professional. Every situation is unique and you should have an qualified service professional assess your needs before attempting to do any home electrical work orservice to your generator.