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Whole House Generator, Part 1

Posted: July 9, 2014

Posted: July 15, 2014
Posted by: Kathryn Mehan, Propane Manager at Wilson Oil & Propane

Summer’s in full swing – great news after the winter we had in the Northeast. That means it’s time for all the great things summer brings – barbecues, days by the pool, afternoons under a shady tree reading a book, power outages…

Yes, power outages.

Increasingly, power loss has become all too common for folks in many parts of the country, especially in Pennsylvania, Delaware and southern NJ. Power outages happen throughout the year – particularly in the summer, when severe weather can strike any time and when energy use is at its peak.

Fortunately, there’s a solution available to you that keeps the power coming even when Mother Nature has other ideas: a whole house generator, available in varying sizes to power as much or as little as you need to keep your family and home safe and comfortable.

What is a whole house generator?

Whole House Generator

A whole house generator is a permanent fixture connected to your home’s electrical system with its own fuel source. Basically, it looks like a central air conditioning unit with a cap on it.

The generator is designed to start automatically when you lose utility power –usually between 10-30 seconds after an outage. When utility power is restored, the generator will shut itself down. All of this happens whether or not you’re home.

Benefits of a whole house generator.

The biggest benefit to a whole house generator, of course, is that you’ll never be without power again! Being able to switch between grid and generator power is a huge advantage wherever electrical outages due to severe weather have become increasingly common.

Imagine never having to suffer through the inconveniences of a power outage again – no more unexpected nights at a hotel or friend’s house, no more spoiled food, no more loss of TV, phone or computer service, no sweaty nights without AC or cold nights without heat, and no more pipes bursting due to lack of heat in the house, to name a few.

While an outage is an inconvenience for some people, it can be a matter of life or death for others: if someone in your home relies on medical equipment – a dialysis machine or nebulizer, for example – you simply can’t risk being without power. A whole house generator solves that problem, keeping you and your loved ones safe in the event of a power emergency.

Advantages versus portable units.

While a whole house generator is more expensive than a portable generator, it offers distinct advantages, such as:

  • The fuel source for a whole house generator is natural gas or liquid propane (LP), which means no more storing gasoline for a portable generator.
  • Since a whole house generator is permanently wired to your home, there’s no need for set up time or running countless extension cords.
  • A whole house generator is fully automatic, so it starts and powers your house within seconds after an outage – even when you aren’t home. Again, no need for set up time or hassles.
  • A whole house generator is fully enclosed, with a noise level of 62-67 dBA (a little louder than conversation in a restaurant) while a portable generator’s noise level can be as high as 80 dBA (about the volume of a garbage disposal).

By now it’s clear that a whole house generator can be a great asset that ensures home comfort and peace of mind during a power emergency. But how do you pick one that’s right for you, and what other factors do you have to consider before you decide? Stay tuned for Part II of this blog post, coming next week.

If you can’t wait until then to learn more, contact us today – we’re more than happy to help you get started on your path to power independence