How to Choose a Generator for Your Home
If you’ve ever gone through a power outage in your Fieldale, VA, home, you know how frustrating the experience can be. Lengthy power outages can be quite costly because they can lead to food spoilage and interrupt your ability to work. That’s why more homeowners are considering installing a backup generator to keep their homes powered during an outage. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right generator for your circumstances.
Portable Generators
If you only need to keep a limited number of appliances and devices powered during a blackout, a portable generator might work for you. They are small, typically powered by gasoline or natural gas, and capable of supporting up to a few thousand watts of power.
If you choose a portable generator, you will need a qualified electrician to install a transfer switch in your home. This gives you a safe way to connect your generator to power circuits in your home without risking current flowing out into the electric grid. The transfer switches used for most portable generators are manual, so you’ll have to switch to your backup power by hand during a blackout.
Whole-Home Generators
If you want a generator that can keep your whole house powered during a blackout, you will need a whole-home generator instead. Almost all whole-home standby generators run on natural gas, so you don’t have to worry about refueling them during a lengthy power outage. They’re also capable of providing far more power than portable models, with most offering between 20 and 48 kilowatts of power.
Plus, whole-home generators typically pair with automatic transfer switches. So, the moment the switch detects a power drop from the grid, it will activate the generator and switch your home onto it. Then, when grid power returns, it will deactivate the generator and reconnect your home to the grid.
McKinney Heating & Air Conditioning is the place to go in Fieldale if you want a whole-home generator. We sell and install whole-house generators from Kohler, and we service all other makes and models, too. We’ve served the local area since 1972, also offering HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair services. Additionally, we provide tankless water heaters and gas fireplaces. If you want to know more about having a whole-home generator installed in your Fieldale home, contact our experts at McKinney Heating & Air Conditioning today.
