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Tips To Help You Choose Between Generators For Sale

Climate change is impacting households all over America, and the upcoming El Nino effect will likely cause skyrocketing temperatures and an increased amount of extreme weather events over the next few months.

This means that homeowners need to be prepared for inevitable outages, and being on the hunt for generators for sale is a good start in terms of protecting your residential property in case a prolonged power outage occurs in your area. Standby generators are absolutely critical for a home’s safety, because they’ll automatically turn on when your municipal power supply shuts down.

So it’s understandable if you’re a little bit cautious about which generators are best for your unique needs, and the truth is that there are several generator options that you’ll have to choose between. Below are some tips to keep in mind while you’re thinking about purchasing a generator for sale!

Which Generator Fuel Type Do You Want? 

The first differentiation you should consider when shopping for standby generators is how you plan on fueling your home’s generator. Your two main fuel options will be liquid propane and natural gas, and here’s a quick breakdown of both options:

Liquid Propane Generators 

The important thing to keep in mind about liquid propane generators is that you’ll also need to invest in a propane tank to ensure a proper hook up for your generator. Propane is typically a good fuel option for households located in remote areas, or anywhere that doesn’t have easy access to municipal gas lines.

Liquid propane is also a much cleaner fuel as compared to natural gas, and your generator will always keep running as long as you have enough fuel on hand. Of course, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to refuel your liquid propane tank on an occasional basis to make sure your generator is ready for the next outage that may occur.

Natural Gas Generators 

Generators powered by natural gas will subsequently be hooked up to your property’s existing gas line, or a new gas line will need to be installed. This is often considered to be a convenient option for homeowners, because you won’t have to worry about maintaining your generator’s fuel supply.

Natural gas is also more affordable as compared to liquid propane, but one significant drawback is that these generators are impacted when municipal gas lines are also impacted. You may also need to acquire permits to obtain a natural gas generator at your home, but this should be something that your electrical team supports you with.

Understanding Your Home’s Wattage Needs 

After you’ve determined the right fuel source for your next generator, you’ll also need to figure out the amount of watts your generator needs to be able to fully support your home. There are plenty of generator sizing tools and digital calculators to help you figure out which size will be right for your property.

One consideration to keep in mind is that your generator should be capable of providing about 20% more voltage than your home’s appliances require. This is because your generator will be needed during outages and other emergency situations, so the load management of your unit is crucial in terms of ensuring its viability and long-term durability.

Understanding Transfer Switch Needs 

Once you’ve shopped for generators and have found a unit that seems right, you’ll need to figure out where your transfer switch will be located. Your generator’s transfer switch is important, because it’ll be what connects your unit to its control panel.

This switch will essentially be what lets your generator know it’s time to turn on and shut off, which is dependent upon your municipal power supply. You may need a sub-panel that only serves to support your generator, so this is an important question to ask your electrical specialists prior to your installation.

Generator Installation Factors To Keep in Mind 

It’s important to remember that generators can only be placed in certain locations throughout your property. The generator will need to be installed at least five feet away from any openings or doors, and the exhaust needs to be pointed away from doors and windows.

Generator installations also typically require legal permits, as well as many other material requirements. This is why it’s absolutely necessary to work with reputable electrical companies when you need a generator installation at your home!

Contact The Yoder Electric Team When You’re Looking at Generators For Sale! 

The above factors are a great starting point to help you narrow down your options while you’re browsing through generators for sale in your area, and the best thing you can do is speak directly with industry specialists while making these all-important home investments.

You can learn more about generators by going through the link at the top of this page and speaking directly with the whole-house generator specialists at Yoder Electric!