There are many features when it comes to the whole house or standby generator. They are used to supply the electricity in case of emergencies. During winter seasons, it is common for every place to face a power outage. The snow increases the risks of a power outage drastically, which is why many people are keen to buy a reliable generator for their homes.
Before we jump to conclusions on whether you should buy a whole house or standby generator, let’s understand what they are and their pros and cons.
What is a Whole House Versus a Standby Generator?
Whole house or standby generators are usually installed permanently on a concrete pad outside of a house. A whole home generator is connected to the home’s electrical system to provide an uninterrupted power supply for many days if needed.
These generators run on propane or natural gas, and their capabilities depend on their sizes. The bigger a whole house generator is, the more electrical systems it will be able to handle.
These generators should be installed with the help of professionals and should have an automatic transfer switch. The transfer switch will automatically disconnect from the municipal power grid and start up the generator whenever it detects any interruption in service.
Also, that switch can detect whenever the main power comes back on, and then it will automatically shut off the generator and reconnect back to the municipal grid.
Pros and Cons of Whole House or Standby Generator
There are pros and cons of both the whole house and standby generators. Before deciding on buying a whole house or standby generator, you should know all of their pros and cons.
Pros
- Whole house generators can be life saviors if you live in cold climates where experiencing extreme weather events is expected. You do not want hypothermia risks for your family members.
- This generator can seamlessly switch between systems and does not require manual startup, indicating it is tension-free. You do not have to reach the generator to start it up, which is helpful.
- Water pumps will keep on working because of it.
- These generators are directly connected to the household circuit board, so you do not need any extension cables or cords to plugin manually. If power fails, it will start automatically to supply electricity.
- Manufacturers design the units to run for long periods.
- They are quieter than portable generators and can improve your home’s overall value.
- You might get a discount on homeowner’s insurance because of it.
- You can stay online and still work from home during power outages and continue to prevent any losses in income.
- You’ll have fewer spoilage costs because the fridge and freezer can keep on preserving their contents.
- It can let you run any lifesaving home medical equipment like insulin pumps, CPAP machines, and nebulizers, even during power outages.
- You will have your communication devices like radios and cell phones going.
- Can recharge the batteries of conventional vehicles or charge any electric vehicles.
- You can live peacefully in any difficult living conditions when you are away from home because you know your family members will be able to live normally because of it.
Cons
- Whole house or standby generators are very expensive to buy, ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. Their installation is also costly.
- Their fuel costs can be higher if the power outages are frequent.
- You must have professional installation and maintenance for these types of generators.
- These generators are permanent fixtures of a property. Thus, you can not remove it after installation; renters would have to leave the unit behind during move-out.
- The whole house generator can be noisy and can lead to complaints from neighbors.
- Requires more space than a portable generator.
- It might require bigger fuel storage tanks, making it unsightly.
Are Whole House or Standby Generators Worth the Price?
The sales of the whole house or standby generators worldwide are rapidly increasing as many people believe they are worth it. People living in places where power cuts happen more than three times a year or last for a longer period can see these generators as an efficient and beneficial solution.
The increase in population, urbanization, aging infrastructure, extreme weather events, and power grids are raising the demand for electricity to higher levels throughout the world. This is increasing the demand for generators. In fact, a significant generator manufacturer, Generac of the United States, cannot keep up.
Now, we are very dependent on electronic communications devices and systems, the internet, and information networks. They have a vital role in our business, news broadcasts, weather warnings, and even our children’s education. If you live in a place where power outage is common, your property with a standby generator may attract good home buyers and tenants.
A whole house or standby generator is worth it for many reasons, as you have read all of the pros of this type of generator from above. It has very conditional cons, but the main thing is its price is pretty high. Other than that, a standby generator is a good assessment of your home’s power needs. Furthermore, it will also fill your household members’ particular needs.
Final Thoughts on Investing in a Generator
Whole house or standby generators are costly to buy and install, but they are worth their price. You will save a lot of money by protecting your food from getting rotten, preventing income loss, and providing peace of mind during any power outage.
Get a professional to help you decide whether you should buy a whole house or standby generator. Either way, just know that these generators are worth the investment that makes anyone’s life very easy whenever the power fails.