Benefits of a Whole Home Generator
Don’t Get Left in the Dark: The Case for a Whole Home Generator
For most Americans, the family home is the largest single investment they will make. Real estate tends to appreciate, and eventually, the mortgage can be paid off. At the same time, a mortgage stabilizes housing costs: while taxes and insurance costs might rise, they are nothing compared to the volatility of rental price increases. Because a home is considered an investment, anything an owner can do to protect and improve the residence is considered an investment as well.
In addition, homeowners are taking steps to secure their homes and make them safer. With the recent increase in extreme weather events in our area, homeowners are seeking advice on the purchase and installation of backup generators. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and straight-line winds have damaged the area’s utility infrastructure in recent years, resulting in power outages for weeks, not just days. As the annual hurricane season approaches, this is a good time to begin exploring how a backup generator could protect your family from the next power outage. Important reasons to consider a generator include:
- Protection from the weather. These storms often result from extreme temperatures (extremely hot or extremely cold temperatures), often with accompanying extreme humidity. A generator maintains the HVAC function during power outages.
- Much of our food and liquids are refrigerated or frozen. A generator protects a family’s essential supplies.
- A home with HVAC can be secured. This makes the space safer and healthier than a home open for ventilation. As long as the building envelope is maintained, the family will be much more comfortable staying at home, safe and secure. This is especially true for family members with compromised health concerns.
Planning For a Whole Home Generator
- A generator choice must be determined by the size and electrical needs of a home. The generator will be connected directly to the electrical service panel, providing energy to every circuit in the home.
- Technicians and the homeowner will determine a permanent installation location a sufficient distance from the home (20’) to prevent exhaust from being drawn into the home while the generator is in use.
- Connecting the generator to the natural gas supply will also be a consideration.
- After the system has been designed to fit the unique home setting, installation by qualified technicians will be scheduled according to the family’s timetable.
Using Your Whole Home Generator
- Whenever a power outage occurs, sensors in the transfer switch recognize the loss of power and kick into action. Within seconds, the switch disconnects the home from the power grid, starts the backup generator, and connects the electrical service panel to the generator. This ensures that power from the Whole Home Generator does not bleed back into the power grid, endangering repair crews or nearby homes.
- A continuous flow of natural gas from the underground supply network keeps the generator functioning 24/7 as needed.
- When repair crews restore power, the sensors in the transfer switch recognize the change, switch the Whole Home Generator OFF, disconnect the electrical service panel from the Whole Home Generator, and reconnect it to the power grid. This process takes mere seconds.
Planning and installation of a whole home generator takes a while to complete, so start now to ensure your home is ready for the next extreme weather event.
With our four decades of experience as a residential electrician, AirPro Houston provides you with the knowledge of how to configure and install a Whole Home Generator. Call our residential electrician team at 281-880-8805.
