What are the Benefits of a Home Generator?

February 12, 2024      

Having power at home through an outage isn't just about convenience, although it certainly makes riding out a storm easier. It's also about safety and security. Outages lasting for days aren't just inconvenient. They can be life-threatening.

When power outages strike for short periods, a generator can prevent the hassles that often follow, like food spoiling. When outages are longer or the result of extreme weather events, generators can prevent disasters.

When Texas experienced a severe winter storm in 2021, many households were unprepared for the loss of power and experienced freezing cold temperatures. More than 240 people died as a result of the storm and the resulting power outages, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. Generators can also keep your air conditioner running during heat waves that knock out electricity. In these situations, generators can be life-saving purchases.

Is a home generator worth it?

Having a home generator during a power outage can be convenient or potentially life-saving depending on the situation, but it does carry a significant cost that some might not be willing or able to pay.

It's unlikely that the system will ever pay for itself based on electricity produced versus the cost of electricity from the grid. A generator is more an investment in protection than one that you may expect a return on.

It's worth considering your situation and how your household may benefit from a home generator. Families with small children or elderly parents are the ones for whom generators make the most sense. These are the vulnerable segments of the population and those least adaptable to extended outages.

Whether owning a home generator is worth it comes down to whether you can afford the up-front cost and ongoing maintenance, and how at-risk you and your family might be if you are without power for an extended period. Alongside your budget, take into account the support network around you and your access to other essential goods.

Alternatives to a home generator

Generators that keep your whole home powered in an outage may be too costly or overkill for some households. Some alternatives can power a room or essential systems throughout your home at a cost that may better fit your budget.

A portable generator, typically designed to provide power to a single room for a limited period, typically costs between $500 to $2,000, compared to $5,000 to $18,000 for a whole home option. There are also critical systems generators, which are meant to support essential systems including heat, lighting and kitchen appliances. You can expect a critical systems generator to cost $2,000 to $6,300.

These systems typically run on fossil fuel sources, but there are solar options available, as well. Most solar and battery storage options cost more, especially for higher capacity, but can operate without fossil fuels.

Explore generator options at South Shore Generator Sales & Service, contact us.

Source: cnet.com

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