Next, you want to pick the type of generator you want. Home standby generators are installed permanently, operate on natural gas or propane, and kick on automatically during an outage. You can move around portable and inverter generators and they come in a variety of sizes. Figure out how many watts you’ll need for the essentials during a power outage and shop accordingly. A regular generator produces electrical power, while an inverter draws power from a fixed DC source and uses a microprocessor to invert DC to AC.
Safety features
In order to decrease the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, some new generators feature a built-in sensor that triggers an automatic shutoff if carbon monoxide builds up to hazardous levels within an enclosed space. In addition, some generators come equipped with engines which emit less carbon monoxide in the first place. “Recent test data . . . shows that these safety features will likely save lives,” according to Consumer Reports, which recommends only portable generators that pass its new carbon monoxide safety technology test.
You can read more about that at consumerreports.org/portable-generators/new-safety-feature-on-portable-generators-could-save-lives-consumer-reports-tests-show/.
Even with a generator that comes equipped with life-saving features, “we still advise consumers to follow our longstanding safety guidelines: Always operate a generator a minimum of 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust directed away from any windows, doors, air conditioners, or other structures.”
What size?
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the typical American household loses power once or twice a year for an average of about three hours. However, some outages, such as those which extreme weather cause, can last for days or weeks. When that happens, homeowners can face such problems as spoiled food, frozen pipes, flooded basements and moldy walls.
“Buy the smallest generator that will meet your power needs,” Consumer Reports test engineer Dave Trezza says on its website. “That will minimize the amount of fuel you need to keep on hand to run it.”
For detailed information on what a generator can power, log onto consumerreports.org/generators/how-to-choose-the-right-size-generator/.
Gas or propane?
“When choosing a generator, consider which aspects of the fuel are more important to you,” advises thepreppingguide.com. “If you are on a tight budget and don’t mind having to replace your fuel on occasion, an affordable gasoline generator my be the best choice for you. If you prefer a fuel that will not deteriorate over time and are willing to pay more for it, a propane generator may be the suitable choice.” Propane is clean burning and has a “relatively long shelf life,” preppingguide.com advises.