The 411 on whole-house generators
MetroCreative
Weather is unpredictable. Strong winds or storms can wreak havoc on power lines, resulting in outages that may last hours or even days. People have come to rely on electricity, not only for comfort and safety, but to power just about every aspect of modern life. A power outage can be a minor disruption or downright dangerous, unless a whole-house generator can take over when needed.
What is a whole-house generator?
A whole-house generator, also called a standby generator, is a permanently installed system that provides backup power to a home during a utility outage. The generator typically runs using a natural gas or propane connection.
Unlike a portable generator, a whole-house generator is installed outside on a concrete slab. It is wired to the home’s electrical panel through an automatic transfer switch (ATS). This switch will continuously monitor the electrical grid’s power and start automatically if an outage is detected. When the power comes back on, the ATS will shut off the generator and reconnect the home to the grid.
Generator considerations
There are some considerations when determining which generator best meets the needs of a household. It’s important to identify where power will be needed in the home, whether it’s a few essential pieces of equipment or the entire home. The more one wants to have powered, the more costly the generator will be.
The location of the generator on the property must meet local zoning requirements, which vary from town to town. A permit likely will be required for the installation work.
Another consideration is gas meter sizing. A trained technician should schedule a pressure check to ensure that the gas supply to the home can handle the new generator.
What if there hasn’t been an outage?
Most units will test themselves periodically for a few minutes each week to recharge the batteries and keep the engine lubricated, which serves as a testament to the hands-off nature of these systems.