Standby Generators: Do You Know How They Work?

Mother Nature has a mind of her own so it’s nice to have something you can depend on when the power goes out and the lights shut off. That is why a standby generator can be a good long-term investment for your home.

As soon as a blackout knocks out your power, a standby generator will take over supplying power for your home, with barely any interruption. These appliances are permanently installed outside your home, and are connected directly to your fuel source – for example, either your natural gas line or propane tank. The standby generator connects to your home’s main distribution panel with an automatic transfer switch. The generator is always monitoring incoming voltage and will automatically start when it detects a power outage. When the power is restored, the generator shuts off and reopens the line.

Here are just a few of the benefits of installing a standby generator.

• Consider using a standby generator if someone in your home depends on medical equipment that requires power, such as oxygen generators, monitors, or devices with batteries that need to be changed regularly. Family members with medical conditions that can be worsened by excessive heat or cold will rest easy knowing that the heating or cooling system won’t stop working. The same goes for individuals with medications or other supplies that require refrigeration.
• These units will keep a home-based business operational.
• If you’re away for a long period of time when the power goes out, you won’t have to worry about returning home to spoiled food, and depending on the time of year, possibly frozen and burst pipes.
• Not only does a standby generator afford you backup lighting, air conditioning and the ability to cook, it safeguards your home or business from burglary by restoring your security systems.
• A standby generator can help prevent sump pump failure.
• These generators are less expensive to run than portable models. However, their downside is that they are relatively expensive to purchase. If your budget can’t handle a whole-house generator, smaller, less-exensive systems are available that will return power to selected circuits, or rotate power to circuits as they’re needed.

If you would like to learn more about the standby generators and increasing your safety and comfort during a power outage, please contact us at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions. We’ve been serving Central Florida since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about standby generators and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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