Why Should You Consider Having a Backup Generator?

At best, power outages are frustrating; at worst, they can be dangerous. A backup generator can supply electricity to your home until the power comes back on. There are two different kinds of generators: A portable generator, which you can set up yourself, and a whole-house generator, which requires an electrician in Vancouver to install. A whole-house generator can be a significant investment, but here are some of the ways that it can pay dividends.

Safety

If a heavy rainstorm knocks out your power, it can also prevent your sump pump from working. A malfunction of your sump pump can lead to flooding your home. This can cause extensive property damage and could even pose a hazard to your health. A generator is set up to keep essentials around the house powered up, including the sump pump. Having a generator can help keep your family safe from flooding.

A generator works by burning fuel, such as propane or gasoline. Burning fuel can produce carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that can cause you to asphyxiate if you breathe it in. Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless, and tasteless, so it is almost impossible to know if it is present until you start feeling the effects, unless you have a carbon monoxide detector. If you set up your own portable generator and don’t know what you are doing, you could be putting yourself at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. An electrician in Vancouver knows how to install a whole-house generator in a way that protects your family from carbon monoxide.

Comfort

A storm that knocks out your electricity may also cause extremes of either hot or cold temperatures. Exposure to temperature extremes may be merely uncomfortable or could possibly cause illness. In either case, a whole-house generator can keep your HVAC system operational to maintain the interior of your home at a comfortable and safe temperature. An air conditioner runs entirely on electricity and, without a generator, will not function during a power outage. A furnace operates primarily by burning natural gas, but the starter is often electrical, meaning that the furnace may not work during an outage either.

Convenience

A whole-house generator turns on automatically as soon as an outage occurs. It provides a continuous supply of energy to the house without you having to do anything to start it up. This allows you to keep using essential appliances in your home, including electronics that you may use for communication.

Protection and Prevention

Expensive electronics often have delicate components that can be damaged by a sudden surge of electricity. Such a surge may occur just before a power outage, potentially rendering your devices inoperable. A whole-house generator may have a surge protector built in to protect your investment in your vulnerable electronics.

If a storm does extreme damage to the power grid, an outage may last for days at a time. Any food that you have stored in a refrigerator or deep freeze is likely to go bad. Not only does that present a food safety hazard, but it can also mean huge economic losses. A generator can keep your food storage appliances going to prevent significant food waste.

Home Value

If you have considered the benefits of having a generator installed, chances are good that potential buyers have too. Due to the many benefits of having a whole-home generator, it is a feature that homebuyers may be looking for in particular. If you decide to sell your home one day, you may be able to increase the price you ask for if you have a generator installed.

Why You Should Hire an Electrician in Vancouver From Handyman Connection

Our technicians each have at least 10 years of experience in electrical services. In addition to the initial installation, we can also provide electrical repair services down the line if you have any trouble with your generator. Find out more about our electrical services.