Here in the Fuquay-Varina, NC, area, we can be hit by both hurricanes and ice storms. In either case, your power can go out, sometimes for days or even a week or more. Not only can you physically suffer from uncomfortable temperatures in your home, but you can also lose your refrigerated and frozen items as well as be unable to work if you happen to work from home. A standby generator can also literally be a lifesaver if you use medical devices that need a constant power supply. You may want to consider a properly installed whole house standby generator to ensure uninterrupted power during emergencies. Your standby generator smoothly and quickly will keep things running in the event of a power outage.
Here’s some information on how generators work and what you can do to ensure they continue operating effectively so that you’re always prepared for an emergency.
Standby Vs. Backup Generators
A standby generator, or whole-house generator, will kick on the moment that it detects the power has gone out and will automatically supply power to your home. A backup generator, however, requires that you are at home to go outside, start it up, and hook up electrical cords directly to devices you wish to power. At Dawson's Electric, we provide our customers the ease and comfort of reliable standby generators that can power on even when you are not at home.
How Does a Standby Generator Work?
Standby generators use either natural gas or propane for their power. This helps you to utilize existing resources you already possess and allows you to have reserve power for longer power outages or indefinitely, depending on your fuel source.
Your standby generator will need to be located outside of your house on a concrete pad somewhere there is no fear of flooding. It typically has a transfer switch that will activate within milliseconds of an outage at your main electrical panel. This will then trigger the start of the motor that connects to an alternator that produces electrical energy from your gas supply. The transfer switch will also detect when the power has come back on and return your home to the electric company’s power, so there is no waste of fuel when it is not needed.
How Long Does the Power Last?
A propane generator can power a typical home in North Carolina for a week if you have a filled 500-gallon propane tank. Obviously, if you conserve and run less electricity, then you can have your propane tank’s contents last longer. Natural gas, however, is coming from your supplier and will indefinitely run the generator until you don’t need it anymore.
Some generators allow you to preset your priorities to run in the house in the event of a power outage. Most people likely will have their refrigerator, furnace or air conditioning unit, medical devices, and stove set as the main priorities. This allows homeowners to choose smaller standby generators that suit their budget but do not supply all of a home’s needs.
Generator Life Cycles and Maintenance
Generators tend to last from 20 to 40 years if you provide them with the required monthly and yearly maintenance. Monthly maintenance your unit should get includes:
- Running the generator for a few minutes
- Resolving any alarms
- Removing debris from the unit
- Checking for leaks
- Checking the coolant and fuel levels
- Making sure the unit is in auto mode
At Dawson's Electric, we are a Briggs and Stratton dealer because their generators are some of the best backup generators in the industry. They also have one of the longest warranties in the business and superior customer service. We also can provide your yearly maintenance to assure the life of your whole-house generator.
Contact Our Professionals Today
Our company is a full-service electrical contractor. Besides setting your home up with a standby generator, we also perform the following services:
- General electrical services
- Panel repair and replacement
- Indoor and outdoor lighting
- Outlet repair and installation
- Surge protection
- Fan installation
- Electric car charger installation
- Electrical service upgrades
Since 2005, Dawson's Electric has served the entire Triangle area, including Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, and Durham. All of our fully trained technicians receive extensive background checks and drug testing. We are a Tesla and Eaton Certified Installer, and we proudly have an A+ BBB rating. We have financing available through GreenSky on approved credit. Contact our friendly staff at Dawson's Electric today to find out more about standby generators or schedule an in-house appraisal.
