How Long Do Whole-House Generators Last?
A Guide to Backup Power for Your Issaquah Home
The Pacific Northwest is no stranger to inclement weather, with windstorms, snowfall, or heavy rain occasionally disrupting electric power to your home. Ensuring your home in Issaquah, WA, remains comfortable and secure during power outages is crucial. Whole-house generators are a reliable solution, offering peace of mind and continuous power supply amidst the region's unpredictable weather.
This guide will explore the longevity of whole-house generators, their capability to power your home, the types of fuel they use, the transition to generator power, and considerations for what they can and cannot power. Let's dive into the essentials of selecting a whole-house generator, ensuring your family's comfort and safety year-round.
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Understanding Power Needs
The capacity of a whole-house generator to power your home depends on its size and your household's energy needs. Generators are rated by kilowatts (kW), with options ranging from smaller 10-20 kW models, suitable for basic necessities, to larger 20-50 kW units designed to run the entire home without compromise. The key is to assess your home's peak power usage and select the best whole home generator for your home that meets or exceeds that demand, ensuring all your essential and some non-essential appliances are covered.
Fuel Options for Whole House Generators
Whole house generators commonly run on natural gas, propane, or diesel. Natural gas generators connect directly to your home's gas line, offering a convenient and endless fuel supply. Stored in tanks, propane provides a powerful alternative, especially in areas where natural gas may not be available. Diesel whole home generators are known for their reliability and efficiency, though they require regular refueling. Each fuel type has its benefits, from the convenience of natural gas to the storability of propane and the efficiency of diesel.
Transitioning to Generator Power
Switching to generator power in an outage is seamless with an automatic transfer switch (ATS). This device detects a power loss and automatically starts the generator, ensuring a continuous power supply to your home. Homeowners must understand their generator's capacity and prioritize essential systems to ensure a smooth transition during outages. Planning with the professional sales and installation team at Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning can help define these priorities and ensure your generator setup meets your family's needs.
Limitations and Considerations
While whole-house generators are incredibly versatile, certain high-consumption appliances like large central air conditioning units or luxury bathtubs may exceed the capacity of standard home generators. It's important to consider the energy requirements of your specific appliances and discuss these with the professionals at Bob’s Heating to ensure your generator can handle the load or to plan for alternative solutions during extended outages.
So, how long can a generator power your home? Given the variables above, it will depend on the size of your home and the number of appliances, lights, electronics, and other things you want to maintain power during an outage. It will also depend on the fuel type that your chosen generator has. Being connected to a natural gas line is our preferred method, as these generators can last just as long as the storm does! Propane tanks may run out if a storm keeps your neighborhood without power for too long.
Partner with an expert at Bob’s Heating to evaluate your whole house backup power requirements and get the solution that fits your needs. Want to get started? Contact us here; we look forward to working with you!
