Frequent and prolonged power outages from severe weather have increased across Maine as climate change stirs more destructive storms. For many homeowners, these outages are a huge inconvenience.
When the storm is raging outside and electricity is knocked out, having a standby generator installed in your home by Pow’r Point can make the whole experience better. A standby generator will automatically swing into operation and power your home until the blackout ends.
Keep reading to learn more about what a standby generator is, how it works, and why it’s the best way to prepare for future outages!
What is a Standby Generator?
A standby or stationary generator is a backup power system connected to your home’s electrical grid. It’s designed to instantly spring into action whenever there’s a power outage for any reason.
These systems turn on within a matter of seconds of detecting power loss to offer backup electricity. A standby generator is permanently installed on your property, often on a concrete pad outside your home, and needs professional installation.
It uses propane or natural gas connected to a liquid propane tank or a natural gas utility line. With the help of a standby generator, you can combat power failures and ensure your house is powered throughout an outage.
The system is wired directly into your home and goes to predetermined functions. Depending on the strength and size of your generator, you can have it wired to run your lights, HVAC system, security system, refrigerator, and much more.
How Does a Standby Generator Work?
A standby generator typically comes with an automatic transfer switch (ATS), which is directly connected to your home’s electrical panel. The ATS and electrical panel work together to manage your home’s backup power needs.
An ATS constantly monitors your home’s connection to utility power and detects when there’s a power failure. When the switch senses power loss, it will immediately cut off your home from the primary utility power grid.
After your home is completely and safely disconnected from the grid, the switch activates the generator to begin supplying power to your home’s electrical panel. The entire process is automated, so you don’t have to do a thing.
A standby generator kicks into gear in as little as twenty to thirty seconds, depending on the controller settings and generator model. Sometimes, you might not even realize there’s a power outage.
A standby generator will continue to provide power until the utility power returns. When the outage ends, the automatic transfer switch prompts the generator to go back to standby mode, waiting for the next power outage.
It then reconnects your home to the main power grid.
Reasons to Invest in a Standby Generator
Here are some reasons to consider installing a standby generator in your home:
Automatic Detection
A standby generator is designed to function automatically without manual intervention. It instantly springs into action once the main grid goes down and restores electricity within seconds.
The automatic transfer switch in standby generators ensures a smooth, uninterrupted transition from the grid to the generator and vice versa in a very short time.
Reliability
Inclement weather, including rainstorms, snow, and hail, can shut down the main power grid, usually without warning. When power fails, a standby generator will start, no matter the weather.
With this system, you have consistent power even when experiencing the most unexpected blackouts. A standby generator has a powerful engine that runs on propane from a huge tank on your property or a natural gas line from your utility provider.
So, it can run continuously for days or weeks at a time on a propane tank or indefinitely if it uses natural gas. You won’t have to worry about trips to the gas station in severe weather to refuel the generator.
Reliable performance is vital, particularly during emergencies or extended power outages. Whether it’s keeping your Wi-Fi router active, charging and using your phone, watching TV, or listening to music, a standby generator provides a reliable power supply, enabling you to carry on with your life with minimal or no disruption.
Maintain Comfort
Your HVAC system works hard to keep your home comfortable. Like other devices in your home, your HVAC relies on power to function. No power means no heating or cooling.
Your home can quickly become uncomfortable or unlivable without air conditioning or heat. To maintain a comfortable home throughout the year, you need a standby generator to ensure your HVAC unit operates normally, even during power outages.
Standby generators are robust enough to power HVAC systems. Should you lose power, rest assured that a standby generator will keep your HVAC up and running without interruption. You can look forward to a comfortable home in any weather, no matter what Mother Nature throws at you.
Preserve Food
It’s challenging to keep your food at a healthy temperature when there’s an outage. Some bacteria are known to multiply in as little as twenty minutes once temperatures rise to over forty degrees.
Bacteria in food can make you sick when ingested. A standby generator ensures your refrigerator stays operational.
When it’s on, food remains fresh and protected. Not only does this prevent bacterial infections, but it also saves you hundreds of dollars in groceries.
Protect Your Home with a Standby Generator
Power outages don’t have to be frustrating or disruptive. With a standby generator, it’ll feel like you never had a blackout. At Pow’r Point Generators, we carry and professionally install top-of-the-line standby generators, ensuring you’re prepared for the next power outage.
Are you interested in a standby generator? Contact Pow’r Point Generators today for custom solutions tailored to your home.
