Determining the Best Whole House Generator

Generators are all the rage. Whether you want to disconnect from the power grid or keep your essential appliances operating during an outage, whole house generators are the way to go. Before you need one, it’s best to buy the right generator for you, to ensure you are prepared when the time comes. 

Whole house generators are great for when power is unavailable through the electrical grid. When purchasing a generator, take note of your household power requirements. Large-draw appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, sump pumps, water heaters, and space heaters will pull the most electricity. To calculate how much power you need, locate the wattage rating label on your appliance and use an online wattage calculator to determine how much electricity it draws. You can also check with your utility company to determine how much power you consume regularly. 

There are several aspects of whole-house generators to familiarize yourself with before purchasing. Below, we’ve outlined the differences and benefits they can bring to your household.

Air-cooled
These generators draw in air to cool the engine. With forced-air cooling, a fan is used to blow air over the engine. Air cooling is also accomplished passively by surrounding air absorbing the heat and drifting away from the generator. Air-cooled units are typically not the best for the long run since the cooling process is insufficient.  Generators using air-cooling are prone to overheating and shut down automatically for safety purposes. 

Liquid-cooled
Using coolant pumped through the engine block, these generators absorb heat from the engine. The coolant then passes through a radiator that lowers the temperature of the coolant and repeats the cycle. Liquid-cooled generators can operate more efficiently in high temperatures or climates that regularly reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Their low chance of overheating makes these generators a viable option. 

Natural Gas
Since whole house generators are permanent, they can connect to your house’s natural gas line from a utility line. Natural gas usually comes from a utility line (or a large, whole-house custom tank that has to be refilled) which can be a downfall for those who want to stay off the grid. 

Propane
A more affordable fuel, propane burns much cleaner than natural gas as it doesn’t exude as much contamination. However, propane’s downfall is that the tanks need to be refilled. 

Sound Intensity
Whole-house generators will probably be permanently installed next to your house, so the noise level is an important factor. Those that run on the softer side are at about 65 decibels, while the higher models run at roughly 69 decibels. Traditional vacuums read at about 75 decibels. Mind the placement of your generator next to office or bedroom windows. 

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. State Electric Co. is also an exclusive distributor for Enel X JuiceBox EV chargers for residential and commercial use. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded to install charging stations for homes, offices, hotels, and more. With our extensive knowledge in renewable energy, our team provides customers – large or small – with efficient electrical solutions. Contact us today to learn how we can safely and affordably meet your energy needs.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/