Why Storms Make Backup Generators Essential
Florida’s one of the states that’s most at risk for severe storms as every Floridian knows come hurricane season. And it’s not just hurricanes and tropical storms that can cause so many dangerous disruptions to daily life; so can all of those thunderstorms that Melbourne and the rest of the Sunshine State are also known for.
In addition, power outages are becoming more common as these storms get more intense, which is combined with Florida’s rapidly increasing population and the related added stress on the power grid.
Backup generators can help protect your home from these disruptions, resulting in a transfer in your power source automatically happening in as fast as seconds, depending on the backup generator that you’re using.
How Storms Affect Power Reliability
There are several ways that storms can affect power reliability and, more to the point, cut off yours.
The high winds that occur during our more severe ones often damage power lines, cutting electricity to a significant area. And so can flooding, mostly because substations are often at low elevations and near large bodies of water. In addition, note that if it’s seawater that’s flooding, it can have a corrosive effect, causing extensive damage.
In the end, hurricanes and tropical storms can result in extended outages that last days, even weeks.
What a Backup Generator Actually Does
A backup generator provides your home with electricity even when the power grid isn’t supplying any.
That said, it’s important to take into account the main difference between an automatic standby generator and a portable unit. The first type automatically turns on via an automatic transfer switch when the main power supply’s been cut, providing you with power resumption within seconds, and you don’t even need to be home to cause this to happen. Conversely, the second type usually must be started manually.
In any case, backup generators can power things like your HVAC system, refrigerator and medical devices, but note that automatic standby generators are designed to cover your whole house while portable units are more so for no more than one or maybe two major appliances being run and other low-power things.
Also keep essential-circuit generators in mind as they can ensure that what must absolutely be powered at all times, such as medical equipment, is while not powering your entire house.
Benefits of Having a Backup Generator During Storm Season
Regardless of what type of generator size or type you use, there are several benefits that you can take advantage of.
Of course, continuous power supply is the most significant one. Connected with that is home comfort through continued HVAC usage or otherwise. Keeping you safe is important too, and a generator will ensure that things like your security system and sump pump both remain operational.
And note that if your refrigerator and freezer are packed full of food, a power outage without a backup generator could result in you losing quite a lot of food. Also, if you work from home or simply want to remain online, at some point, your devices will die without power.
All of that said, the continued operating of medical equipment, if you have any, would likely be by far the most important reason to use a backup generator.
An indirect but notable benefit of a backup generator is that it’ll add property value, especially if it’s a whole-home generator.
Why Generators Are Especially Important in Florida
Although generators are important to have everywhere in the country, they’re especially valuable in Florida, primarily because of how frequently we’re hit by hurricanes and other severe storms. On top of that is how hot and humid our weather tends to be, including during hurricane season, meaning that losing AC in and of itself could be dangerous.
Choosing the Right Backup Generator for Your Home
What type of backup generators and size are best for your home? That depends on your preferences, the size of your property, your budget and other factors.
If you get a whole-house generator, when outages happen, you’ll experience no significant change in your home environment, only a few seconds of transition time as your power source transitions to your generator. Your refrigerator, HVAC unit, medical equipment, washing machine and television will all continue working the same as before. However, the upfront cost of generator installations and the generators themselves can be a consideration.
For those who take a step down in generator size and get an essential-circuit one, you’ll ensure that the necessities are powered. Those can include things like medical equipment, a refrigerator and a portable AC. Meanwhile, some simply want to use a portable unit that they can turn on themselves when needed.
Also consider whether you want to use natural gas or propane to provide you with generator power. Gas can be a great option as it’ll provide power continuously although note that gas outages are, albeit very unlikely, possible as well. Plus, many Melbourne homes don’t have access to gas anyway. Conversely, propane would be right there on your property and easily accessible although when it runs out, you’ll have no further way to power your generator.
Maintenance Keeps Your Generator Ready for the Next Storm
Once you take advantage of generator installation, it’s important to maintain it so that it’s always ready for that next storm, whether that’s a hurricane that you’ll know about hours or days in advance or a severe thunderstorm that unexpectedly knocks out power for a considerable time.
Ways that you can do this include routine testing, checking its fuel line and battery and getting it inspected on an annual basis. Do make sure to have licensed technicians look at it so that you’ll be able to feel at ease that it’ll work perfectly when it needs to, even if it had previously been idle for months or years.
Also note that many generators are not DIY-friendly since they involve complicated and potentially dangerous gas and electricity elements, and warranties and local codes could even be violated when DIY service is done. These factors are greatly enhanced when whole-home generators are involved.
Get Help From Melbourne Mister Sparky
Our experienced and knowledgeable technicians at Melbourne Mister Sparky understand exactly what goes into generator installation and maintenance and will help ensure that your home’s ready for the next storm as well as all of the ones that will come after it. So, don’t put up with any malarky, not from Mother Nature and not from your generator, and call Mister Sparky of Melbourne. We’ll take care of you.