If you’re looking for a way to keep your home powered in the event of an outage, whole house generators are an excellent option. However, they come with a lot of questions and concerns that need to be addressed.
One of the most common is whether or not they can run on natural gas. This is a question that homeowners in areas that are prone to severe weather should ask themselves before making a purchase decision.
Automatic Detection of Blackouts
One of the most popular features of whole house generators is that they can be set to automatically detect power outages. This means that when paired with an automatic transfer switch, they start up in seconds to restore power.
These systems are ideal for people who need a backup power source in case the utility goes out. They can be used to power a range of essential appliances such as your heating and cooling system, kitchen appliances, electronics, water heater and sump pump.
In addition, they can be programmed to automatically detect when gas leaks are occurring in your home and alert you of the situation before it becomes a serious problem. This allows you to get help immediately and avoid potential health hazards that could result from a natural gas leak.
These devices are a must-have for anyone with sensitive respiratory conditions or who might not be able to smell natural gas. They also offer a sense of peace of mind that your home is protected and safe.
Powering All of Your Appliances
A whole house generator provides all the power you need for your entire home during an electrical outage. These systems are fueled by natural gas or propane.
To find out which generator size will work best for you, start by listing all the appliances and devices that you need to run during an outage. You can use a generator sizing calculator or talk to a professional electrician about the power wattage you need.
You’ll also need to take into account how much starting wattage or surge power is needed to start up these appliances. Some, like air conditioners and refrigerators, will need two or three times the running wattage when they start up.
Once you’ve figured out how much wattage you need, it’s time to choose a fuel source. Most whole house generators are powered by natural gas, liquid propane or diesel.
Powering Your Heating and Cooling System
Natural gas is a popular fuel for heating and cooking homes, and it’s also a good choice for air conditioning. It is cheaper than electricity and provides a more consistent temperature throughout the home.
Its energy comes from a natural process that seeps into the ground, where it’s converted to liquid methane and then transported in pipelines. It’s also used to fuel commercial appliances.
One of the best things about natural gas is that it doesn’t have any odor. This helps to keep the environment safe, especially for families with young children.
In addition to heating homes, natural gas can power air conditioners, water heaters, space heaters, outdoor lights and garage heaters. Many of these appliances can be powered by the same natural gas pipes that supply the furnace.
Powering Critical Medical Equipment
If you have someone living in your home who relies on critical medical equipment like oxygen concentrators, dialysis machines or ventilators, a whole house generator is the best way to make sure those devices stay powered up. Without electricity, those pieces of equipment would become useless and even fatal.
A recent US study found that more than 685,000 people rely on electricity-dependent medical devices to help them live at home. This includes those whose home-based respiratory therapy requires ventilators, oxygen concentrators or exceptional temperature stability, as well as other vital life support devices that are dependent on power.
Because of this, it’s important for medical equipment manufacturers to ensure that the batteries used in their portable equipment are designed to provide back-up power in the event of a power outage. Batteries that are not manufactured to meet this specific need can lead to dangerous and expensive downtime for patients and doctors alike.