The whole house generator is a powerful piece of equipment that you should consider if you are looking to power your home during a storm. In addition to providing enough power for your home’s basic needs, the generator can also help you keep the lights on during the long night that comes with a storm. Buying a whole house generator can be a good investment if you know how to go about choosing the best model and the right components.
Propane vs. diesel
There are two options for fuel for a whole house generator: propane and diesel. The best choice for your home will depend on your power needs and your budget.
Propane is cleaner burning, and emits less carbon dioxide and NO2 gas than diesel. This clean burning fuel has many other benefits as well, including lower emissions and low noise levels.
Although there are a lot of differences between diesel and propane, both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Knowing which one to choose is a little tricky, but this guide will help you make the right choice.
The most important factor when it comes to choosing between a propane or a diesel fuel is how much you plan to use it. A propane generator will last for a long time, and it’s also more affordable to run. In fact, a typical home generator will only need four gallons of propane per hour.
Propane is a better choice for colder climates than diesel. It is a clean burn and has a great shelf life.
Diesel, on the other hand, is not as efficient as propane and it can degrade rapidly, making it a poor choice in cold weather. While it does produce more BTUs than propane, it is not as powerful.
Automatic transfer switch (ATS)
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) is a device that can sense power loss and transfer the load from the grid to a backup generator. This is an important piece of equipment to have. It can protect your business from interruptions and reduce the risk of environmental damage from an outage.
Automatic transfer switches can also be used to supply electricity to heating and air conditioning systems. They can be configured to automatically control circuits with the highest priority during a power outage.
The installation of an automatic transfer switch is a complex process. Professional installation is recommended to ensure the switch works properly.
A typical home backup transfer switch is built in a compact aluminum box. This allows safe access for maintenance. Transfer switches have three positions: LINE, GEN, and OFF. Select circuits are fed by the utility power in the LINE position, and the generator supplies selected circuits in the GEN position.
When the utility service is restored, the switch re-opens the connection with the generator power. This process is known as a “first-break” approach.
To prevent overloading, the ATS must be equipped with a Load Management Module. This module allows the switch to determine how much energy is needed to power a generator.
Cost
A whole house generator is a device that supplies power to your home in the event of an electrical outage. This is a good option if you live in a high-risk area for natural disasters. It can also increase your home’s resale value. But the cost of installing a generator can be significant.
For example, the cost of running a 20 kilowatt generator for an entire day is 83 gallons of fuel. However, if you run a ten kilowatt generator for the same amount of time, you will only need to buy 3 gallons of gasoline.
The cost of running a generator depends on the size of the unit, the power it produces and how often it is used. A bigger unit can provide more benefits and improve the quality of life.
The cost of running a generator is lower if the HVAC system is not in use. Also, a larger generator can improve the resale value of your home.
If you need more information, a generator installer can help you decide on the best product for your home. Some installers will offer financing options to reduce the upfront costs.
While the cost of running a whole house generator can vary widely, most homeowners spend about $1,500 to $2,000 for installation services. Installation includes hooking up the unit to the home’s electrical panel and fuel supply.