The world in which we live today is vastly different from that which our ancestors experienced, or even some of our more recent relatives. There are generations alive today that can remember what the world was like before the Internet, before it was common to have color television let alone multiple flat screens, before it was standard that everyone had a phone in their home let alone in their pocket. The world has changed, and it continues to do so. The rate at which technology advances seems to speed up every time we turn around. We are constantly presented with the newest, latest and greatest version of a device or system whose original still seemed new enough.
We are using much more energy and power than the generations that came before us. In fact, federal data collection on the frequency of blackouts began back in 1984, and compared to that time, the United States electric grid suffers power loss and outages fully 285% more often today. Technology and advancements in our modern comforts seem to give us the false feeling of invincibility. While there are plenty of systems in place to help protect people if things go wrong, it never hurts to prepare yourself and your home for an event that could leave you feeling a bit helpless.
Whole house generators for when you lose power
If you live in an area prone to strong storms or power outages in general, you likely have a bit of a system in place for what to do when the lights and electricity go out. But if you are not prepared for such an event, regardless of where you live and what you are used to, it will be worthwhile to look into generator installation companies and see what you can find out about what is feasible for your home. The right generator installers will be able to answer any questions that you have regarding emergency generator installation requirements and how to use a good generator size calculator. A generator size calculator is one of the crucial first steps in deciding what generator you need for your home, based on what you hope to power during the outage. While some people choose to install a generator that will only provide enough power for the basics, others would prefer to continue on as if there were not power outage at all, choosing a generator that produces enough watts for absolutely everything.
Understanding the capacity of your generator
Many blackouts are brief power outages that barely cause a blip on your radar as far as your regular routine is concerned. Even an outage of a couple hours can be bearable, and if it lasts for less than four hours, all of the contents of your fridge and freezer will be acceptable to consume. But if you’re unsure of the duration of the power outage, and you fear that you and your household will be without power for a lengthy amount of time, you will probably want to kick on that generator.
How do you know which generator to have installed for your home? That completely depends on what all you want to have up and running during the blackout. This is where generator size calculators are so important. They’re simple tools that you can find on online generator guides or through the assistance of a generator installation company. The rated watts that the appliances you want to operate equal the watts that your generator will need to have. For example, a 100 watt light bulb would count for 100 watts that your generator will produce. A cell phone charger might take just 10 watts and a laptop only 50 watts, but to use just one burner on an electric range stove, you would need 2,000 watts. To power multiple appliances throughout your entire home in addition to the basic lighting and electricity you’ll want, you will likely be looking at a high amount of current. On top of that, there are many devices and appliances that require more current at startup, which should be factored in.
Keeping your home safe and functional during a power outage is important, and using a generator size calculator can help you be prepared.