Everything You Wish You Knew About Standby Generators

The Midwest usually ranks among the safest areas for natural disasters in the United States, but that doesn’t mean Central Kentucky is immune from dangerous storms. In fact, in the past 5 years the average amount of rain or snow has risen nearly 20% in the United States and almost 27% in Central Kentucky. Additionally, the total number of reported tornadoes has increased by 14 per year over the past 50 years.

As severe weather increases, blackouts are becoming increasingly common. While it is easy to think of blackouts as short-lived inconveniences, during a weather emergency a disruption in power could become dire. Standby generators can power a home’s electricity for days after a blackout and could be the perfect way to protect your home and family during an emergency.

1. How Does A Standby Generator Work?

During a power outage, standby generators automatically supply power to your home through the use of an automatic transfer switch. When electrical power is flowing normally, this transfer switch works to connect electricity from your municipal power to your home’s electrical panel. However, as soon as the automatic transfer switch detects an interruption in your electrical service, it immediately disconnects you from the municipal power. Once your home is safely disconnected, the transfer switch activates your generator before transferring its electrical power to your home’s electrical panel. The generator’s power is produced through an internal combustion engine, which is usually fueled through the local natural gas supply. The generator can then safely run unit the municipal power returns and the transfer switch shuts the generator down and reconnects your home to the municipal power grid.

2. How Do I Know What Size Generator I Need?

Generators are manufactured, categorized, and sold by wattage. The higher the generator’s wattage capacity, the more circuits it can power. However, the more circuits a generator can power, the higher the cost. To determine what size generator you truly need, it is best to first decide what your electrical needs would be during an emergency. From this point, our generator experts can help you decipher the total wattage of your emergency needs and calculate the most appropriate generator size.

Our technicians are factory-trained in the installation and full routine maintenance of our Generac Whole House Generators. Give us a call today at 859-233-0424 to schedule your Free In-Home Generator Estimate!