Backup generators can be a nice upgrade to your home since they provide peace of mind that you'll have electricity running to your home at all times. However, you likely have some questions about these devices before you move forward with getting one installed.

What Fuel Source Should The Generator Use?

If you want a backup generator that works seamlessly when the power is out, you'll need one that runs on natural gas. This will help ensure that you have the fuel that you need to power the generator when the time comes. Gasoline-powered generators may seem easy to fill up, but you'll need gasoline ready to go when it's time to use it. If the power is out, you may not be able to go to your local gas station in order to fill up a gas can.

Will The Generator Power The Whole House?

When it comes to how much of your home can be powered by a backup generator, it really depends on how powerful the generator is and what you want to run in your home. In most situations, a backup generator is not going to provide power to your entire home. The installation involves placing a second electrical panel in your home where you can decide which circuits will be powered by the generator, and can change circuits as needed.

It's common to use a backup generator to give you all of the essentials that you need in your home, such as access to lights, power for your refrigerators to keep food fresh, and other essential electronic devices. Do not expect to run your air conditioner off your generator unless you get one that is very powerful. However, you may want to shift power to the air conditioner at times when you need to cool down your home, which can be done by turning off other circuits. 

How Will You Know If The Generator Will Work When Needed? 

Home backup generators are designed to monitor themselves to ensure that they are ready to go. This typically means starting up about once per week, running for a short while to perform diagnostic tests, and then indicating that everything went well with a status light. 

How Does The Transfer Switch Work?

There will be a transfer switch installed that checks if you have a full blackout rather than just a brief brownout. Once the power is cut off from your main electrical supply company, it turns on your backup generator and changes over to the second electrical panel with the circuits turned on that you've selected. When the power comes back on, it waits a short while to ensure that the power is going to stay on, then switches back to the primary electrical panel. The generator will then go into a cool-down mode to shut down. 

For more information, contact a generator installation service.