Many homeowners understandably dread the prospect of losing power. Whether it is due to a storm or a downed tree, a power outage can easily ruin your day. So, is a whole-house generator worth it?
A whole-house generator is worth the investment if your home is prone to losing power. It costs an average of $10,000 to install a whole-house generator, but it depends on the unit and the size of your home. Whole-house generators turn on automatically when you lose power and help protect you, your perishables, and your pipes.
A whole-house generator can save you thousands of dollars on plumbing repairs during a power outage. The ability to help prevent burst pipes during power outages alone is worth the cost of installation. Follow along as we explore the many benefits of installing a whole-house generator.
Should You Get a Whole-House Generator?
It’s worth the cost to get a whole-house generator. Whole-house generators remove the need to panic during bad weather that would otherwise make you lose power. They are worth the investment for many reasons, such as:
1. Invaluable During Power Outages
Depending on where you live, power outages may be quite common. Many people suffer frequent power outages due to inclement weather, overgrown wildlife, and downed trees. You can’t count on a utility provider to quickly restore power when this happens.
Whole-house generators remove much of the stress that comes along with incoming storms. You don’t have to worry about waking up to a house with no power since it turns on automatically.
2. Easy Operation
Automatic and easy to use, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to use a whole-house generator. They can accurately detect power outages and quickly run without any assistance. This makes it easy for homeowners without generator experience to justify investing in one.
Whole-house generators are also invaluable for homeowners with physical limitations and busy schedules. No matter what you have going on, the generator will turn on and make your home feel safer.
3. Protect Your Pipes
Every homeowner dreads the prospect of their pipes freezing and bursting. This can lead to thousands of dollars in water damage and plumbing repairs. The pipes in your home can easily freeze if you lose power when the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s because your heating system will stop running, and furnace repairs will be impossible. Once it stops running, it won’t take longer for your house to become quite cold. That’s especially true if your pipes have leaks and are poorly insulated.
Your pipes can even freeze in just 3 hours if the temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The cold temperature can freeze the water and create pressure within your pipes as the ice expands. This can damage your walls and floors, and it can be catastrophic if you don’t catch it in time.
4. Run Your Sump Pump
Do you have a sump pump in your house? If so, then you may understandably worry about what will happen if you lose power. Naturally, your sump pump will stop running and your basement may flood depending on how long it goes without power.
A whole-house generator is worth it to run your sump pump alone. It costs up to $15,000 to fix flood damage from a defunct sump pump if not more. However, the cost depends on when you catch the problem and the extent of the plumbing repairs.
5. Keep Your Home Safe and Comfortable
It simply isn’t safe to sit at home in a dangerously hot or cold house when you lose power. That’s especially true during the dead of winter when you may go days or weeks below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also unsafe to navigate a dark house when the power goes out.
That’s especially true if you have small children and pets or if you have physical limitations. After all, most people typically lose power at the most inopportune times.
6. Protect Your Perishables
Food waste is one of the biggest downsides of losing power. There’s a good chance that you may have to throw away much of the food in your refrigerator and freezer. The average refrigerator can only keep your food safe for 4 hours after a power outage.
Luckily, that’s not an issue if you have a whole-house generator. You don’t have to worry about your refrigerator losing power if you have a whole-house generator. That means you won’t have to worry about your food going bad even if you’re snowed in for days.
Can You Have a Whole House Generator Without Natural Gas?
You can run a whole-house generator without natural gas. However, you must use diesel fuel or propane to run the generator if you can’t use natural gas. Luckily, many people prefer propane over natural gas because it’s better for the environment.
However, diesel fuel isn’t nearly as clean as natural gas and propane regarding emissions. It may still be your only option if you can’t fuel your whole-house generator with natural gas.
Protect Your Home With Queen B Plumbing
At Queen B Plumbing, we frequently see the devastating effects of HVAC and plumbing damage during power outages. Whether it be severe leaks or a power surge that damages your furnace, it isn’t worth the risk. Call Queen B Plumbing (908) 633-1333 to learn more about the benefits of whole-house generators.
