Is A Backup Generator A Good Investment For Your Home?

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Is A Backup Generator A Good Investment For Your Home?

Do you need a standby generator? Let’s put it this way: Do you like to gamble? Think back just a couple of months. Do you remember the human agony caused by historic winter storms in places like Oklahoma and Texas? People living without electricity for days on end. If you want to avoid that possibility at your Illinois or Northwest Indiana home, then the answer is a resounding yes.

Severe Weather Season is Here

Merts Heating & Air Conditioning hopes we are past the chance of snow and ice storms for several months, but we are now entering the peak of our summer storm season. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are just as likely to cause power outages which makes buying a generator a wise investment for your Steger, IL or Crown Point, IN home. 

The Obvious Advantages

A backup generator allows you to power some or all of the appliances and devices in your house or business. This allows you to live or work comfortably during an extended power outage. This will also minimize financial losses even when the power stays out for days.

Portable vs Standby

When it comes to generators, many people think first about what they see being sold at the big box stores…a lawnmower-style engine and generator mounted on a cart. Most commonly, these portable units are large enough to power lights and a few appliances, but not an entire house. A standby generator generally implies a permanent installation with enough generating capacity to keep all household systems, including heating & cooling, operational when the power is out.

How it Works

When you have a professionally installed standby generator, do you know what you have to do when the power goes out at your Illinois or Northwest Indiana home? Not. A. Darn. Thing. Most usually a standby generator runs on natural gas or propane (diesel fuel is also an option) and is hooked up to an existing propane tank or gas line. They are installed with a sophisticated transfer switch which means standby generators kick in automatically (within 30 seconds) when the power goes out. When power is restored the generator shuts down and your house returns to normal.

Don’t Forget About Generator Maintenance

One of the worst things you can do is make that generator investment and then forget about it. Like any other piece of equipment, generators require maintenance. They need to be started periodically and should receive professional maintenance at least once-a-year. A standby generator is nothing but a large and heavy lawn ornament if it doesn’t start when the power goes out.

Call Merts Today

Merts Heating & Air Conditioning is proud to feature Briggs and Stratton generators, one of the most recognized names when it comes to outdoor power equipment. So, make your call before the summer storms arrive in Steger, IL or Crown Point, IN and learn more about the peace-of-mind that comes with a standby generator. Great information like this is always available on our Facebook and Twitter pages.