How do standby
generatorS work?
If you have a generator installed
at your home or business, it is
certain to operate on either
propane or natural gas.
Generators of this sort are intended
sit on the outside of the residence or
business which it is intended to serve
and wait in a “standby” mode until the
power goes out and it is needed. Then,
when a power outage occurs,
the unit will automatically start up and
begin providing the building currently at
a loss of power with this “backup” power
supply. Therefore, if you are away from
your home or business where a
generator is installed & your
neighbourhood happens to lose power,
you don’t have to worry about anything!
Your freezer won’t run the risk of thawing
out, air conditioning or heat won’t shut
down, and absolutely everything else
that requires a source of power will
continue to function as programmed.
Finally, the unit which is completely
automatic will shut down/off when
the power is restored
How long will A
generator
power MY home?
Similar to a car’s engine, one
can count on a generator to
function as planned given that the
unit has oil and fuel in it to keep it
running smoothly. Given this
statement, it is theoretically
correct to assume that a generator
should be able to operate
indefinitely. However, since generators
are technically a piece of machinery
there remains a need to consistently
monitor and minisculely maintain
these type of units to keep them
performing optimally.
Aside, it is tradition for generator
manufacturers to recommend one
shuts down their generator for
approximately a 15 minute break/rest
every 24 hours of usage. During
this time, it is recommended
that the owner utilizes this
period of time as an
opportunity to check a generator’s oil
levels & refuel if necessary. Now, since
there is history proving that
Saskatchewan residents can expect
to experience long power outages
after severe storms, proper
maintenance remains critical &
a behaviour that you should practice.
Is A generator
loud when its
running?
Most generators do not exceed
the decibel level of a standard
air conditioner. Standby (permanently
installed) generators are actually
considered to operate much more
quietly than portable generators.
Interestingly, larger units can be the
considered the quietest of all generators,
as their engines are more powerful and
therefore, do not have to work as hard
to generate the power needed to replace
lost supplies.
How long does it take
for A generator to
turn on?
Typically, a generator will turn on
in as little as 15 seconds from the point
where normal power supply is lost.
From this point, a generator will
require an additional 10-15 seconds
to get warmed up and supply power
to the replacement capacity needed.
This means that if you were to lose
power at your home, then you can
estimated that your backup generator
will take just less then 30 seconds to
activate. You will barely notice any
downtime or delays and shall be able
to continue your day’s plans as per
usual!
How expensive IS IT
to run A generator?
The overall cost of running a generator
is directly associated to “how much fuel
you need/use”. Propane operated
generators seem to be slightly less
expensive when compared to natural gas
generators. However, propane generators
need to be refilled where natural gas
operated generators access permanently
installed household lines which provide a
constant/low maintenance source
of energy. In the end, the overall cost to
run a generator will be determined
by how long the outage was, & how
many appliances you want to run.
But let’s face it – if your power goes
out in August, the cost to keep the A/C
on is irrelevant to most of us – we just
want to stay cool! Plus an extended
outage could cause us to lose all the
food in our refrigerator or freezer –
so really, the cost of gas is not
too much of a concern for most
homeowners. At Saunders Electric
we not only sell generators, but we
professionally install and maintain
them. From the day you
purchase your generator, we partner
with you to make sure your generator
is not only working well on Day 1, but
for the life of the unit. Call us today
for more information on which
generator is right for you, or with
any generator questions you may have.
Do I need to maintain
or inspect the unit if
I haven’t used it?
Generators kick on when they
are needed. If you have not
experienced a power outage at
your home, you still should regularly
maintain your unit. Technicians can
come out to your house & test to make
sure all systems are running properly,
& that the oil & fuel lines are clear.
The last thing you want to see happen
is that you find out your unit isn’t
working properly after the power
has gone out. For best results, sign
on to a local dealer’s generator
maintenance plan.