Michigan homeowners deal with harsh summer storms and heavy winter snowfall, leading to frequent power outages across the state. Installing a home generator can help reduce the effects of the multi-day outages some residents have dealt with in recent years. Discover the ideal solution for your needs and budget with these helpful tips.
Portable generators are small, easy to move, and require constant refueling. They’re noisy and limited in how much power they provide, but you can pick up a small generator for as little as $600 for a 1,000-watt unit. While these generators will work in a pinch and are great for outdoor activities where electricity isn’t readily available, they’re riskier and less reliable than standby generators when used inside the home.
Standby generators are more expensive, with average prices (including installation fees) ranging from $9,000 to over $12,000. They provide much higher wattage options, with some units supporting most or all of your home’s systems. The permanent design makes them safer, easier to refuel or keep steadily fueled, and less likely to direct harmful emissions into your home.
Both types of generators require fuel and regular maintenance, which must factor into their total cost. Larger standby generators typically offer greater efficiency, as well as options for a direct gas connection, eliminating the need for refueling. Portable generators largely rely on gasoline or propane cylinders to keep them operating, requiring more work on your part when the power is out.
The most important detail to get right is the generator size for home power needs. An undersized generator won’t power the things you need, while an oversized generator will waste fuel and produce power you don’t need. The key is determining which appliances and home systems are essential to operate during an outage. As much as you love your big-screen TV, it’s probably unnecessary for an outage of a few hours to a few days.
Go around your house and make a list of appliances and systems like your refrigerator, HVAC equipment, water pump, and water heater. Look up both the running watts for the appliance and the starting load. These numbers will be in kW. Many appliances will have this information listed on them, but you can also check with the manufacturer for specific model details. Once you’ve added up these totals for the devices you want to run, you need a generator sized to cover the starting load and running load by a safety margin of about 20%. For example, if you decide you need 1,000 watts of power in total or 1 kW, you’ll want a 1,200-watt generator at minimum.
Gas generators are portable and convenient for something like camping, but they’re not reliable enough for regular usage. Standby generators tend to run off a gas line instead. You can choose between propane and natural gas options based on what’s already connected to your home. If you’re running a gas line from scratch for a generator, consider that propane provides more energy per gallon and can power a bigger generator. Natural gas is more affordable but may not work as well for high-demand installations.
It’s not just enough to determine the peak amount of power you need during an outage. You should also consider how long the generator might need to run continuously. Some parts of Michigan face outages that last over a week, necessitating the biggest and most durable generators. These units feature extra heat transfer fins to prevent damage when running for extended periods. For people in areas where outages rarely last more than a day, a smaller generator that’s meant for occasional use is fine. For more insight, look up historical power outage data for your energy provider (and county).
Once you’ve chosen a home generator, you still need to determine where to place it. Portable units must be operated outdoors to let the fumes dissipate, but standby units feature integrated ventilation that allows for more creative placement. If you want a generator you can keep near or inside part of your home, you’ll have to choose a model meant for that purpose. Either way, protect the generator you choose from rainfall, snow coverage, and other weather conditions.
Working with a professional is the best way to get the right generator from the start. If you need help selecting and installing a generator for your home, contact our experts at Budget Electric. We’ve been serving Clinton Township, MI, for decades and take pride in our reputation for reliability, affordability, honesty, and expertise. No matter what budget or space you’re working with, we can find a solution for you.
Visit our website to see some of our past installation projects, or contact us today to schedule a free consultation and assessment of your backup power needs.
