Power outages can happen when you least expect them, especially in New Haven, where storms, heavy snow, and aging power infrastructure can disrupt electricity. Whether you’re protecting your family’s comfort, avoiding food spoilage, or ensuring safety in emergencies, having the right generator makes all the difference. In this guide, we’ll explain why a generator installation is a must-have for New Haven homeowners and how to choose the perfect one to meet your power needs and budget.

What Is a Whole-Home Generator?

Most people are familiar with portable generators, which provide temporary power to specific devices plugged into them. A whole-home generator provides the same convenience just in a larger model. Whole-home generators, also known as standby generators, are permanently installed and will automatically provide power to your home's entire electrical system when your utility company has a power outage.

The Benefits of a Whole-Home Generator

To help you gain better insight into standby generators, we're going to discuss some of their most significant advantages below.

Convenience

Probably the most significant benefit of investing in a whole-home generator is that it will provide convenience for your home. From powering your lighting system to running your electronic devices, like your television, a standby generator allows you to continue life as normal whenever your power goes out.

Prevents Against Food Spoilage

A whole-home generator will prevent your food from spoiling and you won't even have to worry about how often you open your refrigerator while the power is out and how long your freezer will keep items good before you enter the "danger zone."

Increases Home Safety

A standby generator will keep your home security system fully functional throughout the outage. That means your camera system, alarms, keyless entry, and other security features will all remain operational. This brings peace of mind when you're home, but it's even more important when the power goes out and no one is home.

A Must For Medical Devices

If you or another household member relies on a medical device powered by electricity for everyday living, a whole-home generator is an absolute must. This will ensure that your medical device can consistently run whenever you experience a power outage. This can go a long way in providing you or your loved one with peace of mind about their safety.

Protects Your Home From Damage

When your power goes out, so does your HVAC system. This can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening in the winter as your home can become extremely cold when the power is out for an extended period. This could damage your home's pipe, which could freeze and burst. A standby generator will ensure that your heating system remains functional throughout the power outage so your home can be protected from harm.

Other Notable Benefits

Apart from the main benefits that we went over above, there are some other notable benefits that a whole-home generator can provide you with. It will enhance the overall resale value of your home and can lower your insurance costs. A standby generator is specifically designed to function quietly outside your home. This way, it can continue to run overnight without disrupting your neighbors. This type of generator is also ideal for those who work from home or run a business from home. You don't want to lose potential clients or miss out on your paycheck because of a power outage.

How to Choose a Whole-Home Generator

If you've decided that a whole-home generator is a great investment for your New Haven home, there are a few things that you want to keep in mind when deciding on the perfect one to purchase. First and most importantly is going to be what items you want to be able to run when your power goes out. As a general rule of thumb, the more power that a generator can produce, the more expensive it's going to be.

Generator Size

Homeowners often want a generator that can run things like an HVAC system, appliances, and a home security system. It can be beneficial to work with an electrician who can determine the specific power needs for all of those items so that you can choose a generator with enough power to supply energy to them.

Fuel Source

Consider the type of fuel that your generator will use. Generators can run on natural gas, propane, gasoline, and diesel. If you already have natural gas piping in your home, it's typically best to opt for a natural gas generator! If you choose propane, gasoline, or diesel fuel, then you'll need an on-site tank to have an adequate fuel supply for when your generator kicks on. The type of fuel that you choose will depend highly on what fuels are available in your area and their overall operating cost.

Desired Features

When selecting the perfect standby generator for your home, there are a few different desirable features you may want to get. One of the most important is to get an automatic start feature. This feature allows your generator to turn on automatically as soon as your electricity goes out so you don't have to be home to manually start it. Another feature you may want to consider is the low oil shut-off feature. This turns your generator off when its oil level gets below a certain point to protect the overall safety of the internal generator components. Virtually all whole-home generators will make some noise during operation. However, different models will offer super quiet operation for your benefit. These units tend to be a little more expensive but can be helpful when you live in an area surrounded by other homes where the operating noise of your generator bounces off various surfaces. These are also good options in closely packed neighborhoods.

Whole-Home Generator Maintenance Needs

Just like any other appliance in your household, a whole-home generator will need regular maintenance service. We encourage annual maintenance service on your generator by a professional electrician. Additionally, clear away any debris or shrubbery within three feet of the generator to ensure adequate airflow for proper function.

Expert Generator Service

Mister Sparky® offers expert generator installation service to the New Haven, CT area. We can also assist with a wide range of electrical solutions! We can help you transform your home to be more comfortable and keep it running even when the grid is down. Simply call us today to book your next service consultation.