This past weekend, thousands of people in Kansas City had no power after a harsh winter storm piled snow on top of trees and power lines. There isn’t an ideal time for electric to go out — however, winter poses a lot more danger and threats to your family.
You might be asking yourself if you should invest in a generator after last weeks power outage. You’ve got a few options in picking a generator, and we’ve got a few cautions before you do.
Permanent Generators
If your home loses power often, a permanent generator might be your best option. They are costly and require an electrician to install. These generators look like your central AC condenser and are located outside your house.
If you have a permanent generator, you probably won’t notice when the power goes out. They are usually plugged directly into your natural gas line and work in tandem with your home’s existing transfer switch. It starts working within seconds of a power outage.
Portable Generators
Portable generators are a much less expensive option for back-up power. Portable generators are powered by gasoline or diesel (which you should store separately). These generators come with rubber wheels so you can roll them up where you need them!
Carbon Monoxide!
Never run portable generators inside. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is very high with these types of generators. Even when you are running them from outside, you must have a carbon monoxide detector in your home to make sure that carbon monoxide is not escaping into your home.
Fuel Storage
Follow government-approved guidelines for safe fuel storage and backup generator use.
Lasting Power
Portable generators will typically give you 8 hours of power (some will give you a lot more, it just depends on how much power you need and the type of generator you purchase).
If you have no back-up power, be sure to have a winter-power outages plan in place.
