Why Whole-Home Generators Are Better Than Portable Generators

According to a recent survey, over 80% of Americans worry about increased power outages throughout the country over the last few years. In large part because of this, more than 60% of them say they wish they had a backup generator to provide power during an outage.

But unfortunately, less than 10% of American homeowners have generators for their houses. If you fall into this category, you should change this immediately.

You’re welcome to go with one of the many portable generators on the market today. But a whole-house generator is going to be the better option. You’ll enjoy more benefits when you settle on a whole-home generator during the installation.

So, what makes whole-home generators better than portable generators? Find out below.

More Convenient

A whole-home generator is also often referred to as a standby generator. Why? Well, if and when the power ever goes out in your home, it’ll be on standby, spring right into action, and turn on.

You’ll appreciate this greatly since there is no telling when a power outage might occur. You’ll sleep better at night knowing that your whole-house generator will turn on in the blink of an eye when you need it most.

This isn’t going to be the case with portable generators. When your power goes out, you’ll need to go out to the garage or wherever you keep a portable generator and drag it outside so that you can begin using it. It can turn into a huge hassle before long.

You’ll find that relying on a whole-home generator will be much more convenient than counting on a portable generator over time.

Greater Power

As its name suggests, a whole-house generator will provide your entire house with the power it needs when you have one installed. You’ll get the chance to run power to all your major appliances throughout a power outage when you have this type of generator.

The same can’t be said for portable generators. They’ll only be able to provide your home with a small amount of power, so you’ll need to pick and choose what you decide to leave on strategically. This could become a huge headache and leave you guessing which appliances need power the most.

More Affordable

To be clear, buying a whole-home generator will cost more upfront. Portable generators will be cheaper if you look only at the cost of the generator you buy.

But you’ll quickly discover that using a portable generator will cost you way more money than using a standby generator. You’ll need to purchase regular gas for a portable generator in most cases, while you’ll be able to use natural gas for a whole-house generator.

As a result, you should be able to save money when you use a whole-house generator versus a portable one. It’ll help your whole-home generator pay for itself in the future.

Increased Safety

From the moment you first fire up a portable generator, it will emit carbon monoxide in its general vicinity. If you come into contact with this carbon monoxide, it could seriously damage your health and even end up killing you and others if you aren’t careful.

Thousands of people are poisoned by their portable generators on an annual basis. They also kill some because of the carbon monoxide they put out.

You can avoid having either of these things happen to you by putting a portable generator in a well-ventilated area while using it. Or you can avoid using a portable generator in the first place by going with a whole-house generator instead.

Whole-home generators don’t create the same safety risks that portable generators do. It’s the best excuse to invest in a standby generator instead of a portable one.

Better Resale Value

Hooking up a whole-home generator to your house will do more than ensure you have power during any power outages in your area. It’ll also do more than provide you with peace of mind.

A whole-house generator will increase your home’s value outside of doing these things. It’ll serve as an attractive selling feature whenever you go to sell your house.

Meanwhile, portable generators won’t add value to your home since they aren’t a part of it. You’ll be expected to take a portable generator when you move out of a house.

Less Stress

Remember how we mentioned that most Americans are somewhat concerned about the country’s recent power outages? The concerns surrounding these power outages have left some people feeling stressed. They worry about what might happen if their homes don’t have any power for an extended period.

If you’re feeling stressed out because of this, buying a standby generator will make most of your stress go away. You won’t lie in bed at night wondering what you’ll do if the power goes out anymore.

Generac whole home generators also have Mobile Link Monitoring so you can receive up-to-the-minute text and email alerts updating your power status during an outage.

Skip Portable Generators and Install a Whole-Home Generator

Based on their prices, portable generators might sound like an attractive option. But as you’ve seen here, it’ll make much more sense to install a whole-home generator rather than buy a portable one.

New London Electric, Inc. can provide the perfect whole-house generator for your home. We specialize in installing Generac standby generators in northern Delaware and southern Chester County and can help you choose the right option for your house.

Joanne O'NeillJuly 12, 2023