Each and every year, millions of people experience prolonged power outages. Interruption of utility service is normally brought on by weather events like strong thunderstorms with high winds. Hurricanes, micro-bursts, and tornadoes also harm electric-utility infrastructure. Some power outages are known to last a few hours or even days at a time depending on the severity of the storm. From time to time it can take up to multiple weeks for utility workers to restore power after widespread damage from a serious event. In the meantime, homes are left without the power and they need to remain livable and maintain refrigerators cold and pumps operating.

Power Outage Problems

It is quite possible that the power outage you encounter only spans hours instead of days. When the power went out, you called the electric utility and learned that crews would have power restored the same day. It was inconvenient to live devoid of power for a short time, but consider what was going on in your home at that time. During a heavy rainstorm, houses with basements kept dry by sump pumps can begin to flood in as little as an hour. Without power the temperature of your freezers and refrigerators will raise. Without power, temperature extremes can make a house unlivable in a very brief time. In chilly weather, pipes can freeze without having heat.

Generators Keep The Power On

Standby generators for emergency power and portable generators can keep a home supplied with electricity. With a standby generator, you can set up and without anymore intervention other than some upkeep time to time you can rest assured you are protected. Sensing the power outage automatically, the generator will initiate and detach the house from the utility lines and connect it to the generator instead. Standby generators for home use run on either liquefied petroleum gas (LP Gas or Propane) or natural gas (NG). Using NG or LPG eliminates the need for steady refueling. A portable generator works in a similar fashion, but needs the homeowner to set it up, connect it to the house and get it started, and then throw a manual transfer switch to power up the home. If the home is not outfitted with a manual transfer switch, extension cords join certain appliances directly to the generator. Normally smaller portable generators will run on gasoline there are some alternatives and models that use liquid propane as well. Generators that are marked as tri-fuel can run on all three types, gasoline, LPG, and natural gas.

Portable Vs. Standby

A standby generator is truly a backup power source. It runs and provides power for days without human intervention. If an outage occurs when no one is at your home, the only thing that will be obvious when you come back is the clocks have reset. Any food that was left in any freezers or refrigerators will not be disturbed. In general, portable generators cost less than standby units and the electrical connections to a house are also more economical. Portable generators are also a choice for someone who is wanting a cheaper answer then both a standby generator and transfer switch. Keeping a portable generator for use during a power outage also means keeping fuel on hand and sustaining that fuel supply by adding stabilizers and rotating the stock as it grows old.

Be Ready

Don’t be caught without power during the next big storm. Start planning now and make your decision of a portable or standby backup generator for your home so that when the next power outage hits, you’re not left wondering when the power will come back on, if the food will spoil in the fridge, or if the pipes will freeze from sub-freezing temperatures. Enjoy your comfortable home in peace as others flee to hotels and overseas to escape the heat or cold. guarding your property ahead of time is much cheaper than fixing or changing it.

For more info go to: www.BackupHomePower.com