At best, power outages are highly inconvenient, but at worst, they can be a serious issue. To make sure their homes stay powered during a grid failure, many homeowners turn to home generators. But how do these systems work to provide power during an outage?
In this blog, our professional electricians at Kolb Electric walk you through the different types of home generators, how they work, and the benefits of installing one for your home.
Types of Home Generators
The two main types of generators for residential use are standby generators and portable generators. Portable generators are, as the name suggests, smaller units that you can move around as needed. They often run on gasoline or propane and can be used to support smaller and more temporary power needs.
On the other hand, standby generators are permanently installed outside of your home and cannot be moved. They are connected to your home’s electrical system and a fuel source, most often natural gas or propane. Unlike portable generators that have to be manually started, standby generators will automatically kick on in the event of an outage. They can also support much higher power needs, including the ability to power HVAC systems, refrigerators, and more.
How Generators Work To Power Your Home
While standby and portable generators each offer different benefits and uses, their essential functions are fairly similar. When you need power, your home generator will work to provide electricity for your use by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. This all starts with the generator’s fuel source, whether that be gasoline, propane, diesel, or another option. This fuel is used to power an internal combustion engine that will generate mechanical energy.
The mechanical energy from the combustion engine is then converted into electrical energy using an alternator. Once the energy has been converted, you can either access it directly from your generator’s control panel or it will be routed through your home’s electrical system.
Benefits of Installing a Standby Generator
If you want the most peace of mind that your home will stay protected during an outage, then you need a standby generator. These highly useful systems provide a range of benefits for any home, including:
- Automatic power supply during an outage
- Power to essential systems or your whole-home
- Greater safety than portable generators
- Increased home value
- And more
With a standby generator, you don’t have to worry about food spoiling during an outage or not having access to essential electrical systems and devices.
Schedule a Standby Generator Installation With Kolb Electric
At Kolb Electric, we offer top-rated generator services to homes throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We install the highest-quality generators from Generac so that you can have peace of mind that your home will always have power when you need it. Our electricians will ensure your generator is installed safely and correctly so that you can start enjoying the benefits.
Call Kolb Electric today to schedule a generator installation in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
