Determining Which Electric Generators to Buy

Electric generators are a must for any household that could experience a loss of electricity. Since this describes nearly every home, it is safe to say that you could use one. Going through a power outage is not only a huge hassle, it can actively be dangerous in certain situations. Those who depend on their power for life support capabilities cannot afford to be without it for any length of time. But you don't need to depend on your power to keep you alive for one of these devices to be handy to have around. Make the last time you sat around in the dark during a storm the actual last time you ever do it. Here are some things to consider when making a purchase.

Power

One of the first things you should decide when looking at electric generators is how much power you think you'll need. Not every blackout is the same. Some last for a couple of hours, while others may last weeks. You can't prepare for every terrible eventuality, however, so you'll need to take an average in most cases. Look at your home and determine what you can live without and what you can't. What's important to you? Do you want to get your appliances up and running or do you just want to be able to watch TV for a few hours each night? Find a wattage worksheet online and use it to determine the kind of power you need.

Auto or Manual

There are a few types of electric generators, but what basically separates them is whether or not they start automatically upon power loss or whether they need to be started by the homeowner. If you want to make sure things continue running even when you aren't at home, you'll need to consider getting one with an automatic start. This will cost quite a lot more than a manual one, of course, but it may be an essential feature in some instances. If you're looking for one that is more portable, however, you'll want a manual device. These come in key-start, push-button, and pull-start types, which you can decide on based on your budget and preferences.

Cost

Electric generators really run the gamut when it comes to cost. Automatic devices that are wired into the home can cost many thousands of dollars to install. Small manual devices that can be taken camping won't cost you more than a few hundred dollars. All things considered, cost is typically going to be a factor of how you'll intend to use your machine.