Why a Whole House Generator is the Right Choice for Florida Residents

Florida residents often get battered by storms and hurricanes that result in power outages. In 2017, Hurricane Irma knocked out power to nearly 16 million residents, and crews struggled to restore power in the days and weeks that followed. Losing power to your home can cause some serious issues – spoiled food, lack of working HVAC units, and even flooding damage due to a non-functioning sump pump. If you live in Florida and are tired of dealing with the hassle of power outages, a whole house generator is a great solution.

Portable generators are capable of powering essential appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners or sump pumps. They aren’t meant to power a whole home for long periods of time. On the other hand, whole house generators have automotive-style engines that range in capacity from 22 to 150kW. They are quieter and can back up an entire home. Larger models are liquid cooled to handle extended use.

You may have wondered whether or not owning a whole house generator is worth the upfront costs associated with purchase and installation, but over time, the money you save from owning a generator will pay for itself.

With a whole house generator, your home will be close to functioning like nothing has happened. Peace of mind in case of power outages isn’t all a generator has to offer. When the power goes out, there are many potential costs you could incur:

• If the power is out for more than a few hours, the food in your refrigerator and freezer will start to warm up. To be safe, you’ll have to dispose of most of it, especially meat. Disposing of stored food can end up being costly. A generator can power refrigerators or freezers to keep your valuable food items chilled.
• When a power outage is expected, many people purchase items like flashlights, extra batteries, candles, and firewood in order to light a house. Owning a generator means you can use lights in your home. You won’t need to run to the store for extra candles or batteries every time the power goes out.
• If the power is out for days, some people choose to stay in a hotel room, especially when the weather is bad. Hotels can end up costing hundreds of dollars for every night you stay, which adds up quickly. If you want to stay in your home during an outage and not have to sacrifice comfort and convenience, a generator can give you the power you need.
• Important systems like your sump pump need power. If your house floods from a rainstorm, you’ll find yourself needing to replace furniture, carpeting, and appliances. A standby generator can power your sump pump in case of emergency, and end up saving you a lot of money. Additionally, if your house gets water damage during a storm, you will want to be able to run your air conditioner or fan system to remove excess moisture from the house. Mold grows very fast.
• A whole house generator does not need to be manually refueled, which means that you don’t have to run out and stock up on fuel, or find a place to store extra fuel on your property.
• If you need medical devices or oxygen, having power is essential. Owning a generator can guarantee that you won’t suffer without your life-saving medical equipment.

All of these costs add up over time, and if you purchase a generator, you could recoup the costs over the life of the machine. In addition, a whole house generator can run your HVAC systems, which means you can take comfort knowing that, as long as you are out of the direct path of the storm, you can stay in your home and ride it out.

In an area where power outages occur frequently, purchasing a generator can be one of the smartest moves you make for your home. Before purchasing, carefully consider your power needs, and compare it to the cost of what you may potentially lose when the power goes out. It’s easy to see how the safety and convenience of a generator can quickly pay for itself, despite any upfront costs.

Eau Gallie Electric has been helping Florida homeowners select and install generators in their homes for decades. We go over the options that are right for your needs and get your new generator set up so that you’re prepared when the next storm strikes.

If you’re looking to install a whole house generator in your Florida home, contact Eau Gallie Electric for more information.