What To Look For In A Gas Powered Generator If You Only Plan To Use It A Few Times A Year

Looking to buy a gas powered generator? Smart! Here’s what you need to know if you’re only planning on using it once or twice a year.

Many homeowners are investing in generators. This is a smart idea, as it can help you deal with unforeseen issues with your home’s electricity, such as power outages. A power outage could happen as a result of a storm, unplanned infrastructure or maintenance, or crisis, but one thing is always true: You never plan on a power outage happening. Can a gas powered generator (or other type of generator) help you feel prepared in case of emergency? Absolutely.

Unfortunately, many homeowners are not familiar with generators. That’s understandable — they’re not as crucial to your home’s efficiency as hot water heaters and an HVAC system. But they are a key element to your emergency preparedness kit, so it’s in your best interest to learn about the different types of generators, and what’s the best choice for your family.

Types Of Generators For Home Use

There are a variety of different generators you can purchase for residential use. Here’s a broad overview:

• Gas powered generators
• Diesel powered generators
• Standby generators
• Solar powered generators
• Inverter generators
• Hydrogen generators

Two Types Of Generator Use

Generally speaking, people purchase generators for one of two reasons. For the purpose of this article, we’ll only be discussing the first (and most common) use.

Generators for Emergency Preparedness

These purchases are an investment in future planning. It’s key to have a gas powered generator (and plenty of gasoline) on hand in case the power goes out and you need to run your home appliances. You should keep it clean and perform routine maintenance, but it’s not an appliance that you’ll use or even think about every day.

Generators for Off-the-Grid Living

While this is a less popular reason for buying a generator, it is increasingly common. Off-the-grid cabins and vacation cottages need to be powered by a generator. The type of generator you purchase for this reason will require different considerations than a “one or two uses a year” model that largely lives in your basement or garage.

What To Look For In A Gas Powered Generator

Gas powered generators are by far the most popular for residential use. They’re relatively affordable, easy to use and maintain, and there are a lot of different options for every budget! But what makes a good gas powered generator?

1. They should not cost an arm and a leg. These are some of the most affordable types of generators!
2. Noise consideration. Gas powered generators typically run louder than most other varieties. (This makes them not always ideal for regular or recurrent use). However, some gas generator models are made with noise reduction in mind.
3. Portable/lightweight. While this may not seem like a big deal, lugging a dinosaur of a generator from its storage space can be very cumbersome. Many generators, including gas powered models, are lightweight and easy to manage.
4. Size/power potential. There’s a sweet spot between small/portable and high-powered. Your generator should be large enough to run the major appliances in your home. This is a key consideration for those with large living spaces.