Don’t you hate it when this happens? During the storm, you think about what you should have done to prepare for these doggone big storms that roar through this time of year. Ah, if the storm doesn’t get you, the self-flagellations will.
Well, put away the whip. This short article by Mahesh Narang on the cost versus value of a home generator will convince you to take precautionary actions now so that you can skip the guilt later.
Buying a Home Generator
Price of safety and convenience
By Mahesh Narang
A back-up generator—portable or residential—is a big-ticket item. Ranging in price from $400 to more than $15,000, a generator is often considered a luxury. Is it worth it? Yet, how much does a power outage actually cost you, and does it make financial sense to purchase a generator for your home?
Imagine: a horrendous storm hits your town (photo 1), pelting power lines with hail, snapping them and cutting power for miles. Your family will be powerless for days until crews can repair the broken grid. Without backup power, you are left in the dark with no heat, a refrigerator of soon-to-be spoiled food and a host of other inconveniences, such as no lights, no running water and no way to charge your hand-held devices like cell phones and iPods. Food alone may cost $250 to $500 to replace. But what about losing things that money can’t buy? What are you losing that doesn’t have a price tag? Your family’s safety, convenience and peace of mind are compromised.
While the cost of even a moderately-priced portable generator may seem expensive at the time of purchase, the value of having one when you do lose power is priceless.
Dollars and sense
Cost is only one factor when considering purchasing a generator. Numbers provided by Cummins Power Generation price a basic 5 kW portable generator at approximately $950. The investment in a portable generator pays off with one event. And if you live in an area that experiences frequent power outages, you may want to own a residential standby generator (photo 2) rather than a portable, as it lasts longer and can offer seamless power without manual interventions. Over the life of the generator, the cost will return to you not only by keeping perishables from spoiling, but also in safety, convenience and peace of mind by keeping heat and water on and helping to ensure your access to communication tools such as cell phones and the Internet.
Ease and safety of operation are the next most important considerations when choosing the generator that is right for you. Performance, quality, service and a brand you can trust are also important. You want confidence that the generator will start when you need it. Users should review features such as an electric starter (as opposed to a pull-starter), long run time and wheels and handles for moving the generator.
In order to best choose a generator, you need to know what appliances and equipment must remain powered in your home. Each house will be different, so start by making a list of wattages required, referring to the load chart that is included with the generator or available at www.cumminsonan.com/portable/select/, and then determine which level of power meets your needs. Consideration also must be given to choosing a portable unit for limited or rare power outages or an installed residential back-up system if your power outages occur regularly or you live in an off-grid area.
While on-site power generation was once reserved for hospitals and other commercial buildings, it is now affordable for the average home owner. A generator is an investment for years to come, not just a one-time purchase. Based on a report by Realtor.com, residential standby generators add value to your home, with up to 70% return on your investment. Having a generator on hand when the power goes out means what you pay for your generator comes back to you in value—safety, security and convenience.
Mahesh Narang is a Cummins Power Generation employee.
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