Do Automatic Standby Generators Work?

According to Inside Climate News, power outages in the U.S. have increased by over 60% since 2015. These disruptions can cause significant inconvenience and even endanger lives, especially during severe weather.

An automatic standby generator offers a reliable solution by ensuring your home remains powered during outages. Let’s look into how these generators work, their benefits, and why they are becoming an essential feature for homeowners.

How an Automatic Standby Generator Works

Automatic standby generators are designed to keep your home powered during an outage without requiring any manual intervention. When the power from the utility grid fails, the generator’s transfer switch immediately senses the loss.

Within seconds, the generator starts up, powered by its fuel source, which is typically natural gas or propane. The transfer switch then shifts the electrical load from the utility to the generator, allowing the generator to supply power to your home.

While the generator is running, it maintains a steady flow of electricity, ensuring that all essential appliances and systems continue to operate as they would under normal circumstances. This process is automatic, so you don’t need to be present or take any action for the generator to do its job.

Once the utility power is restored, the generator’s transfer switch senses this and automatically shuts down the generator. The electrical load is then transferred back to the utility power, returning your home to normal operation. The entire process is designed to be quick and efficient, minimizing any disruption to your daily life during a power outage.

Standby Generator Benefits

Automatic standby generators offer several key benefits that make them an essential addition to any home. They include uninterrupted power supply, protection for your home, and peace of mind during emergencies.

One of the most significant benefits is the uninterrupted power supply. When the power goes out, whether due to a storm or a grid failure, the generator kicks in automatically, ensuring that your home remains powered. The constant power supply keeps your lights on, your appliances running, and your heating or cooling systems operational, no matter the weather or time of day.

Another important benefit is the protection it offers to your home. Power outages can cause appliances and systems like refrigerators, sump pumps, and security systems to fail, which can lead to costly damages. An automatic standby generator prevents these issues by keeping your home’s essential systems running smoothly, even during prolonged outages.

Reliability is especially valuable for homes in areas prone to frequent power outages, making a standby generator a smart investment for long-term safety and convenience.

Generator Installation

Installing an automatic standby generator involves several important steps to ensure it functions properly and safely. First, the location of the generator must be chosen.

It’s usually placed outside the home, similar to an air conditioning unit. The generator needs to be close to both the electrical panel and the fuel source, whether it’s natural gas or propane.

Once the location is determined, a professional installer connects the generator to your home’s electrical system through a transfer switch. The switch is essential because it manages the transition between utility power and generator power. It ensures that the generator only supplies electricity when the utility power is down, preventing dangerous back-feeding into the power grid.

The installation process also involves connecting the generator to its fuel supply. It could mean hooking it up to your home’s natural gas line or setting up a dedicated propane tank. The fuel connection is critical because it allows the generator to start automatically when needed.

Finally, the installer tests the system to make sure everything works correctly. 

Automatic Generator Maintenance

Maintaining an automatic standby generator is key to ensuring it operates reliably when you need it most. Regular maintenance helps prevent unexpected issues and extends the lifespan of the generator. There are a few basic tasks that should be performed routinely to keep the generator in good working order.

Checking the oil level is essential. Like a car, the generator’s engine needs the right amount of oil to function properly. It’s important to check the oil regularly, especially after extended use, and top it off as needed.

The battery should be inspected to make sure it’s holding a charge. A dead battery can prevent the generator from starting when the power goes out, so this step is vital for ensuring readiness.

Another important maintenance task is running the generator periodically, even when it’s not needed for an outage. It helps keep the engine parts lubricated and ensures the system is ready to start when required. Some generators have a self-test mode that runs automatically, but it’s still a good idea to check on it regularly.

Scheduling a professional service once a year can help catch any potential problems before they turn into bigger issues. 

Emergency Power Solutions for Every Home

Having a reliable power source during emergencies is more important than ever, and an automatic standby generator is one of the best solutions available. They offer a dependable way to keep your home running when the power goes out, ensuring that essential appliances and systems remain operational.

While some homes may use portable generators or battery backups as alternatives, these options don’t offer the same level of convenience and reliability as an automatic standby generator. Portable generators require manual setup and refueling, which can be challenging during a prolonged outage. Battery backups, on the other hand, may only provide limited power for short periods, making them less effective for extended outages.

But a generator is always ready to go, providing seamless power when you need it most. It offers peace of mind knowing that your home will stay powered through any emergency, making it a valuable addition to any home’s emergency preparedness plan.

Emergency Power Solutions

An automatic standby generator is a reliable solution for keeping your home powered during outages.

At Aire-Flo Heating, Cooling & Generators, we know that the key to success is going above and beyond the expectations of those we serve. Since 1951, we’ve been servicing most makes and models available and bringing our 100% satisfaction guarantee to people in the Central Ohio region.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help with your HVAC needs!