A home generator can offer peace of mind, providing backup power for essentials when outages hit unexpectedly . From keeping your fridge running during a storm to maintaining home comfort, generators come in a number of forms -- portable , standby and even solar-powered -- tailored to fit different needs and budgets. As you explore options, understanding the costs, installation requirements and benefits can help you decide if a generator aligns with your lifestyle and home setup.
This guide covers the essentials to help you weigh the pros and cons of adding a generator to your home. The average American experienced 5.5 hours of outages in 2022 , partly due to severe weather.
That's fewer hours than the previous two years, but the long-term trend shows that outages are becoming more common , with the increase driven by weather-related outages. Addressing the conditions that cause extreme weather requires systemic solutions, but you can keep the lights on and gain a little peace of mind with a home generator. But generators come with a cost that may make them seem like more of a luxury than a necessity.
Consider the costs of a home generator, understand the installation process and know what to expect from this backup power source . Then you can make an informed decision as to whether you want a home generator to kick on when the lights go out. Because maybe you're better suited for an alternative or are comfortable and prepared to remain in the dark until an outage passes, eve.