If you’re like most Australians (in fact around 94% of us), you rely on the power grid to provide power to your home. But what happens if there’s an emergency or natural disaster and you have an extended power outage of multiple days? An in-home generator can be a great way to provide a home backup from utility power and keep your home running, but it’s not as simple as just plugging it in. Buying the wrong generator can be an expensive mistake. If you’re getting an in home generator, here are 5 top tips to make the buying process easier for you.

What you need to know about getting an in home generator

An in home generator is a mechanical device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. When the power goes out, a home generator can provide emergency power for lights, appliances, and other essential devices.

You can even find whole house generators on the market these days.

The ins and outs of generator power

When lights go out, an in home generator keeps your house running. But how does the power from a generator differ from grid power, and what do you need to know to keep your generator running smoothly? Here are a few key things to keep in mind.

There are several things to consider when deciding to use an in home generator.

Reliability. An in home generator will also be less reliable than grid power, as it is subject to fuel availability and maintenance needs. You need to store as much fuel as you need to last through any emergency or power outage. So think about whether that’s likely to be an extended outage, or just a few hours or days.

Carbon monoxide safety. Many people use in-home generators to power their homes in case of a power outage. However, they can lead to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning if you’re not using them safely. Follow these safety tips to avoid problems:

1. Install your in-home generator in a well-ventilated area, such as an open garage.
2. Never use your in-home generator indoors, even in a well-ventilated area.
3. Don’t try to run your appliances by plugging your generator into a wall outlet. It’s dangerous.
4. Make sure that all doors and windows are closed when you use your in-home generator.
5. Never run your in-home generator while you are sleeping.
6. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

By following these safety tips, you can help to ensure that you and your family are safe from poisoning.

Dirty power. Without an inverter or automatic voltage regulator, generators can produce what’s called ‘dirty power’. This power can damage sensitive equipment like Smart TVs and computers. But there are ways to ensure your generator produces clean and consistent power for your home. Read on to find out!

Cost is often a major factor in buying a home generator, as generator power can be more expensive than grid power. There is the up front cost to buy the generator and the fuel costs to run it, if it is gas, diesel or petrol. You will also pay ongoing maintenance costs over time.

Depending on how often you use it, the cost per kilowatt hour of energy from a generator is a lot more than most of us pay from the grid in Australia. If you want to avoid unnecessary capital and running cost, it’s critical to get the right size and type of generator for what you want to do!

We talk about that below!

In home generator types

Other considerations when choosing a house generator include the size of your home, the fuel source, and the noise level. House generators can be powered by gas, propane, or diesel. Here’s how they compare:

• Petrol-powered generators are typically less expensive than other types, but they may not be as reliable.
• Gas-powered generators are more expensive than petrol-powered generators but are much quieter and have a longer run time.
• Diesel-powered generators are the most expensive but are also the most reliable and have the longest run time.
• Solar powered generators are the newest kind of generator technology on the block. Also called ‘portable power stations‘, technology advancements have made these a clean, reliable and affordable alternative to the fuel powered generators mentioned on this list.

When choosing a house generator, it is important to consider your specific needs and choose the option that best meets those needs.

Next, let’s look at different types of generators for home use.

1. Portable generators

Many Australian’s chose a portable generator to use as a backup in home generator, when the power grid goes down.

As a backup power source, portable generators are convenient depending on what size generator you need. Portable generators can provide 5,000 to 6,000 watts of power, but are smaller than standby generators.

Portable generators are convenient backup generators because you can plug appliances in directly using extension cords. The power plugs and generator size will limit the number of appliances running at once. Just make sure your extension cord is long enough to reach the unit at a safe location outside, away from windows.

If it’s a larger size generator with a higher power out you need, a portable generator may not be sufficient.

2. Inverter generators

If you want to power sensitive electronics look for an inverter generator. An inverter generator produces clean power and is quiet when running at full power.

People often use inverter generators to provide back up power for computers, Smart TVs and other electronics that can blow up if fed ‘dirty power’.

You can also clean up the power produced by a standby in home generator with an automatic voltage regulator. So if you need a whole house generator with this kind of power management a standby generator with automatic voltage regulator device might be better for you.

Solar powered generators often have inverter technology and power protection mechanisms built into their battery management systems. So you don’t need to worry about ‘dirty power’ or sensitive electronics when choosing this kind of generator.

3. Home standby generators

Portable and inverter generators are popular as they are cheaper than standby generators. But if you need enough power to run an air conditioner as well as power tools and your entire house with major appliances, a standby unit like the Generac generator may be the best generator for you.

Standby units are also called ‘whole house generators‘. Their total power output can be much larger than portable generators or inverter generators. If you want to power large appliances that are ‘hard wired’ directly to your power board, like an oven, then take a look at this option.

You’re probably not going to use an extension cord with this type of unit. They are often installed permanently to their own designated circuits via one cable and an automatic or manual transfer switch.

So, is it worth getting a whole house generator? If money is no obstacle, you may think so. Our Generator sizing guide can also help you make this decision.

Whole house generator sizing follows the same process as sizing any other generator. But the bigger the size, the higher the cost.

4. Solar powered generators

Rooftop solar panels are popular in Australian homes but won’t provide backup power for power outages unless you have them wired to do so.

Solar powered generators can do this – but they’re more than just rooftop solar systems.

To have your appliances powered by solar during power outages, you will need a solar powered generator with uninterruptible power supply capabilities and a changeover switch. Your solar unit will also include a battery to store your solar power and to feed electricity to your appliances when the sun is not shining.

You can read all about the benefits and features of solar powered generators in this article “Are solar powered generators any good?”.

How big of a generator do I need to run a house?

This is one of the most popular questions we hear when it comes to in home generators. There are three important factors to consider when determining your exact generator size including:

• How many appliances you want to run and how much power you need
• generator power output size
• the output range of portable models versus standby models to power an entire home

It’s not difficult to pick the right one for you, but there are some steps to follow. To find out more, read our article ‘What size generator do you need to power a house‘.

5 tips before you buy a generator for home

There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re considering buying and installing an in home generator. In this post, we’ve run through 5 top tips to make the buying process easier for you:

1. Understand why you need the generator. Do you need it for backup power in case of an outage, or do you want to be able to use it as a primary power source? This will tell you what home appliances you will want to power and how much power you need.

2. Consider the size of the generator. Ask yourself: how much generator power will I need? Make sure the model, type and size you choose is big enough to power everything you need it to, but not so big that it’s too expensive or difficult to install.

3. Determine where you’ll install the generator. It needs to be in a well-ventilated area away from any windows or doors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

4. Get professional help. Unless you’re an experienced electrician, it’s best to leave the installation to the pros and install via a transfer switch. You can’t just plug your generator into a wall outlet and expect to run your appliances that way safely.

5. Make a plan for maintenance. Your generator will require regular maintenance, so be sure to factor that into your budget.

By following these tips, you can be sure you’ll end up with the right in home generator for your needs and avoid any headaches during the installation process.

Conclusion

Cost, reliability, carbon monoxide safety and dirty power are all things you need to know about and consider before buying a home generator. Our 5 top buying tips will also help you buy the right in home generator for your needs:

1. Work out why you need the generator – what will you run?
2. Work out the size of generator you need based on number 1
3. Decide where in your home is best to safely install it
4. Have an electrician do the installation – via a transfer switch is best
5. Factor maintenance into your budget.

Good luck!

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