If you’re considering a generator for your home for preparedness in a power outage, you may be overwhelmed by your choices. Know that the first decision you will need to make is whether you prefer a portable generator or a standby generator. Should you not be planning to use your generator away from your home or property, a standby generator is an easier way to go.

Though a standby generator costs more than a portable generator, a standby generator offers several benefits for home use, including but not limited to the following:

• A standby generator is professionally installed outside of your home, so that no setup is required when a power outage strikes.
• A standby generator is connected to your natural gas or propane line, meaning you don’t have to manually refuel it like with a portable generator.
• A standby generator will automatically power on and off as necessary, whether you’re home or not, so that your house functions normally at all times.
• If you’ve made the decision that a standby generator is for your home, then you’ll next need to choose how much of your house you want to provide electricity to in a power outage. This means you’ll need to select from an air-cooled generator or a liquid-cooled generator.

How to choose between an air-cooled generator and a liquid-cooled generator:

Air-cooled generators have up to 22kW of wattage to help power many critical appliances and provide lighting when needed. These types of standby generators use air, just like their name states, to keep themselves cool and from overheating.

For homeowners who need additional wattage and even the ability to power all appliances, lighting, and other critical equipment at the same time, liquid-cooled generators offer wattage over 22kW and up to 150kW. Liquid-cooled generators use anti-freeze to avoid overheating, and are more expensive than air-cooled generators since they provide more power and additional features.

The best way to determine which type of standby generator is best for your home is to use our generator sizing calculator to find your necessary wattage. Or you can call us direct at (847) 516-8882 for a personalized assessment.

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