7 Tips to Save Money When Using Your Generator
We depend on power to get through our day. Everything from lighting our homes to heating our water and more depends for the most part on electricity. Unfortunately, unexpected emergencies can cause widespread power outages. Also, even an individual issue in your home may leave you without power until the issue is fixed. These times are when the Honda Generator Place can assist you and your family. These 7 tips will also help you save money while using a generator.
1. Consider a Standby Generator Instead of a Portable.
People wrongly assume that portable generators are cheaper. This is not always the case because they forget to consider the cost of using a generator. While the upfront cost of a standby generator may be more, the costs to use it stay stable.
Portable generators need extra cords, which need to be replaced routinely. They also, as a rule, use propane to function, which burns dirtier and runs out quickly. Standby generators are attached to the home without cords and run on clean and more cost-efficient gas. You won’t need to restart them over and over on your own, as they come on automatically when the power goes out. If you’re still unsure about standby generators for the whole house, you might check out various companies like Master Electrical and visit their website to learn more about them.
2. Gas Storage
A propane-powered generator might seem more cost-effective, yet a closer look shows that costs can escalate. Added to the cost of the propane is the cost of fuel to make a trip to buy more propane. Propane costs don’t fluctuate as much as gas, so comparison shopping doesn’t help much. Once you find a reputable company, such as Nelson Propane Gas, Inc., to purchase your propane from, stick to it!
You can save money on using your generator by storing gas at your home in a safe area close but away from your home. There are gas stabilizers you can add to the gas to keep it safer for long-term storage. You’ll save on costs to go purchase more to refill your generator after a short walk from your home to your safe gas storage area.
Still not sure about gas storage? Here is another option to look into. Residential tank installations provide a reliable source of heating and cooking fuel, which is not available in many rural areas.
A residential tank installation is a great way to save money on your gas bills. When you install a propane tank, it will only cost you $2-3 per gallon, as opposed to the $25 per gallon that it would cost if you were buying it at the gas station
3. Choose the Right Generator for your Needs.
Choose a size that is related to why it is needed. Will you be powering just electrical lights or also appliances? Both standby generators and portables have pros and cons. Research both to make sure you get a generator fit for your own specific need. Otherwise, you could throw money away on a generator that is not right for your situation and needs to buy another.
4. Available Service Options
Consider available service locations for your generator. Can it be serviced locally, therefore, cutting costs of taking for repairs? If parts are needed, will they need to be ordered and shipped? Are home repairs possible by a professional with this model? Do you have the knowledge to do simple maintenance and repairs? Is there a guide available online or in print to guide you through repairs or options? Considering these things saves money on keeping your generator in good working order.
5. Don’t Cut Corners on the Transfer Switch
Generators need transfer switches to operate. According to Consumer Reports, they are the safest way to run hardwired appliances. Don’t try to do this yourself. Having a transfer switch professionally installed for larger generators saves you long-term money. It keeps your home safe from catching fire, plus your high-power generator will run more efficiently. You can use extension cords, especially in an emergency storm where you purchase a generator for the storm. After that, it is important to install a transfer switch in preparation for the next storm for safety and economic reasons. However, one option that Consumer Reports suggests is installing an interlock device instead. This is installed by an electrician and costs $100-$200 less than a transfer switch. It prevents your generator from staying on once your power kicks back on.
6. Listen to your Generator
A generator that isn’t running correctly will let you know. If you hear sputtering, clanking, backfiring, or anything else, don’t chalk it up to just being generator “sounds “Allowing the machine to continue means whatever is wrong is going to get worse. All you should be hearing is a normal hum of the machine working. Allowing unusual sounds to continue means it will continue to break down or eventually stop. A failing generator means losing possibly hundreds on refrigerated and frozen foods. It means possible extreme cold that hurts not just your family but the structures of your home. If your generator is running a pump that is keeping flood water out, you could lose everything to the flooding. So, listening to and then finding out why your generator is clunking could save you thousands by fixing a problem before damage occurs to it and your home.
7. Have Knowledge of Local Regulations
Regulations can influence your bottom dollar when using it. It’s hard to save money if you’ve broken a local regulation on its use and are told to shut it down. Regulations depend on the area you live in. Almost all areas will have noise regulations. Noise can be reduced somewhat by obtaining a cover for your generator. Other regulations could include what kind of natural disasters occur in your area or how long you can keep it running. Check with both local and state of learning about any generator regulations that could affect your wallet if not followed.
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