Answer These Five Questions to See if You Need a Standby Generator
With the cost of quality, standby home generators starting around $7,500, purchasing one represents a serious investment for most homeowners. That’s probably why only a small percentage of homes have one in place. Yet when the lights go out, as they’ve done all too often in the past few years thanks to an increase in frequency and severity of storms, the question inevitably arises: is it worth the investment to be one of the few houses with power?
While for many people this is a purely personal decision and preference, there are some people who rely on electricity for essential needs and whose income–or even health—could be negatively affected in the event of an extended power outage.
- Do you have a health condition that requires you to rely on an electricity-dependent machine such as an oxygen concentrator, ventilator, nebulizer or dialysis machine? Or do you need a motorized wheelchair for mobility? If so, you can’t afford to go even a few hours, let alone a few days or weeks, without power.
- Do you have elderly or medically-fragile family or friends living in your home who could be adversely affected due to an extended period without heating or air conditioning? During Hurricane Irma, eight people tragically died in a sweltering hot Florida nursing home after the storm knocked out its air conditioning system, causing Gov. Rick Scott to issue an emergency ruling requiring all Florida nursing homes have backup power systems.
- Do you have an infant or toddler who regularly consumes any type of milk or formula products requiring refrigeration? Imagine the panic a new parent would feel at the thought of not being able to provide safe nourishment to their child whether due to a natural disaster or even a fluke act like a car taking out power lines to your home.
- Do you have a home-based business? If so, any extended loss of power can quickly translate to a loss of revenue, particularly should an event occur that prevents you from being able to readily leave your home and go somewhere that provides an alternate power source.
- Do you have a portable, fuel-powered generator but live in a remote area? In the event of a prolonged power outage, you could run out of fuel and be unable to readily access more. You are used to the comforts of a generator – could you survive when your fuel runs out? If not, you might want to consider investing in a standby generator.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, a standby generator may not be just a luxury, but a real necessity. When you’re ready to make the decision to invest, trust the experts at local, family-owned Benfield Electric. For 50 years, we’ve been meeting the electric needs of area homeowners, and we only carry the highest-quality products, including premium KOHLER® generators. When the next hurricane hits, don’t feel powerless: call Benfield Electric today.