by Andy Clark

Generators

Between this year's severe storms and next year's Y2K threat, a lot of people have come into the store asking about generators. "What happens if my power goes out for more than a hour or two?" "How can I keep my family warm and my food cold?" "Can I make my home a little more self-sufficient?" For5 many people, a generator-an engine that will run appliances and pumps in the absence of electricity- provides an answer.

A home generator can be programmed with an automatic transfer switch that, in the event of a power outage, automatically starts the generator and switches you over to generator power. It can also be fitted with a manual switch. The automatic transfer switch is more expensive and complex, but you don't need to be awake or even on the premises for power to continue uninterrupted.

Servicing a home generator is fairly simple. Just like your lawnmower, it needs to have a once-a-year checkup- the oil and filters need to be changed and the fuel needs to be stabilized if it sits for any length of time. Some people are worried about the noise, which is usually about as loud as a lawnmower. Carefully choosing the location for your generator will go a long way towards alleviating any problems with noise, as will housing it in an insulated building.

Generators vary widely in both power and price, Basically, the larger the unit, the more it will power and the more it will cost you. Generator sizing depends on what you want to run on generator power. Some people choose to limit themselves to just the basics- Heat, light, water supply. Others want to be able to run their entire home, from the furnace to the computers, on generator power. Carefully consider what makes sense to you. If you decide that you would prefer a smaller generator, there are several suggestions that we can make, such as a larger well tank, water-saving devices or multi-tasking. The typical Howard County home does well with a mid-sized generator of about 4-5 kilowatts.

The other factors in the cost of the generator are durability and distortion, both of which are impacted by how often you expect to run the generator and what you will run off it . If it will be in regular, frequent use, you will want a sturdier unit than one that will be used as a backup. And if you are going to run any delicate equipment, such as computers or equipment with computer chips in it , you will need a unit with low distortion levels.

The final decision you will need to make is the type of fuel the generator will use. Diesel engines are the most fuel efficient and diesel fuel can be the most stable and safest to store. However, there are fewer qualified mechanics to work on them, they are noisier, and have a stronger smell. Gasoline has the benefit of being sold by every neighborhood gas station and is also quite efficient; but you must be careful how you store the fuel ( store is away from your home, in a storage shed or covered area, in full cans so no vapors or condensation builds up inside). Propane can be stored in small or large portable tanks or delivered to your home viva truck, but is about 10% less efficient than gasoline. Natural gas, probably the most convenient because it is delivered directly to your by underground lines, isn't available to every home and is about 20% less efficient than gas.