How Can You Choose the Right Generator for Your Home?

If you live on Long Island, the chances are you’ve weathered a few storms, some which had a devastating aftermath. Severe weather can cause power outages that occur for several hours, even days. Nobody wants to be without power – more than just a modern convenience, we rely on a steady supply of power to prevent food spoilage, appliance damage, and in some cases, power is essential for lifesaving devices like home oxygen or home dialysis.

When you’re considering purchasing a generator for your home, you’ll find that there are different options out there. Portable generators can provide power on a temporary basis to a small number of lights or appliances, but they can pose some dangers if not installed properly. For instance, a portable generator should never be used in an enclosed area, such as inside the house or even in a garage. The National Fire Protection Association warns that portable generators can emit deadly carbon monoxide, cause electrical shock and pose a fire hazard when improperly used.

The Department of Energy offers that “permanently installed, stationary generators are better suited for providing backup power to the home.” At T.F. O’Brien, we’re pleased to offer our customers automatic standby generators. This type of generator backs up the circuits you choose during a power outage, and automatically start within seconds of detecting power loss. Standby generators run on your home’s existing natural gas or LP fuel supply, and you can choose a backup option from essential circuit, managed whole-house or complete whole-house coverage.

What’s more, our technicians professionally install the standby generators offered by T.F. O’Brien, so you don’t have to worry that you’ve improperly installed your generator like you might with a portable unit. And, we offer complete generator maintenance and repair, so you’ll never have to worry about the proper functioning of your generator. If you’d like to learn more about installing a quality standby generator for your home, we’re ready to help. Call us at 516.488.1800 and we will be happy to assist you.