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In today’s world, it is easy to take the convenience of electricity for granted. A power outage can disrupt your daily routine, compromise your home’s safety, and even endanger your health. That is why being prepared with a reliable backup generator is more important than ever. If you are still weighing the decision, here are nine reasons why having a backup generator can make all the difference.
1. Medical Systems
For many households, reliable electricity is more than a convenience. People rely on electrically powered medical systems for life-sustaining care, and even more rely on these systems to maintain their quality of life. In a power outage, devices like oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and other life-sustaining machines must stay powered because even brief interruptions can be dangerous. A backup generator is essential if someone in your home depends on electricity for critical medical equipment.
Consistent power is vital even for less critical conditions like sleep apnea. A backup generator ensures that devices like CPAP machines continue operating, providing the care needed for restful sleep. The same applies to various types of medical testing and monitoring equipment.
2. Spoiled Food
Even the inconvenience of discarding a small amount of spoiled food after a blackout can be frustrating, but the stakes are even higher when you have stocked up on groceries. Many homeowners invest in large refrigerators and additional freezers to take advantage of bulk buying, especially when prices are low. If the power goes out for more than a few hours, there’s a real risk that your hard-earned savings could literally spoil. A single prolonged outage can lead to hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of food being wasted. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that Americans lose an average of $150 billion each year due to power outages, with a significant portion of those losses due to spoiled food.
In communities like Greenville, WI, where many homeowners hunt and fish, freezers hold more than just groceries; they store a season’s worth of hard work and tradition. Whether it’s venison, walleye, or any other game, all that effort could go to waste during an extended power outage. However, with a backup generator, you can safeguard your food, ensuring your refrigerator and freezer continue running even during prolonged blackouts.
3. Data Preservation and Productivity
With more homeowners working remotely than ever before, reliable electricity is essential for protecting data and maintaining productivity. Whether you run a home-based business or simply bring work home, a sudden power outage can result in lost files and interrupted tasks. While the backup battery in your desktop computer offers a brief window to save your work, it usually lasts only a few minutes. This window is often not long enough, especially if you are away from your desk when the blackout hits.
A backup generator provides the security you need by ensuring that your computer stays up and running once the power goes out. For many, this setup is crucial: the backup battery buys enough time for the generator to power on, preventing any data loss.
Additionally, if you work from home, staying connected is essential. A generator keeps your internet and other critical systems online, allowing you to maintain contact with clients, coworkers, or customers even during extended outages.
4. Home Security Systems
The typical home security system has a limited amount of battery backup power. Depending on the quality of the system, this could provide functionality for between a couple of hours and a few days. However, the security system stops working once the backup power is depleted. Worse, many criminals target neighborhoods during blackouts because they know that homes without power make easier targets. A backup generator will keep your sensors, cameras, and security lights on, even during a prolonged outage due to a significant snowstorm or other weather event.
5. EV Charging
As more people opt to drive electric vehicles, their home has become their charging station. While EV charging is a great way to save on driving expenses, it does increase your dependency on the grid. Especially in an area-wide blackout, you can’t bet on third-party charging stations being available. Additionally, even if the charging stations in your area are not affected, you may have installed one at your home because the ones n your community are inconvenient to drive to.
If you have an electric vehicle, you need to talk with your electrician before installing a generator. EV charging stations are high-draw systems, and you need to be sure that the generator’s electrical panel and wiring are up to the job.
6. Heating
In many homes, heating systems rely on electricity to function, even if they use natural gas or oil. In places like Greenville, where winter temperatures can be dangerously low, having a reliable heat source isn’t just about comfort — it can be a matter of survival.
Even if you can manage without heat for a short time, keeping your home warm is crucial to prevent pipes from freezing. When your heating system is down, your water and sewer pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting, leading to costly and extensive damage. A burst pipe creates a messy and stressful situation that no homeowner wants to face, especially when dealing with the aftermath of a power outage.
Additionally, you might be forced to leave your home and seek shelter elsewhere without a backup generator, which often means checking into a hotel. The cost of a hotel stay can quickly add up, especially during prolonged outages, and it’s an added expense on top of any damage you might face from frozen pipes or other cold-related issues. By investing in a backup generator, you can avoid these expenses, keep your home warm, and protect it from the dangers of winter weather.
7. Entertainment and Safety
In regions where winter nights are long and cold, reliable lighting is essential. Powering your lights means you can safely navigate your home, reducing the risk of trips or falls.
On the other hand, enduring a power outage can be especially challenging when you are left without entertainment options. Beyond the inconvenience, prolonged blackouts can lead to boredom and restlessness, particularly for families with young children. With a backup generator, you can keep your TV, gaming systems, and other devices running, allowing you to stay occupied and maintain a sense of normalcy.
Contact the Pros
At Black-Haak, we have served the residents of Greenville and the surrounding areas since 1956. We are expert electricians who can install a whole-home generator for your residence that automatically turns on in the event of an outage. We can also assist you with all your other electrical needs, including surge protection, installing EV stations, and replacing outdated wiring. Additionally, as your one-stop home care provider, we offer plumbing services and install, maintain, and repair heating and cooling systems. Don’t forget to schedule your generator maintenance to keep it ready to run smoothly when you need it most!
Contact us at Black-Haak today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced team members in Greenville.
