If they are working properly, whole-home generators only power on when there is no electrical service in your home, which means it can be difficult to tell if there is an issue with the unit. Many generators do have a self-test feature, which could alert you if there are any problems with the unit. However, we still recommend that homeowners schedule regular professional maintenance for their generators in order to prevent problems from occurring when you really need the system to work. Here’s what you can do on your own to keep your standby generator maintained, and how to tell you should call in a professional.
ACI Northwest Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Generators’
Keep Your Generator Maintained with Professional Services
Monday, October 12th, 2015How Much Could You Lose During a Power Outage?
Monday, August 24th, 2015When the power goes out in your neighborhood, you usually cannot tell how long you will have to go without it. A crew may be able to get it up and running in a matter of a few hours. But it’s not unusual for neighborhoods to be without any electricity whatsoever for an entire day and night, or even for longer.
Reasons to Install a Whole-Home Generac Generator
Friday, September 12th, 2014We can lose power for a number of reasons: weather-related events, environmental events like wildfires, road construction or a blown substation. Whatever the reason, it makes our lives exponentially more difficult when we don’t have the power we need to run our homes. One of the best ways to prepare for any event that can result in loss of electrical power is to install a Generac whole-home generator in your home. Since 1959, Generac has been the leader in home generators, and hiring the trained technicians from ACI Northwest for your generator installation means that you won’t have to be without power ever again.
Reasons to Install a Whole Home Generac Generator
Having the best equipment is part of being prepared. Generac generators are designed to seamlessly transition you to your back-up power should you lose yours. Here are some reasons why you will want to consider the installation of a Generac generator:
- Automatic operation – each Generac whole-home generator is equipped with a sensor that will instantly switch your home’s power to the generator as soon as power is lost, whether or not you are home. The generator will also turn off automatically once power is restored.
- No manual refueling – Generac whole-home generators are made to work with three fuel types: natural gas, liquid propane (LP) or diesel. For natural gas and LP generators, the fuel is piped directly to the generator. The diesel model has a tank below it that manages the diesel fuel, so there’s no running back and forth with gas cans. Simply have the diesel tank refueled by a fuel company as needed.
- Connected directly to your electrical panel – Generac whole-home generators are wired directly into your home’s electrical panel, so there’s no need for long extension cords through windows.
- Overload protection – in the rare case that your Generac generator gets overloaded, it is equipped with overload protection: the generator’s circuit will trip, which disconnects the unit from the load.
Being prepared means having the best tools at your disposal for the worst possible circumstances. Losing power isn’t a usual thing, but when it happens, it can disrupt our lives entirely. With a Generac generator in your home, you won’t have to worry about this kind of disruption. Need more information? Call ACI Northwest and schedule the installation of a Generac generator in Coeur d’Alene with one of our specialists today.
Generator FAQ: How a Generator Can Benefit Your Home
Monday, January 21st, 2013We all worry about natural disasters and being stuck without power during a heavy thunderstorm or snow storm. Having a whole home generator offers a number of compelling benefits to homeowners who are ready to take the next step in protecting their home. At ACI Northwest we provide complete services for home generators in Deer Park —including installation, repair and maintenance for many types and brands of generators. Here are some of the benefits to having a whole home generator installed.
The Financial Benefits of a Whole Home Generator
When people start thinking about generators, they probably think about the safety that it will provide their family. While generators are a great way to protect your family, they offer some pretty enticing financial incentives.
- Home resale – Normally, after a generator installation the value of a home will increase.
- Sump pumps – If you have a sump pump in your basement, it’s likely there to protect against a flood. However, during flooding there may not be electricity at your home. But with a back-up generator you will still be able to protect yourself against costly flood damage.
- Food spoiling – Another great benefit from a back-up generator is that in the event of power outage, you won’t have to throw out all of the contents of your freezer or fridge because the food spoiled.
Comfort Benefits of a Whole Home Generator
During a fierce snowstorm, you may lose power at your home. If that happens, you’ll probably be rushing around trying to keep you and your family warm. But with a back-up generator, you’ll be able to relax knowing that your heating system and your air conditioning systems are still operational. This will allow you to keep your home comfortable until the power is restored.
If you’re interested in having a whole home generator installed, contact ACI Northwest. We also offer generator repair and generator maintenance in Deer Park.
Generator Tip: Common Problems
Monday, August 27th, 2012When it comes to having a generator in your Spokane home for those unexpected power outages, it is important to be aware of some common problems that might come up.
Back Feed into Grid
Backfeeding into the power grid is dangerous and should never be attempted. Most power grids are designed on the basis that power will flow in a single direction, out of the power grid. If your generator is not set up properly it can accidentally back-feed into the grid, causing safety concerns. That is why it is important to have a professional generator technician install your whole house generator.
Overpowered Generator
An overpowered generator that takes up too much propane or gas to run it can be pricey to run. It will give you power to most of your home, but that is often unnecessary, and most of the time what is needed during a power outage is only enough electricity to keep essential devices running.
Not Properly Ventilated
Emergency generators are designed to be in places where proper venting can occur, and many times this means installing it outside. When a gasoline, diesel or propane generator is not properly ventilated it can cause build-up of dangerous gases. Having professional installation of your generator will ensure that it is well-ventilated and will not cause problems in your building.
Improper Generator Maintenance
Like any other appliance or piece of wired hardware, generators must be properly maintained. This includes periodic oil changes and filter changes so that when the generator is needed, it doesn’t seize up instead of properly powering a building. With proper generator maintenance, you can expect your generator to provide worry-free back-up electrical power during a power outage for years to come.
ACI Northwest can help you with all of your generator needs in Spokane and the surrounding area. Contact us today!
Electrical Question: What Size Generator Do I Need?
Monday, July 23rd, 2012Electricity has become so integrated with our day to day lives that it is easy to overlook the importance of a functioning electrical system. Like most other things, though, when your electricity isn’t working it becomes very clear very quickly just how much you rely on it. When your electricity goes out, whether from a storm, blackout or any other cause, a good generator can be a big comfort. Just as with a heating or cooling system, you should have a properly sized generator in order to get the best performance from it. Here are some tips to make sure you get the right generator for your Rathdrum home.
First of all, you must decide what exactly you’ll want to power when you lose electricity. What do you consider essential? This is important, so take your time and make a list. Any medical equipment is clearly a priority, but what about a full refrigerator? Your septic pump certainly needs to be powered, but does your climate demand heating and cooling power in your home? Once you have decided on the necessities you’re ready to get started.
It is important to remember that bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to a generator for your home. Larger generators are obviously more expensive, and if you’re never going to approach its capacity then you’re just paying for potential, not performance. Even the biggest generator will not provide enough power to service every electrical device in your home, so some restraint is necessary. Whole home generators do not require you to decide what appliances are necessities, but they will not power everything all at once. The best way to ensure that you’re covered in the event of an energy loss is to calculate the amount of energy that the appliances in your home use, and find a generator with the capacity to provide at least that much energy. Remember that some appliances have different starting energy requirements than running loads, and that some appliances are always running.
There are numerous energy calculators available online that can help you decide what size generator you need. To eliminate as much guess work as possible, though, we at ACI Northwest suggest having a Rathdrum electrician come to evaluate your home. We’ll help you decide exactly which generator best suits your needs, in addition to providing expert installation, maintenance and repairs for your device. Call today with any further questions you may have.